Project Grant 19277103624

This Project Grant award from the National Science Foundation's Division of Physics (CFDA 47.049 Mathematical and Physical Sciences) provides $170,165 to the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) to support the conceptual design of the laser interferometers for the Cosmic Explorer gravitational wave observatory. The key products and services to be delivered under this award include: Producing a parametric conceptual optical design for the Cosmic Explorer interferometers, which will inform...

This Project Grant awarded by the National Science Foundation's Integrative Activities program (CFDA 47.083) provides $2,169,728.00 to procure, install, and optimize a new laser frequency comb calibration source for two spectrographs at the Large Binocular Telescope in Arizona. The project aims to advance the sensitivity, resolution, and precision of extreme precision radial velocity spectrographs to support exoplanet detection and characterization. Key project elements include training the next...

This Project Grant award from the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Mathematical and Physical Sciences program, with a total funding amount of $441,642, supports research to deepen the understanding of the final stages of stellar evolution, specifically focusing on red giants and their mass-shedding processes. The key objectives of this 2-year research project, which runs from September 1, 2024 to August 31, 2026, are to: Employ very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) observations,...

This Project Grant award, valued at $160,000.00, was provided by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences Federal Grant Program (CFDA 47.049). The goal of the award is to develop and characterize improved AlGaAs mirror coatings for the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) detectors. This research aims to enhance the sensitivity and event detection capabilities of LIGO, allowing for more frequent and higher quality observations of...

This Project Grant from the National Science Foundation's Division of Physics, under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences program (CFDA 47.049), provides $355,683 to California State University, Fullerton Auxiliary Services Corporation from September 1, 2022 to August 31, 2025. The award supports research aimed at advancing optical technology to further explore the cosmos using gravitational waves. Key deliverables include characterizing and developing techniques to reduce laser light...

This Project Grant award, valued at $999,193.00, is provided by the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Mathematical and Physical Sciences (CFDA 47.049) federal grant program. The award supports the design of an "Open Control and Analysis Architecture" for the Cosmic Explorer gravitational-wave observatory, a next-generation detector that will advance gravitational-wave astronomy. The key products and services to be delivered under this grant include developing the critical digital...

This $300,000 Project Grant award from the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Mathematical and Physical Sciences (CFDA 47.049) program supports research to develop new adaptive optical technology critical to extending the astrophysical reach of gravitational-wave detectors. The main goal is to improve the sensitivity of gravitational-wave detectors by a significant factor, expanding their detection horizon past a redshift of 5 and enabling new tests of strong-field gravity, cosmology, and dense...

This Cooperative Agreement award from the National Science Foundation's Mathematical and Physical Sciences program (CFDA 47.049) provides $6,500,000 to support the development of key technologies needed for the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) project. The award will fund three specific risk-reduction activities: 1) testing the active optics system for the primary mirror, 2) building an adaptive secondary mirror phasing testbed, and 3) developing a prototype laser tomography adaptive optics...

This Project Grant awarded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences program (CFDA 47.049) provides $653,127 to develop a reliable electro-optic astrocomb with 350-1000 nm wavelength coverage. The project aims to address key challenges in astronomical instrumentation by designing a visible and near-ultraviolet calibration system based on a laser frequency comb technology. The research will focus on improving the reliability, cost, and efficiency of...

This $650,000 Project Grant award from the National Science Foundation's Mathematical and Physical Sciences program (CFDA 47.049) supports the development of a reliable electro-optic astrocomb with 350-1000 nm wavelength coverage. The project aims to advance the detection and characterization of exoplanets and habitable planets by providing a new wavelength calibration technology for astronomical instrumentation, specifically the Keck Planet Finder. The key products to be delivered include a...