This $193,121 project grant, awarded by the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Mathematical and Physical Sciences program (CFDA 47.049), supports collaborative research by Bard College to address a major noise source, stray light, that could limit the sensitivity of the Cosmic Explorer gravitational-wave observatory. Specifically, the award enables a team of scientists and engineers to analyze how stray light in the interferometer's 40km arm cavities may impact Cosmic Explorer's sensitivity, and produce an initial conceptual design for beamtube baffles to mitigate this stray light. The project will also generate requirements for the surface roughness of interferometer test mass mirrors and explore low-scatter vacuum-compatible materials. This research is a high priority, as stray light mitigation directly impacts the Cosmic Explorer facility design and cost. The award runs from September 1, 2024 to August 31, 2027.
Mod # | Description | Reason For Modification | Federal Obligation (Click to sort descending) | Date (Click to sort ascending) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Not listed | $155.2k | 7/3/25 | ||
| Not listed | $38.0k | 9/3/24 |