Project Grant 2513491

The National Science Foundation Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences awarded Kennesaw State University Research And Service Foundation $179,846 on August 15, 2026, to develop advanced mirror coatings for third-generation gravitational-wave detectors, specifically the Cosmic Explorer. The award is made under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences program (CFDA 47.049).

The Center for Coatings Research combines materials science and gravitational-wave physics communities to design mirror coatings meeting the optical and mechanical specifications required for implementation in Cosmic Explorer's 40-kilometer detector arms. The project addresses the technical challenge of supporting 1.5 megawatts of optical power while achieving unprecedentedly low optical absorption and minimizing thermal noise from internal friction in the coatings. The research has broader applications across precision timing, quantum information, low-noise interferometry, and tests of gravitational physics, with potential technological spillovers for the semiconductor, laser, and quantum computing industries.

Performance occurs at Kennesaw, Georgia, with a period of performance from award date through July 31, 2028. The funding supports research opportunities for students at multiple educational levels through collaboration between materials scientists and gravitational-wave physicists.