Project acronym RARENOISE
Project Low-probability, large fluctuations of the noise in detectors of gravitational waves
Researcher (PI) Livia Conti
Host Institution (HI) ISTITUTO NAZIONALE DI FISICA NUCLEARE
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE7, ERC-2007-StG
Summary The search of gravitational waves requires astonishingly large and sensitive detectors, with displacement sensitivity approaching the limit set by the Uncertainty Principle. The displacement fluctuations that are continuously monitored by the detectors should follow a Gaussian distribution; on the contrary up to now any gravitational wave detector shows large fluctuations that cause low probability tails superimposing to the Gaussian distribution which is followed for most of the time, thus lowering the chances for detection. This research proposal aims at understanding phenomena that might explain at least part of the low-probability, large fluctuations of the noise of gravitational wave detectors on the basis of fundamental Physics. The research will have large impact on the detection capabilities of present gravitational wave detectors, reducing the false alarm rate, and on the design of their next generations. Table-top experiments will be performed on mechanical systems that will be subjected to conditions similar to that possibly originating the low-probability, large fluctuations of the noise of gravitational wave detectors. A theoretical investigation of the phenomenon will guide the experiments and will attempt to get insight on more general results from the experimental outcome.
Summary
The search of gravitational waves requires astonishingly large and sensitive detectors, with displacement sensitivity approaching the limit set by the Uncertainty Principle. The displacement fluctuations that are continuously monitored by the detectors should follow a Gaussian distribution; on the contrary up to now any gravitational wave detector shows large fluctuations that cause low probability tails superimposing to the Gaussian distribution which is followed for most of the time, thus lowering the chances for detection. This research proposal aims at understanding phenomena that might explain at least part of the low-probability, large fluctuations of the noise of gravitational wave detectors on the basis of fundamental Physics. The research will have large impact on the detection capabilities of present gravitational wave detectors, reducing the false alarm rate, and on the design of their next generations. Table-top experiments will be performed on mechanical systems that will be subjected to conditions similar to that possibly originating the low-probability, large fluctuations of the noise of gravitational wave detectors. A theoretical investigation of the phenomenon will guide the experiments and will attempt to get insight on more general results from the experimental outcome.
Max ERC Funding
1 000 000 €
Duration
Start date: 2008-07-01, End date: 2013-06-30
Project acronym STGDELUCIA2007
Project Galaxies through the cosmic ages: the role of primordial conditions and environmental effects
Researcher (PI) Gabriella De Lucia
Host Institution (HI) ISTITUTO NAZIONALE DI ASTROFISICA
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE7, ERC-2007-StG
Summary The observed properties of galaxies have long been known to depend on the environment in which they are located. The physical origin of the observed environmental trends is, however, still a subject of debate. Much of the argument centres on whether these trends are the end products of physical processes acting over the entire lifetime of a galaxy (the nurture hypothesis), or whether they are established at formation (the nature hypothesis). One element is often overlooked in this debate: according to the current paradigm for structure formation, dark matter collapses into haloes in a bottom-up fashion. Small objects form first and subsequently merge into progressively larger systems. As structure grows, galaxies join more and more massive systems, and so experience a variety of environments over their lifetimes. Thus both initial conditions and subsequent physical processes must play a role in shaping the observed properties of galaxies, and their variation with environment. Here I propose a detailed investigation of the relative roles of various physical processes, and of conditions at formation in determining the observed environmental trends. The work will exploit synergies between different theoretical methods, and will involve detailed comparisons with observational data from spectroscopic and photometric surveys at both low and high redshift. The results should provide the first quantitative estimate of the relative importance of nature and nurture in determining the observed environmental trends within the current standard picture of structure formation. In addition, results from this study will be of important guidance for interpreting data from ongoing and planned surveys, and will provide precious and timely tools for the preparation of key programs and surveys for planned or proposed space missions and large telescope instruments (e.g. ELT, JWST, Herschel, etc.).
Summary
The observed properties of galaxies have long been known to depend on the environment in which they are located. The physical origin of the observed environmental trends is, however, still a subject of debate. Much of the argument centres on whether these trends are the end products of physical processes acting over the entire lifetime of a galaxy (the nurture hypothesis), or whether they are established at formation (the nature hypothesis). One element is often overlooked in this debate: according to the current paradigm for structure formation, dark matter collapses into haloes in a bottom-up fashion. Small objects form first and subsequently merge into progressively larger systems. As structure grows, galaxies join more and more massive systems, and so experience a variety of environments over their lifetimes. Thus both initial conditions and subsequent physical processes must play a role in shaping the observed properties of galaxies, and their variation with environment. Here I propose a detailed investigation of the relative roles of various physical processes, and of conditions at formation in determining the observed environmental trends. The work will exploit synergies between different theoretical methods, and will involve detailed comparisons with observational data from spectroscopic and photometric surveys at both low and high redshift. The results should provide the first quantitative estimate of the relative importance of nature and nurture in determining the observed environmental trends within the current standard picture of structure formation. In addition, results from this study will be of important guidance for interpreting data from ongoing and planned surveys, and will provide precious and timely tools for the preparation of key programs and surveys for planned or proposed space missions and large telescope instruments (e.g. ELT, JWST, Herschel, etc.).
Max ERC Funding
750 000 €
Duration
Start date: 2009-02-01, End date: 2014-01-31
