Gravitational wave research comprises an emerging field in physics, as many institutions around the world rely on measurements from the Advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO), and other interferometers as a vital source of data. Wave parameters provide valuable information about the astrophysical source properties, such as sky localization, source mass, spin, luminosity distance, and orbital inclination, and can also be used for an independent determination of the Hubble constant and tests of general relativity, and the nature of gravity itself. For these reasons, enhancing the absolute accuracy of gravitational wave detectors is essential. The accuracy of these parameters is fundamentally limited by calibration uncertainty. Accordingly, this project researches methods of enhancing the absolute accuracy of gravitational wave measurements to augment the data obtained by interferometers such as Advanced LIGO, to advance gravitational research. One current calibration method relies mainly on photon pressure calibrators (PCals), which are based on the measurement of test mass displacement generated by a periodic force via radiation pressure from the reflection of a power–modulated laser. The technological limit of the absolute calibration uncertainty corresponds to a few percent due to uncertainty in power, and thus limits accuracy in source parameters. The LIGO affiliated Eot-Wash team at the Center for Experimental Nuclear Physics and Astrophysics (CENPA) works to minimize fundamental systematic uncertainty in calibration methods through extended analysis of the combination of gravity field calibrators (GCals) and PCals. GCals make use of a gravity gradient to achieve modulation of the test mass displacement for calibration, providing an alternative source of accurate actuation. The combination of the two calibrators could reduce the systematic uncertainty in GW strain measurements and improve astrophysics with LIGO.

The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatories uses michelson-type interferometers that have two, 4-kilometer-long arms with suspended test masses (mirrors) at the ends of the arms. The test masses reflect high-power lasers to be combined at the output port of the two arms and create an interference pattern, which is sensitive to gravitational waves passing through the interferometer. For a stable interference pattern, the test masses must be oriented precisely; the low frequency orienting of the test masses is done using optical levers. The optical levers consist of optics that launch light from a diode laser to reflect off the test mass and hit a quadrant photodiode which measures the position of the light spot. However the measurement of this position has elevated amounts of noise at low frequencies, limiting the angular motion accuracy. The reduction of this noise by a factor of 10-100, would allow for a more accurate orienting of the cavity holding the test mass. One possibility is that the noise is due to mode fluctuations in the fiber optics connected to the launching telescope. To isolate this noise I recreated parts of the LIGO OPLEV setup with a level of electronic position noise well below the order of LIGO's current OPLEV noise at 0.1 Hz (10-9 meter per square root hertz level). To achieve noise at this level I have made a new low noise pre-amplifier, improved the physical stability of the setup, and analyzed data to identify the noise sources.With this reduced noise setup we plan to search for the source of LIGO's OPLEV low frequency noise and ultimately reduce noise in gravitational wave detection at low frequencies. Reduced noise will lead to more GW detections and new astrophysics, which will allow us to 'hear' the universe in a unique way.

Nanoparticles have been touted to exhibit extraordinary properties, which could ultimately reverse environmental damage thought to be irreparable. However, is their synthesis process scalable? What are their macro-scale impacts? This life cycle analysis looks at the environmental impacts of producing iron-oxide nanoparticles used as an additive to help detect and track gastrointestinal gut bleeding to the microscale. It discusses the environmental impacts of using a nano-scale technology. An attributional life cycle inventory model with geographic specificity in Seattle, WA has been conducted. Data sources include the US GREET database and FineChem, along with the published results in "Synthesis of phase-pure and monodisperse iron oxide nanoparticles by thermal decomposition" in Kemp et al.

The impacts assessed include contribution to climate change, water consumption, resource consumption, and energy consumption. ReCiPe will be used for midpoint and endpoint charaterization. Preliminary results show that in this case, the uncertainty related with required dosage size of nanoparticles for this specific application yielded a large variance for potential impact. However, using the concept of disability-adjusted life years (DALY), it is shown that this technology provides a net benefit for human health.