Michelson Interferometer Demonstration Plus Tour: Lock A Suspended Interferometer
1:30-2:30pm Michelson Interferometer Demonstration (activity leader: Ms. Maggie Tse, Clare Boothe Luce Graduate Fellow) plus
2:30-4:00pm Tour: Lock a Suspended Interferometer (activity leader: Dr. Antonios Kontos, Postdoctoral Associate)
How do you measure distances smaller than one-thousandth the diameter of a proton? Why do we care? Come find out in this hands-on interactive demo, where you will learn about Michelson interferometery, the basic principle behind how LIGO measures explosions in outer space using giant lasers. Real lasers included!
If you stay with us after 2:30pm, you can apply your new knowledge and operate a real suspended interferometer with Dr. Kontos in the LIGO lab! (see details below)
Directions to NW22-258: Enter through the loading dock entrance in the parking lot between NW22 and NW17. The door will be propped open for the event. Once inside, follow the signs and take the elevator to the second floor.
Please note — following Ms. Tse’s talk, Dr. Antonios Kontos will give a tour (see description below). The tour limit is 6 people maximum. Advance sign-up required starting at 1:25pm in NW22-258 immediately preceding Ms. Tse’s talk. The pre-requisite to take the tour is attending Ms. Tse’s talk from 1:30-2:30pm.
TOUR: Lock a Suspended Interferometer
Dr. Antonios Kontos, 2:30 – 4:00pm leaving from NW22-258
Work with LIGO scientists to lock a suspended Michelson-style interferometer using real-time automated control systems.
*Location — NW22-258
The front lobby of NW22 is under construction, so please use the loading dock entrance located in the parking lot between buildings NW17 and NW22. The door is usually locked, but will be propped open for the event. Once inside, follow the signs on the wall to go up to the second floor, and to the meeting room (NW22-258).