Abstract
The Virgo gravitational wave detector is an interferometer (ITF) with 3 km arms located in Pisa, Italy. From July to October 2010, Virgo performed its third science run (VSR3) in coincidence with the LIGO detectors. Despite several techniques adopted to isolate the ITF from the environment, seismic noise remains an important issue for Virgo. Vibrations produced by the detector infrastructure (such as air conditioning units, water chillers/heaters, pumps) are found to affect Virgos sensitivity, with the main coupling mechanisms being through beam jitter and scattered light processes. The Advanced Virgo design seeks to reduce ITF couplings to environmental noise by having most vibration-sensitive components suspended and in vacuum, as well as muffle and relocate loud machines. During the months of June and July in 2010, a Güralp-3TD seismometer was stationed at various locations around the Virgo site hosting major infrastructure machines. Seismic data were examined using spectral and coherence analysis with seismic probes close to the detector. The primary aim of this study was to identify noisy machines which seismically affect the ITF environment and thus require mitigation attention. Analyzed machines are located at various distances from the experimental halls, ranging from 10 to 100 m. An attempt is made to measure the attenuation of emitted noise at the ITF and correlate it with the distance from the source and with seismic attenuation models in soil.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Article number | 025005 |
| Journal | Classical and Quantum Gravity |
| Volume | 29 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 21 2012 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:The authors declare no financial interests relative to this work. JPM reports research grants from the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation NARSAD Young Investigator Award and salary support for his graduate studies from the Branch Out Neurological Foundation. JS and FM do not report any conflict of interest. DMB receives research support from CIHR , NIH , Brain Canada and the Temerty Family through the CAMH Foundation and the Campbell Family Research Institute. He received research support and in-kind equipment support for an investigator-initiated study from Brainsway Ltd . He is the site principal investigator for three sponsor-initiated studies for Brainsway Ltd . He also receives in-kind equipment support from Magventure for investigator-initiated research. He received medication supplies for an investigator-initiated trial from Indivior. FVR reports grants from Canadian Institutes of Health Research , grants from Brain Canada , grants from Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute , grants from Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research , personal fees from Janssen Pharmaceuticals , in-kind equipment for investigator-initiated research from Magventure. ZJD has received research and equipment in-kind support for an investigator-initiated study through Brainsway Inc and Magventure Inc. His work was supported by the Ontario Mental Health Foundation (OMHF) , the Canadian Institutes of Health Research ( CIHR ), the National Institutes of Mental Health ( NIMH ) and the Temerty Family and Grant Family and through the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) Foundation and the Campbell Institute . JD reports research grants from CIHR , the National Institute of Mental Health , Brain Canada , the Canadian Biomarker Integration Network in Depression, the Ontario Brain Institute , the Weston Foundation, the Klarman Family Foundation , the Arrell Family Foundation, and the Buchan Family Foundation, travel stipends from Lundbeck and ANT Neuro , in-kind equipment support for investigator-initiated trials from MagVenture, and is an advisor for BrainCheck, TMS Neuro Solutions, and Restorative Brain Clinics.