CR+Logbook+Jan.

Most of early January was spent in vacation and was not all that productive in the field of LIGO research. However, upon my return to civilization I finished a major portion of the database of Seismic activity that I was compiling. Using Excel and the USGS data I made a spreadsheet with the relevant information to all the recent earthquakes all over the world. I ran into a snag with the latitude and longitude in regards to distance. The original theory was that the distance between LIGO hanford station and the respective earthquakes across the world could be easily calculated from the latitude and longitude. In a perfect world this could easily be done, however since the earth is anything but a perfect sphere, there was a slight kink in the masterplan. Another snag is the speed and limits of the S and P waves given off by the earthquakes. Primary waves can go through liquid but S waves cannot. Does this mean that the primary waves reach LIGO first and secondary waves afterwards? If so what will the gap between them be? Do they travel through the earth or across the surface? These are all questions that require separate and involved answers. As a way to circumnavigate these questions I have decided to attempt this:

1. Access the database of recent earthquakes 2. Calculate the approximate arrival time of the quake into LIGO Hanford 3. Set broad parameters into the bluestone analysis tool 4. Search the bluestone data at the approximate time of the quakes 5. Start to map out the limits of LIGO's sensitivity 6. Literally map out the actual sensitivity limits of LIGO on a world map

This new direction comes after frequent sessions of intense deliberation with my most esteemed and learned mentor/teachers and many an abstract mathematical conversation. This new direction is indicative of a heavy workload but I am willing to bear it to unlock the hypothetical rosetta stone of LIGO(even if I am overstating the importance it makes me feel good about myself so... let me use my illusions)

This is my PIXE presentation in slideshare format media type="custom" key="459173"