I am currently a Postdoctoral Research Associate for the Institute for Gravitational Wave Research at the University of Glasgow, funded until September 2011 by STFC.

PhD Thesis

Measurement of the Mechanical Loss of Test Mass Materials
for Advanced Gravitational Wave Detectors
Peter G. Murray M.Sci (Hons)
PhD Thesis
University of Glasgow
May 2008

Please contact me for access to a copy

List of Publications
Excluding LSC and GEO600 collaboration papers
(Updated January 2009)
Click on each title for the abstract

Titania-doped tantala/silica coatings for gravitational-wave detection
Classical and Quantum Gravity, Volume 24, Issue 2, pp. 405-415 (01/2007)

Mechanical dissipation in silicon flexures
Physics Letters A, Volume 351, Issue 4-5, p. 205-211 (03/2006)

Thermal noise from optical coatings in gravitational wave detectors
Applied Optics IP, vol. 45, Issue 7, pp.1569-1574 (03/2006)

Presentations and Posters
Copies of recent presentations and posters given at conferences and meetings

Link to Presentations page

Finite Element Analysis Tutorials

Finite Element Analysis of the Strain Energy in
Tantala/Silica Coated Fused Silica Samples
using ANSYS® Workbench

Finite Element Analysis of the Strain Energy in
Hydroxide-Catalysis Bonded Fused Silica Samples
using ANSYS® Workbench

Finite Element Analysis of the Strain Energy in
Hydroxide-Catalysis Bonded Fused Silica Samples
using ANSYS® Classic  

Finite Element Analysis of the strain energy stored in
hydroxide-catalysis bonded fused silica samples
using Beam Elements in ANSYS® Classic  

Please contact me for access to these tutorials

Thermal Noise Meeting Files

Link to Minutes Page
NOTE: These files are intended for internal use only
For access to password protected pages contact me

Coating Database
(Updated April 2008)

Link to Coatings Page
Please contact me for access to this database

Pre-University Summer School Lecture Notes
(July 2008)

Magnetic Effects of Currents
Optics Part I
Optics Part II

Please contact me for access to these slides

RSE Masterclasses

TBA

Gravitational Waves

Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity describes the force of gravity as distortions of space-time caused by mass. The solutions of the linearised Einstein Equations predicted the existence of gravitational waves, ripples in space-time, travelling at the speed of light. The direct detection of gravitational waves is not only important in physics because it would provide confirmation of Einstein’s predictions made in 1916, but also in astronomy as detection would open up a new window onto the universe. This would allow astronomers to study in greater depth the properties of objects such as neutron stars and black holes and also perhaps, to see early interactions from the “Big Bang”.

Gravitational waves emitted from violent astrophysical phenomena are expected to produce small strains in space of the order ~10⁻²¹ over relevant timescales. Ground based interferometric detectors will be able to detect such strains over a frequency range between ~10 Hz and a few kHz. An important limit to the sensitivity of current and proposed advanced interferometric gravitational wave detectors is set by thermal noise associated with the suspended, coated, test mass mirrors. The level of this noise is determined by the level of mechanical loss in the system. My current research is in the study of the mechanical loss of a range of test mass substrates and coatings for possible use in the proposed Advanced LIGO gravitational wave detector and future detectors which may operate at cryogenic temperatures.