 Wed Mar 5 12:16:28 2025, Shane, Update, CDS, Vac system communications update
|
[Shane, Jon]
Update on the serial interfacing with the vacuum system: both turbo pumps are now able to successfully communicate through the code. The older
pump, for unknown reasons, required a newer version of the communication syntax (despite the newer, small pump being able to communicate fine with the |
|
Wed Feb 19 13:44:48 2025, Shane, Update, CDS, Vac serial interfacing update
|
[Jon, Shane]
Debugging update for vac system serial communications: we were able to successfully connect the smaller
turbo pump to the Varian (manufacturer) software today by plugging the controller db9 directly into spica, and verified that the pump was able to send
and receive information. Still no success on communication with the larger pump via python serial code, though. Issue potentially lies in the pinout mapping |
|
Wed Dec 4 16:01:23 2024, Shane, Update, CDS, Vac serial interfacing troubleshooting update
|
Update on the issue with serial interfacing for the TV 551 turbo pump: Tried a new test today, to see if the commands being sent to the controller were
actually getting through at all, since we know that no response is getting back to us. To test this, I sent the start/stop command for the pump, disconnected
the serial connection and instead connected the controller to spica so I could run the manufacturer's software, and used the manufacturer's sotware to |
|
Sun Dec 17 19:43:18 2023, Aiden, Update, VAC, Vac Heating Update
|
[Aiden]
I measured the temperature of the flanges where some of the electronics will go and I found that the RGA flange was at 55C and the two full
range gauges were at 65C. I also stopped bake 9 to cool down for measurement. |
Mon Oct 23 07:28:57 2023, Peter, Update, VLC Update, VLC Mode Matching 
|
| I have attached a pdf with slides of my latest updates. |
|
Mon Nov 6 11:31:25 2023, Peter, Update, VLC Update, VLC Mode Matching
|
| See Update Attached |
|
Mon Nov 13 06:15:45 2023, Peter, Update, VLC Update, VLC Mode Matching
|
| Weekly Updates Attached in pdf |
|
Thu Sep 7 19:24:25 2023, Peter, Update, VLC Update, VLC Launch Chain
|
The launch optics up to the Faraday Isolator have been added to the breadboard. In the first image, the optics are (from L to R) the stirring mirror, half-wave
plate, polarizing cube, 100mm f lens, electro-optical modulator, Faraday isolator, 50mm lens (not part of final design), stirring mirror (not part of final
design) |
|
Mon Oct 9 11:06:17 2023, Peter, Update, VLC Update, VLC Launch Chain
|
Implemented the new stage for the EOM. Took power data at different positions in the launch chain. Beam waist: 0.066mm (beam waist is inside EOM). Power
before EOM: 0.473mW. Power after EOM: 0.452mW. Power after Faraday Isolator: 0.415mW. Might need to adjust better to configure for clipping losses. Images
of setup are attached below. |
|
Tue Jan 16 10:01:21 2024, Peter, Update, VLC Update, VLC Faraday Isolator and Mode Matching
|
| Attached is a PDF of my weekly updates. |
|
Fri Dec 8 11:15:21 2023, Peter, Update, VLC Update, VLC Assembly
|
The optics of the visible light cavity have been assembled. The mode matching telescope is folded through the two stirring mirrors at the corners shown
in the image below, with the first lens (f=0.2m) before the first stirring mirror, and the second lens (f=0.5m) between the two stirring mirrors. The distance
from the cavity to the edge of the table is 14cm. There is still some work to be done on the alignment of the cavity, as the beam does not seem to be completely |
|
Mon Apr 15 11:51:03 2024, Peter, Update, VLC Update, VLC
|
| An update on the VLC project is attached below: |
|
Mon May 13 14:53:29 2024, Peter, Update, VLC Update, VLC
|
| VLC Update WEEK 7 attached below |
|
Tue Jan 9 16:35:09 2024, Aiden, Update, VAC, VAC System Leak and Heating
|
[Luis, Luke, Aiden]
Leak tested each flange and weld and only found two flanges to have noticeable leaks with the electron multiplier on. These were
the turbo pump flange and the RGA flange that connects to the cross. The RGA one is rather new as it has not had a measurable leak before and it was around
2 e-8. We then applied the new sealant to these two flanges as directed by the instructions on the packaging.
Then after waiting a few minutes for |
|
Fri Jul 7 15:11:39 2023, Aiden, Update, VAC, VAC System Heating Update
|
The temperature of the flange connecting to the turbo pump after reaching equilibrium is 74 degC. This means that it is safe to proceed with raising
the temperature from 120 degC to 150 degC.
Raised the set temperature of the chamber from 120 degC to 150 degC in 15 deg steps.
|
|
Mon Jul 10 13:23:23 2023, Aiden, Update, VAC, VAC System Heating Update
|
Checked on the system today.
The flange on the turbo pump has reached an equilibrium temperature of 87 degC when set at 150 degC. While
the main body of the chamber has reached an equilibrium temperature of 142 degC.
|
|
Thu Jul 13 14:56:43 2023, Aiden, Update, VAC, VAC System Heating Update
|
Checked on the vacuum system today to change the PID controls back to their default values in order to try and get the temperature of the cross in
front of the turbo pump higher. Currently it is sitting at 90 degC before changing the controls. While the main body is at 146 degC.
Will update
again tomorrow on new equilibrium with the default PID settings.
|
|
Fri Jul 14 14:37:25 2023, Aiden, Update, VAC, VAC System Heating Update
|
Checked on the vacuum system and it looks like it will either need to be increased in temperature or baked for a longer time. The main body is at 146C
while the cross is at 91C.
|
|
Mon Jul 17 13:50:41 2023, Aiden, Update, VAC, VAC System Heating Update
|
Started to cool down the chamber today. Final temperature readings of the chamber were 146C and 91C for the body and cross respectively.
|
|
Mon Jul 17 14:01:41 2023, Aiden, Update, VAC, VAC System Heating Update
|
The insulation on the lid of the vacuum chamber has some discoloration and it may be wise to place a sensor closer to this spot in future bakes.
|
|
Wed Aug 2 17:02:38 2023, Aiden, Update, VAC, VAC System Heating Update
|
Moved the temperature sensor on the PID controller to one of the switch backs on the lid.
Also started the next bake with both PID controllers
set to 150 degC. When leaving the temperature sensors above the chamber read 119 C and 83 C. These sensors are on the chamber wall and flange in front
of the turbo pump respectively.
|
|
Thu Aug 3 16:00:25 2023, Aiden, Update, VAC, VAC System Heating Update
|
Check on the temperature of the bake today to see the equilibrium temperatures. With both of the PID controllers set to 150 C, the temperature sensors for
the wall of the chamber and the flange in front of the turbo pump read: 125 C and 90 C respectively. At these temperatures the bake would need to last
at least a week unless the temperature were to be increased. |
|
Fri Aug 4 15:21:33 2023, Aiden, Update, VAC, VAC System Heating Update
|
Checked on Bake 3 today and the temperature sensors read 126 C and 91 C for the chamber barrel and turbo pump flange respectively. These were reached while
the PID controllers were set to 150 C. |
|
Thu Aug 10 14:36:00 2023, Aiden, Update, VAC, VAC System Heating Update
|
Came in to install one of the Full range gauges. Checked the temperature first of the cross and it was reading 30 C. After installing the gauge above the
RGA line the controller was reading 2E-1 torr. Installed the other full range gauge to confirm this and it also read that pressure. There may be a leak
so I will let it sit for a bit and then perform a Helium leak test. |
 Thu Aug 10 15:10:12 2023, Jon, Update, VAC, VAC System Heating Update
|
I shut down the turbo pump since this is evidently a large leak. We CANNOT turn on the RGA for leak checking with the pressure above 1E-5 Torr.
I think
we will have to manually inspect it. The most likely cause would be that the Viton seal around the lid overheated and failed.
|
|
Thu Aug 10 18:32:39 2023, Aiden, Update, VAC, VAC System Heating Update
|
[Dr. Richardson, Aiden]
DO NOT TOUCH ANY VALVES ON THE CHAMBER. THERE IS A PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL BETWEEN THE RGA LINE,
TURBO PUMP LINE AND THE MAIN VOLUME. THE TURBO PUMP WILL BE DESTROYED IF OPENED.
Closed the valves to the turbo pump line and RGA line.
Turned the turbo pump back on and saw that the pressure in the RGA Line and Turbo pump line was going down so there was no large leak within that line |
|
Fri Aug 11 18:32:00 2023, Aiden, Update, VAC, VAC System Heating Update 11x
|
[Dr. Richardson, Aiden] Large Update
Removed most of the insulation on the chamber in order to pull back some of the heater tape to get
to the flange connecting the bypass line to the valve under the RGA line. Most of the heater tape on the bottom half of the chamber was pulled off and
the rest will need to be removed as well in order to place the start of the heater tape on the barrel of the chamber rather than one of the flanges.
Engaged |
|
Fri Sep 1 19:21:19 2023, Aiden, Update, VAC, VAC System Heating Update
|
Started bake 5 today. This will hopefully be a longer and hotter bake with it lasting 6-7 days at around 150 C. The pressure in the chamber before removing
the full range gauge and RGA box was 5.01 e-8 torr. The Argon leak was also left open for this bake to hopefully get rid of particulates on it. I also
put the heater tape I removed last time back onto the RGA cross. This made the heating up process take much longer as I had to not increase too much or |
|
Tue Sep 5 16:43:19 2023, Aiden, Update, General, VAC System Heating Update
|
Checked on bake 5 today after 3 days of equilibrium. The RGA cross is at 106 C and the turbo pump cross is at 74 C. This was reached while the PID controllers
were at 140 C. I will now slowly raise the temperature to 150 on the PID controllers and see if the difference in the RGA cross can be reduced. |
|
Fri Sep 8 16:10:43 2023, Aiden, Update, VAC, VAC System Heating Update
|
Turned off the PID controllers to let the chamber cool down. Final temperatures for the RGA cross and Turbo pump cross were 113 C and 80 C respectively.
The system should be cool enough to start taking measurements on Monday. |
|
Mon Sep 11 16:02:42 2023, Aiden, Update, VAC, VAC System Heating Update
|
The chamber has cooled down from bake 5 and I took the first set of data. The pressure measured during the RGA measurements reached 9.98 e-8 torr. The data
shows that the chamber got dirtier, however this has been the case for every first scan after a bake so I assume there are still some more hydrocarbons
to be vacuumed out and that the second scan will most likely give a better idea of where the chamber is at. After turning off the RGA the pressure immediately |
|
Tue Oct 31 19:46:35 2023, Aiden, Update, VAC, VAC System Heating Update
|
Started bake 7 on Monday but found issues with the heating as the cross in front of the RGA got way too hot too quickly. This resulted in shutdowns of the
heater tape while I could still only set the main PID controller for the lid to 75C. Tuesday I moved the PID controller sensors to be on the cross in front
of the RGA and on the Reducing nipple. I then placed the alarm sensors onto the lid of the chamber and the barrel. This should hopefully prevent excessive |
|
Wed Nov 1 20:22:07 2023, Aiden, Update, VAC, VAC System Heating Update
|
Raised the PID controller temperature to 105C today as at that temperature the lid and the barrel temperature sensors were reading around 120C. I will check
again tomorrow to see if there is any room for increase after equilibrium. |
|
Wed Nov 29 21:13:32 2023, Aiden, Update, VAC, VAC System Heating Update
|
Started Bake 8 today. Set the PID controllers to 120 C and will check in the morning for equilibrium temperatures for the lid and chamber wall. The chamber
pressure was 2.13 e-8 torr before taking off the full range gauges.
After the bake is done on Saturday it will be cooled down and RGA data will
be taken to measure the out gassing rate of the stainless steel fasteners inside the chamber. Then on Tuesday we will plan to vent and open the chamber |
|
Thu Nov 30 13:58:18 2023, Aiden, Update, VAC, VAC System Heating Update
|
[Aiden]
Came into the lab in the morning to check on the chamber heating. I decided to set the PID controllers to 110C rather than 120C as the chamber
lid and wall were reading near 140C. With the PID controllers at 110C the chamber lid and wall now read 126C and 132C. Currently the PID controllers are
placed on the cross in front of the RGA and the reducing nipple in front of the turbo pump. I believe this is a good equilibrium and will leave the tape |
|
Sat Dec 2 18:10:23 2023, Aiden, Update, VAC, VAC System Heating Update
|
[Aiden]
Turned off the heating tape today in anticipation to take more RGA data on Sunday or Monday morning before the meeting. |
|
Mon Dec 18 15:51:49 2023, Aiden, Update, VAC, VAC System Heating Update
|
After letting the chamber cool down I put the electronics back on and turned the RGA element back on. No data has been taken yet as to let the pressure
continue to fall as the RGA is powered. |
|
Thu Aug 3 17:47:51 2023, Aiden, Update, VAC, VAC Heating System Update
|
Did some further testing to determine if it was within reason to increase the temperature of the chamber. I used a thermometer and pulled back some
insulation to test many points on the chamber. Mainly focused on the barrel and the bottom lid of the chamber to see if it was possible to increase the
temperature of just the PID controller that is powering the bottom half of the chamber.
Found that the barrel of the chamber seems to be hotter |
|
Tue Aug 8 15:31:26 2023, Aiden, Update, VAC, VAC Heating System Update 10x
|
Vacuum Chamber equilibrium temperature for bake 3 are 126 C and 88 C for the chamber wall and turbo pump flange respectively. There were reached with
the PID controllers both being set to 150 C.
Also noticed some discoloration around the port insulation. It could be burned from being exposed
to the heater tape directly without insulation or it could be that the insulation, which looks much different, is depositing something around the ports.
The |
|
Tue Aug 15 16:04:23 2023, Aiden, Update, VAC, VAC Heating System Update 6x
|
Pulled off the rest of the heater tape along with the aluminum tape left behind. The aluminum tape adhesive left behind a ton of junk on the walls
of the chamber. This is probably due to excessive heating. In order to get the adhesive off I sprayed a vector alpha wipe with acetone and wiped down the
walls. This took a lot of acetone to get it off.
|
|
Thu Aug 17 15:02:44 2023, Aiden, Update, VAC, VAC Heating System Update 11x
|
Put the heating tape back on and made sure to have 4 coils around the barrel of the chamber. To make this happen I did not put any heater tape on the
ports but made sure to place some of the heater no more than 1 inch away from the ports. Also re-placed some of the heating sensors. For the PID controllers
there is one sensor placed on the lid and one sensor placed on the barrel. For the temperature alarms one sensor was placed near the flange of the turbo |
|
Thu Aug 17 15:18:48 2023, Aiden, Update, VAC, VAC Heating System Update
|
Relocated the PID controllers so that the heating tape could be plugged in. In the picture the left one controls the top half of the chamber along with
the RGA line and has its sensor on the lid near a fold. The right one controls the bottom half along with the turbo pump line and the bypass line and has
its sensor on the barrel of the chamber. The chamber is almost ready to bake again and just needs to have the full range gauges and RGA electronics box |
|
Thu Jan 18 15:13:37 2024, Aiden, Update, VAC, VAC Heating System Update
|
[Aiden]
Took more data today and the chamber and elements are showing an even lower HC level than we have gotten before. It is safe to say that the
elements are not contaminated and out gassing HC into the chamber. |
|
Tue Feb 13 12:34:04 2024, Aiden, Update, VAC, VAC Heating System Update
|
| Here is an overlay with for all the heating steps done with the heater elements. |
|
Thu Nov 16 19:32:31 2023, Aiden, Update, VAC, VAC HC Levels Update
|
Took some more RGA data today and overlaid it with data taken from October 19. I added a red line that symbolizes where all amu peaks above 44 need to be
bellow as well as a black square around the 44th amu peak. The chamber is very close to being meeting LIGO's vacuum chamber standards. |
|
Fri Jun 30 16:43:14 2023, Pamella, Update, FLIR, Updates: Small moving the FLIR camera
|
[Pamella]
Today, I was able to make some adjustments to the FLIR camera angle, suggested by Dr. Richardson, and we got small possible movements
keeping the same pattern in the shapes of the triangles. I have attached photos below. I was able to move left and right as well as up and down and it
worked in four points that I marked on the table.
The only problem is that it only worked on a part of the screen, if I try to place it farther |
|
Tue Feb 25 01:37:00 2025, Michael, Update, Interferometer Simulations, Updates and Current Next Steps for Toroidal Mirrors Project
|
Since the previous discussion of this project, I've worked on building finesse models to verify mathematical results which model the astigmatism in a two
mirror system which we attempt to minimize. This left us with a single condition for an output non-astigmatic beam. However, as can be seen in finesse
simulations, there does exist other configurations which have a negligibly small astigmatism, which we may want to consider. Below I've attached the link |
|
Wed Oct 2 12:20:43 2024, Tyler, Update, TCS, Updated FROSTI Analysis 10/02/2024
|
| Attached below are updates on current FROSTI prototype analysis. |
|
Mon Jul 29 12:20:56 2024, Liu, Update, Interferometer Simulations, Update on wavefront actuation with astigmatically driven RH for CE
|
| Update on wavefront actuation with astigmatically driven RH for CE is attached. |
|
Fri Aug 16 12:51:46 2024, Luis Martin, Update, VAC, Update on vacuum chamber status
|
[Luis, Luke, Tyler]
Vacuum chamber parts were finally received and assembled. After whipping down the parts, the blank was removed from the reducing cross. Then,
the zero-length reducer was attached. Lastly, we installed the T that had the argon leak and RGA. The final pump down showed signs of an improved seal |