Inspecting the optic of the Bigger Beam Splitter. (I was mostly just holding the light later to get a better picture of potential imperfections). @ LIGO - Livingston

So we had to rotate it. The Alum-a-Lift cannot easily maneuver there either so we inserted teflon strips (green arrow) that allowed us to do the final adjustments by hand. @ LIGO - Livingston

In order to insert the optic usign the ErgoArm, we had to place the Bigger Beam Splitter facing the opening between the legs of the "white elephant" it is mounted on. But that is not the correct orientation. @ LIGO Livingston.

Finished my harness training @ LIGO Livingston

Picking up and installing the optic in the Bigger Beam Splitter using the "ErgoArm". @ LIGO - Livingston

Building dampers for the double suspensions. They are an enclosure with a metal cube inside held in place by o-rings. It behaves like a "mass and spring" system that damps vibrations in the structures it is attached to. @ LIGO - Livingston

We rearranged the trim masses on the active seismic isolation system (ISI) to take into account the weight distribution of the new bigger beam splitter that is hanging from it. It was exhausting work, the masses are heavy and one is working overhead. @ LIGO - Livingston

Centering the HEPI (hydraulic external pre-isolator; the passive seismic isolation system) for the new beam splitter. One uses the adjustment screws (green arrow) and follows progress in the x, y, z axes using three micrometers (red arrow). @ LIGO - Livingston

The LIGO electric guitar goes golden. The new beam splitter mirror is suspended by gold plated wires. As usual, we pre-tensioned them by strumming them as a guitar and measuring the frequency. We do it with an actual electric guitar pickup hooked up to an oscilloscope. @ LIGO - Livingston

Cherry blossoms at the Watergate complex. The green flag in the back is the Saudi embassy.

"No need to break in". Some humor on the keycard of the Watergate Hotel in Washington DC. Their monogram looks like a gravitational wave!

My hotel in DC.

Fundraising video
give.lsufoundation.org/schools/Loui...

The old beam splitter goes "in the can" for storage. @ LIGO - Livingston

We removed the mirror from the old beam splitter being replaced, using the Ergo-arm, it operates by suction. @ LIGO - Livingston

Helicoiled the BHD sleds. About 200+ of them... @ LIGO - Livingston

Time lapse of the removal of the beam splitter. I'm the one in full bunny suit mostly in the cleanroom behind the ladder. @ LIGO - Livingston

The team in front of the extracted beam splitter. I'm the one on the left with red hard hat and face cover. @ LIGO Livingston.

The beam splitter goes into the test stand. @ LIGO Livingston.

The team getting ready. It is the first time that an advanced LIGO beam splitter is removed from the instrument. @ LIGO - Livingston

Today we covered the beam splitter with c3 fiber in preparation for its removal. Here is the "before" picture. @ LIGO - Livingston

Foggy morning @ LIGO Livingston.

About to cross the bridge from Europe to North America. It is the place where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates meet in Iceland.

The suspension goes into the chamber. I am the one holding the insertion arm on the right. This is a dangerous device, as its folds are effectively massive "scissors" ready to cut fingers or worse, so it has to be kept under control all the time. Video credit: Maryrose barrios. @ LIGO - Livingston

To get the suspension on the insertion arm, we first needed to remove its hanging fixture to transfer the latter to the arm. That required bringing in a new lift. After testing we could transfer the suspension, we lowered it on a scale to weigh it. Video Credit Maryrose Barrios. @ LIGO - Livingston

Once we had the suspension on the lift, it had to make its way into the interferometer. This meant leaving the optics lab, entering the Large Vacuum Equipment Area and traveling along the tail end of the x and y axis of the interferometer . Photo credit: Maryrose Barrios. @ LIGO - Livingston

The suspension was built in a clean room of the optics lab. It had to be transported to the interferometer. As it weighs close to 90kg we used a Genie lift with a special fixture we built. Here is the pickup moment. I am the one manning the crank. Video credit: Maryrose Barrios. @ LIGO - Livingston

The suspension we spent last semester building was transferred to the interferometer. Here the "insertion team" posing in front of the chamber with the suspension in it. In the next few days I will post videos of the process. @ LIGO - Livingston

We installed the "elevator" that will be used to lift the suspension we spent the last semester building (it weighs close to 200 pounds). @ LIGO - Livingston

Yesterday marked 10 years since LSU Boyd Professor Gabriela González served as spokesperson for the 1,000+ member LIGO Scientific Collaboration to announce the first direct detection of gravitational waves.
Watch: www.youtube.com/live/aEPIwEJ...
#GeauxScience