LITRA-4: Peter Saulson’s Talk May 15, 2017

Title: GW Instrumentation and detector characterization

Abstract: Detector Characterization is a key activity in gravitational wave detection, both during instrument commissioning as well as during searches for signals. DetChar examines instrument performance from the point of view of searches, helping commissioners to focus on the most important problems for searches and helping data analysts to work around the most intransigent instrumental problems. In this talk, I’ll explain how DetChar has supported recent searches for gravitational wave signals, with examples focused mostly searches for transient signals.