Vitor Cardoso
Below I list some research projects that I would be interest in working with a student or with a fellow researcher. The difficulty of each project varies a lot. Most of these research projects should eventually lead to a publication in an international journal. For students wishing to engage in research activities there may be grants available. Ask me about it. for details about each of these projects, e-mail me asking about them or stop by my office.
Testing alternative theories of gravity with gravitational waves
LIGO detector characterization and data analysis
Gravitational waves are a prediction of Einstein's relativity, but they have not yet been directly observed.
There is a huge effort worlwide to operate extremely sensitive detectors that are expected to soon claim a detection.
The most powerful of these is the Laser Interferometric Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) in Louisiana and Washington.
There is still a lot to improve in the detector and the way data analysis is performed. In this project, the student will interact directly with scientists at the detector site, learn how the detector works and learn how data analysis
is done.