Truncated icosahedral gravitational wave antenna.

TLDR: A new type of resonant-mass gravitational wave detector is proposed, a truncated icosahedral gravitational wave antenna that will be omnidirectional, and able to measure the direction and polarization of a detected wave.

Abstract: We propose a new type of resonant-mass gravitational wave detector, a truncated icosahedral gravitational wave antenna. It will be omnidirectional, and able to measure the direction and polarization of a detected wave. We solve a model for this system, calculate the strain noise spectrum, and conclude that its angle-averaged energy sensitivity will be 56 times better than the equivalent bar-type antenna with the same noise temperature.

Full text

Louisiana State University Louisiana State University
LSU Digital Commons LSU Digital Commons
LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses Graduate School
1995
Truncated Icosahedral Gravitational Wave Antenna. Truncated Icosahedral Gravitational Wave Antenna.
Stephen Michael Merkowitz
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College
Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses
Recommended Citation Recommended Citation
Merkowitz, Stephen Michael, "Truncated Icosahedral Gravitational Wave Antenna." (1995).
LSU Historical
Dissertations and Theses
. 6033.
https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses/6033
This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at LSU Digital Commons. It
has been accepted for inclusion in LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses by an authorized administrator of LSU
Digital Commons. For more information, please contact gradetd@lsu.edu.

INFORMATION TO USERS
This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UM I
films the text directly from the original or copy submitted. Thus, som e
thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter face, while others may
be from any type of computer printer.
The quality o f this reproduction is dependent upon the quality o f the
copy subm itted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality
illustrations and photographs, print bleedthrough, substandard margins,
and improper alignment can adversely afreet reproduction.
In the unlikely event that th e author did not send UM I a com plete
manuscript and there are missing pages, these w ill be noted. A lso, if
unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate
the deletion.
Oversize materials (e.g., maps, drawings, charts) are reproduced by
sectioning the original, beginning at the upper left-hand com er mid
continuing from left to right in equal sections with small overlaps. Each
original is also photographed in one exposure and is included in
reduced form at the back of the book.
Photographs included in the original manuscript have been reproduced
xerographically in this copy. Higher quality 6" x 9" black and w hite
photographic prints are available for any photographs or illustrations
appearing in this copy for an additional charge. Contact UMI directly
to order.
A Bell & Howell Information Com pany
300 North Z e eb Road. Ann Arbor. Ml 48 10 6 -1 34 6 USA
3 13 /76 1-4 7 00 80 0/5 21-06 00

TRUNCATED ICOSAH EDRAL GRAVITATIONAL W A VE ANTENNA
A Dissertation
Submitted to the Graduate Faculty o f the
Louisiana State University and
Agricultural and Mechanical College
in partial fulfillment o f the
requirements for the degree o f
Doctor o f Philosophy
m
The Department o f Physics and Astronomy
by
Stephen Michael Merkowitz
B.A., University of Colorado, 1989
M.S., Louisiana State University, 1994
August 1995

UMI Number: 9609107
UMI Microform 9609107
Copyright 1996, by UMI Company. All rights reserved.
This microform edition is protected against unauthorized
copying under Title 17, United States Code.
UMI
300 North Zeeb Road
Ann Arbor, MI 48103