@jorgepullin.bsky.social
Physicist, motorcyclist, bagpiper, marathon runner, blogger, open access editor.
We returned the quad suspension we had tested on a ride in a truck back into its test stand. This requiring transferring from a Genie to and Alum-a-lift (one was too wide for the room, the other too high for the can the quad was stored in). @ LIGO - Livingston
January 16, 2026 at 8:48 PM
We returned the quad suspension we had tested on a ride in a truck back into its test stand. This requiring transferring from a Genie to and Alum-a-lift (one was too wide for the room, the other too high for the can the quad was stored in). @ LIGO - Livingston
We had to disassemble the stand ("white elephant") on which the bigger beam splitter was built and rebuild it near the interferometer to prep the BS for installation. This required leveling the feet. The faint red glow you see on the top of each is the laser level. @LIGO Livingston.
January 13, 2026 at 7:14 PM
We had to disassemble the stand ("white elephant") on which the bigger beam splitter was built and rebuild it near the interferometer to prep the BS for installation. This required leveling the feet. The faint red glow you see on the top of each is the laser level. @LIGO Livingston.
The bigger beam splitter suspension goes in the can to be transported to the vertex to be installed in the interferometer next week. @LIGO - Livingston
January 9, 2026 at 7:21 PM
The bigger beam splitter suspension goes in the can to be transported to the vertex to be installed in the interferometer next week. @LIGO - Livingston
Moving a clean room over BSC2. @ LIGO - Livingston
January 7, 2026 at 4:19 PM
Moving a clean room over BSC2. @ LIGO - Livingston
Rainy Christmas eve in Córdoba, Argentina.
December 24, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Rainy Christmas eve in Córdoba, Argentina.
HAM6 is now empty, ready for the upgrade in January. @ LIGO - Livingston
December 18, 2025 at 4:40 PM
HAM6 is now empty, ready for the upgrade in January. @ LIGO - Livingston
We built a "teflon highway" to drag the output mode cleaner suspension out of HAM6 onto a stand for transporting it (it weighs around 45 kilos). @ LIGO - Livingston
December 17, 2025 at 10:29 PM
We built a "teflon highway" to drag the output mode cleaner suspension out of HAM6 onto a stand for transporting it (it weighs around 45 kilos). @ LIGO - Livingston
The output mode cleaner is out of HAM6. @ LIGO - Livingston
December 16, 2025 at 7:07 PM
The output mode cleaner is out of HAM6. @ LIGO - Livingston
Removing the optical elements from HAM6 in preparation for the installation in January of the new suspension we just finished building. @ LIGO - Livingston
December 12, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Removing the optical elements from HAM6 in preparation for the installation in January of the new suspension we just finished building. @ LIGO - Livingston
The suspension construction is nearing its end. We will apply the final touches in January. @ LIGO - Livingston
December 11, 2025 at 11:45 PM
The suspension construction is nearing its end. We will apply the final touches in January. @ LIGO - Livingston
Passed my forklift operator test today. @LIGO - Livingston
December 10, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Passed my forklift operator test today. @LIGO - Livingston
We created optical paths to feed the laser into the output mode cleaners. The collapsible mirror (green arrow) allows us to send the light to the mode cleaner on the left or the one on the right. @LIGO - Livingston
December 9, 2025 at 12:55 AM
We created optical paths to feed the laser into the output mode cleaners. The collapsible mirror (green arrow) allows us to send the light to the mode cleaner on the left or the one on the right. @LIGO - Livingston
The output mode cleaners are in position. The one on the left has its charmingly called "butter dish cover" on. @LIGO - Livingston
December 6, 2025 at 4:50 PM
The output mode cleaners are in position. The one on the left has its charmingly called "butter dish cover" on. @LIGO - Livingston
We applied First Contact™ cleaning solution to the output mode cleaner to remove some smudging produced by the packaging used to ship it. @ LIGO - Livingston
December 5, 2025 at 5:47 PM
We applied First Contact™ cleaning solution to the output mode cleaner to remove some smudging produced by the packaging used to ship it. @ LIGO - Livingston
We completed our setup and used it to characterize the photodiodes (red arrow) to be used in the suspension. @LIGO Livingston
December 4, 2025 at 3:21 PM
We completed our setup and used it to characterize the photodiodes (red arrow) to be used in the suspension. @LIGO Livingston
We transported the doors of the Allegro gravitational wave detector to LIGO Livingston, in preparation for transporting the whole detector.
November 26, 2025 at 4:19 PM
We transported the doors of the Allegro gravitational wave detector to LIGO Livingston, in preparation for transporting the whole detector.
We glued the Fluorel™ stops which will keep the output mode cleaners in place. Parts will now be baked. @LIGO - Livingston
November 25, 2025 at 2:54 PM
We glued the Fluorel™ stops which will keep the output mode cleaners in place. Parts will now be baked. @LIGO - Livingston
Finished the Run the Runway 5k in 52', an interesting race on the Baton Rouge Airport Runway.
November 22, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Finished the Run the Runway 5k in 52', an interesting race on the Baton Rouge Airport Runway.
The laser conditioning setup outside the clean room. The light enters into the latter via an optical fiber. Photo courtesy of Maryrose Barrios. @LIGO - Livingston
November 22, 2025 at 12:30 AM
The laser conditioning setup outside the clean room. The light enters into the latter via an optical fiber. Photo courtesy of Maryrose Barrios. @LIGO - Livingston
Foggy morning at @ LIGO - Livingston
November 19, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Foggy morning at @ LIGO - Livingston
Speaking at the US Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama.
November 16, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Speaking at the US Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama.
Started laying out the optical components needed to steer laser light into the suspension for testing @LIGO - Livingston
November 12, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Started laying out the optical components needed to steer laser light into the suspension for testing @LIGO - Livingston
We received the output mode cleaners for the suspension @LIGO Livingston.
November 11, 2025 at 12:36 AM
We received the output mode cleaners for the suspension @LIGO Livingston.