Dear Colleagues,

Detection of gravitational wave signals is one of the challenges of experimental physics today. The prospect of collecting information of astrophysical and cosmological importance has been driving the development of more and more sensitive detectors. The data will complement what electromagnetic and high energy radiation are teaching us about the structure of the Universe and its components. The experimental difficulties born in the smallness of the expected effect are stimulating the ingenuity of physicists in the design of the future detectors like AIGO in Australia, CEGO in China, and LISA in space. On the other hand the interferometers GEO600, LIGO, TAMA, Virgo, are now running or being commissioned together with the Allegro, Auriga, Explorer, Nautilus and Niobe bar detectors, and first signals may show up over background. In any case significant sensitivity improvements are within reach to allow the beginning of gravitational wave astronomy.

In view of the importance that gravitational wave detection will have in fundamental physics research a Special Focus Workshop in the framework of the 2004 IEEE NSS - MIC has been organized. The emphasis is on how signal is extracted from detectors and how this signal is used to keep the instrument on the correct working point: these control systems are essential to achieve the instrument ultimate sensitivity.

This subject involves knowledge in optics, photon detection, low noise electronics, feedback control systems. As many related problems are studied by the traditional NSS audience the ambition is to attract to this Workshop a wider community than gravitational wave detector experts and establish fruitful contacts both ways.

Sensing, Control and Readout of Gravitational Wave Detectors welcomes contributions on

· Working point sensing and control schemes with large dynamic range requirements

· Signal processing in feedback control systems, analog and digital

· Low noise electronics in the audio and RF bands

· High precision digital-to-analog conversion

· Online processing, monitoring and diagnostics

but also

· Active seismic noise control

· GW detector cryogenic operation

· Quantum non demolition sensing

Please submit abstracts to the main submission site of the conference, specifying Special Focus Workshop on Gravitational Waves

I look forward to meeting you in Rome for a fruitful and pleasant Nuclear Science Symposium.

Francesco Fidecaro
GW Workshop Coordinator
Phone: +39-050-221 4909
Fax: +39-050-221 4333
E-mail: francesco.fidecaro@df.unipi.it

Dipartimento di Fisica “Enrico Fermi”
Università di Pisa
Largo Bruno Pontecorvo
I-56127 Pisa
Italy