A simple off-the-shelf camera offers a groundbreaking solution to enhance LIGO's instrumentation, bypassing the need for costly upgrades or advanced technological developments.
The new technique doesn't require any new technology development
Jul 26, 2026
03:25 pm
What's the storyScientists at the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) have found a solution to a persistent engineering problem using an off-the-shelf camera.
The team, led by Jonathan Richardson from the University of California, has used commercially available thermal imaging cameras and computer models to correct small heat-induced distortions in the observatory's mirrors.
"It doesn't require any new technology development, which is almost unheard of for solving a LIGO instrumentation problem."
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