Title: Control strategy to limit duty cycle impact of earthquakes on the LIGO gravitational-wave detectors,
Abstract: Advanced gravitational-wave detectors such as the Laser Interferometer
Gravitational-Wave Observatories (LIGO) require an unprecedented level of
isolation from the ground. When in operation, they are expected to observe
changes in the space-time continuum of less than one thousandth of the diameter
of a proton. Strong teleseismic events like earthquakes disrupt the proper
functioning of the detectors, and result in a loss of data until the detectors
can be returned to their operating states. An earthquake early-warning system,
as well as a prediction model have been developed to help understand the impact
of earthquakes on LIGO. This paper describes a control strategy to use this
early-warning system to reduce the LIGO downtime by 30%. It also presents a
plan to implement this new earthquake configuration in the LIGO automation
system.