This award supports the research activities of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee LIGO Scientific Collaboration (UWMLSC) group. The central theme of the work is the extraction of astrophysical information from gravitational-wave observations. Among the strongest features of this research effort is the synergy: bringing expertise in gravitational physics, astrophysics, and grid-computing to bear on the details of gravitational-wave data analysis. LIGO is an ambitious project to detect gravitational waves from astrophysical sources. These waves were predicted by Einstein almost a century ago but have not yet been directly observed. This work will make a significant contribution to the overall success of the LIGO project, and may ultimately lead to the first detection of gravitational waves. This award also supports research into the nature of highly energetic astrophysical sources of gravitational radiation which will provide valuable insight into the nature of Einstein's theory of gravity.
