*** Vogt The California Institute of Technology (Caltech) will establish an REU Site under the aegis of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) Project. LIGO, a collaborative effort between Caltech and MIT scientists, is designed to make broad-band (~10 Hz - 10 kHz) observations of gravitational waves predicted by General Relativity and generated by a variety of astrophysical processes, including neutron stars, black holes, supernovae and other sources yet to be discovered. LIGO is sponsored by the National Science Foundation, construction is underway at two observatory sites at Hanford, Washington and Livingston Parish, Louisiana. LIGO offers exceptional opportunities for involvement of undergraduates in research. LIGO detectors cover a large number of physics disciplines and tools, including metrology, optics, lasers, mechanical systems, controls, and electronics. LIGO observations are concerned with strong- field gravitation and a large spectrum of astrophysical phenomena, ranging from the Big Bang to neutro-star and black-hole binaries to neutron-star creation in supernova collapses. But most of all, LIGO will open a new window onto the universe through the new force medium of gravitational waves and the information carried by them. The LIGO project has a large and high caliber scientific staff, which can serve as mentors for the undergraduate students. The LIGO REU Site will be under the jurisdiction of Caltech, which has a tradition of excellence in undergraduate science and engineering education. ***
