Collaborative Research: Frameworks: ML4GW, a machine learning ecosystem for gravitational wave data analysis

NSF Award Search · 01002627DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT · $973,138 · view on nsf.gov ↗

Abstract

Since the first direct observation of gravitational waves in 2015, a new field of astronomy has fundamentally changed how the universe can be explored. A gravitational wave is a ripple in spacetime produced when two extremely dense objects, such as black holes or neutron stars, collide. The detectors that observe these signals now record hundreds of such events per year, and the rate is expected to grow to several events per day within the next few years. Sifting through this flood of data to find the rare astrophysical signals buried in detector noise, and then alerting telescopes around the world quickly enough to capture the light produced by a collision, is one of the most demanding computational problems in modern science. This project develops an open, community machine learning framework that makes gravitational-wave discovery faster, more accurate, and more accessible. The framework will reduce the time between the crossing of a gravitational wave through the detectors and a public astronomical alert to less than a second, make it possible to detect events that traditional analysis methods miss, and lower the computing cost of these analyses by orders of magnitude. The project trains the next generation of scientists, including high-school students, undergraduates, graduate students, and researchers at smaller institutions, by sharing open code, open data, open trained models, and open lessons. It also strengthens shared national computing infrastructure that benefits

Key facts

NSF award ID
2609003
Awardee
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MA)
SAM.gov UEI
E2NYLCDML6V1
PI
Erotokritos Katsavounidis
Primary program
01002627DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
All programs
Artificial Intelligence (AI), Software Institutes
Estimated total
$973,138
Funds obligated
$973,138
Transaction type
Standard Grant
Period
10/01/2026 → 09/30/2029