Regina Lee
Regina Lee is a PhD candidate in mechanical engineering whose research at MIT’s Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) Lab aims to measure extremely small space-time vibrations from gravitational waves from sources such as black hole mergers. As a MathWorks Fellow, Regina will focus on modeling, construction, and testing of suspension prototypes with the aim of designing the next generation of LIGO suspensions. A key aspect of her work is creating accurate analytical models that allow for an intuitive understanding of suspension redesigns. Her new MATLAB-based model includes the dynamics of all six degrees of freedom for each of the four suspension masses, allows for quick alterations to the suspension geometry, and is entirely in state space form, which enables extremely accurate calculations of the cavity dynamics, including the effects of laser power. Regina’s pioneering work is part of LIGO’s collaborative efforts with dozens of universities around the world. Her research sets the stage for the design of an even more complex suspension system envisioned for Cosmic Explorer, the next leap in gravitational-wave detection, which aims to observe gravitational waves across the entire universe.