Binary black hole visualization

Deborah Lynn Ferguson

Physics Postdoc

The focus of my research is the development and analysis of numerical relativity simulations, particularly in the context of gravitational wave detections. An important part of that has been assessing the readiness of current numerical relativity codes for the challenges that will come with LISA and third-generation ground-based detectors, both in terms of accuracy and parameter coverage. Most recently, I have also become involved with using numerical relativity to explore beyond GR theories. I conduct this research with Dr. Helvi Witek as a postdoc at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. I am also a member of the LIGO Scientific Collaboration, the LISA Consortium, the Cosmic Explorer Consortium, and the Einstein Toolkit Community.

Deborah Lynn Ferguson

The focus of my research is the development and analysis of numerical relativity simulations, particularly in the context of gravitational wave detections. An important part of that has been assessing the readiness of current numerical relativity codes for the challenges that will come with LISA and third-generation ground-based detectors, both in terms of accuracy and parameter coverage. Most recently, I have also become involved with using numerical relativity to explore beyond GR theories. I conduct this research with Dr. Helvi Witek as a postdoc at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. I am also a member of the LIGO Scientific Collaboration, the LISA Consortium, the Cosmic Explorer Consortium, and the Einstein Toolkit Community.

Education


Ph.D. Physics
  
2020
Georgia Institute of Technology
Advisor: Deirdre Shoemaker
M.S. Physics
  
2017
Georgia Institute of Technology
B.S. Physics
  
2016
Minors: Mathematics, Computer Science
University of Kentucky

Academic Positions


Postdoctoral Research Associate
  
2023-Present
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Advisors: Helvi Witek and Roland Haas
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
  
2021-2023
University of Texas at Austin
Advisor: Deirdre Shoemaker

Leadership Positions


LISA Early Career Scientists
2024-Present
Co-Chair
APS Division of Gravity Executive Committee
2023-Present
Member at Large, Chair of Seminar Committee

Short Author Publications


Accuracy limitations of existing numerical relativity waveforms on the data analysis of current and future ground-based detectors
Aasim Jan, Deborah Ferguson, Jacob Lange, Deirdre Shoemaker, Aaron Zimmerman
2024
Second MAYA Catalog of Binary Black Hole Numerical Relativity Waveforms
Deborah Ferguson, et al.
Submitted
Mayawaves: Python Library for Interacting with the Einstein Toolkit and the MAYA Catalog
Deborah Ferguson, et al.
2024
Optimizing the Placement of Numerical Relativity Simulations using a Mismatch Predicting Neural Network
Deborah Ferguson
2023
Assessing the Readiness of Numerical Relativity for LISA and 3G Detectors
Deborah Ferguson, et al.
2021
Inside the Final Black Hole: Puncture and Trapped Surface Dynamics
Christopher Evans, Deborah Ferguson, Bhavesh Khamesra, Pablo Laguna, Deirdre Shoemaker
2020
Measuring Spin of the Remnant Black Hole from Maximum Amplitude
Deborah Ferguson, et al.
2019
Targeted numerical simulations of binary black holes for GW170104
James Healy, et al.
2017
Milky Way Tomography with K and M Dwarf Stars: The Vertical Structure of the Galactic Disk
Deborah Ferguson, Susan Gardner, Bryan Yanny
2017

Collaboration Publications


LISA Consortium Waveform Working Group. "Waveform Modelling for the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna" (2023). arXiv: 2311.01300 [gr-qc]
Swift-BAT/GUANO, Swift, LIGO Scientific, Virgo, and KAGRA Collaborations. "Swift-BAT GUANO follow-up of gravitational-wave triggers in the third LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA observing run" (2024). arXiv: 2407.12867 [astro-ph.HE]
LIGO Scientific, Virgo, and KAGRA Collaborations. "Observation of Gravitational Waves from the Coalescence of a 2.5-4.5 M Compact Object and a Neutron Star". Astrophys. J. Lett. 970.2 (2024), p. L34. DOI: 10.3847/2041-8213/ad5beb. arXiv: 2404.04248 [astro-ph.HE]
LIGO Scientific, Virgo, and KAGRA Collaborations. "Ultralight vector dark matter search using data from the KAGRA O3GK run". Phys. Rev. D 110.4 (2024), p. 042001. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevD.110.042001. arXiv: 2403.03004 [astro-ph.CO]
Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor Team, LIGO Scientific, VIRGO, KAGRA Collaborations. "A Joint Fermi-GBM and Swift-BAT Analysis of Gravitational-Wave Candidates from the Third Gravitational-wave Observing Run". Astrophys. J. 964.2 (2024), p. 149. DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/ad1eed. arXiv: 2308.13666 [astro-ph.HE]

Invited Talks


Numerical Relativity Challenges
July 10, 2024
D. Ferguson

Plenary at 15th International LISA Symposium

Dublin, Ireland

Using Numerical Relativity Waveforms For Gravitational-Wave Observation
June 3, 2024
D. Ferguson

North American Einstein Toolkit Workshop

Baton Rouge, LA

Numerical Relativity for Next-Generation Gravitational-Wave Observation
March 1, 2024
D. Ferguson

Seminar at Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN

Numerical Relativity for High-Sensitivity Gravitational Wave Observation
October 25, 2023
D. Ferguson

Seminar at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Urbana, Illinois

Numerical Relativity for High-Sensitivity Gravitational Wave Observation
October 18, 2023
D. Ferguson

Seminar at Cornell University

Ithaca, New York

Binary Black Hole Numerical Relativity Codes
April 16, 2023
D. Ferguson

APS April Meeting

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Optimizing the Placement of Numerical Relativity Simulations using a Mismatch Predicting Neural Network
November 21, 2022
D. Ferguson

Webinar for the Simulating eXtreme Spacetimes Collaboration

Potsdam, Germany

Numerical Relativity with an Eye Toward Next Generation Gravitational Wave Detectors
October 12, 2022
D. Ferguson

Seminar at Albert Einstein Institute Potsdam

Potsdam, Germany

Waveforms for Gravitational Wave Astronomy
August 9, 2022
D. Ferguson

Petnica Summer Institute

Virtual

Gravitational Wave Data Analysis
July 29, 2021
D. Ferguson

North American Einstein Toolkit Workshop

Virtual

Assessing the Preparedness of Numerical Relativity for Current and Future Gravitational Wave Detectors
March 2021
D. Ferguson

Seminar at Gravity Group of University of Mississippi

Virtual

Assessing the Preparedness of Numerical Relativity for Current and Future Gravitational Wave Detectors
November 2020
D. Ferguson

Seminar at Astrophysics/Gravity/Cosmology Group of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Virtual

Conference Presentations


Optimizing Numerical Relativity Placement using Neural Networks
July 2022
D. Ferguson

14th International LISA Symposium

Virtual

Predicting Match to Optimize Numerical Relativity Template Placement
April 2022
D. Ferguson

American Physical Society April Meeting

New York City, NY

Impact of Secondary Spin in Black Hole Binaries with Increasing Mass Ratio
July 21, 2021
D. Ferguson, D. Shoemaker

14th Edoardo Amaldi Conference on Gravitational Waves

Virtual

Impact of Secondary Spin in Black Hole Binaries with Increasing Mass Ratio
April 2021
D. Ferguson, D. Shoemaker

American Physical Society April Meeting

Virtual

Assessing the Readiness of Numerical Relativity for LISA
September 2020
D. Ferguson, K. Jani, P. Laguna, D. Shoemaker

13th International LISA Symposium

Virtual

Assessing the Readiness of Numerical Relativity for Future Gravitational Wave Detections
April 2020
D. Ferguson, K. Jani, D. Shoemaker

American Physical Society April Meeting

Virtual

Assessing the Readiness of Numerical Relativity for Future Gravitational Wave Detections
January 2020
D. Ferguson, K. Jani, D. Shoemaker

235th Meeting of the American Astronomical Society

Honolulu, HI

Using Machine Learning to Optimize Placement of Numerical Relativity Simulations
June 2019
D. Ferguson

Machine Learning in Science and Engineering Conference

Atlanta, GA

Numerical Relativity Errors in LISA
May 2019
D. Ferguson, K. Jani, D. Shoemaker

LISA Waveform Working Group Meeting

Golm, Germany

Revealing the Final Black Hole from Signal at Maximum Amplitude
April 2018
D. Ferguson, et al.

American Physical Society April Meeting

Columbus, OH

Apparent Horizon Dynamics of Binary Black Hole Systems
October 2017
D. Ferguson, et al.

Georgia Regional Astronomers Meeting

Athens, GA

Mobile Physics Engine Modeling Two Dimensional Elastic and Inelastic Collisions for the Educational Demonstration of Physics Phenomena
April 2014
C. Powell, D. Ferguson

National Conference on Undergraduate Research

Lexington, KY

Honors and Awards


Visualizing Science Competition Winner
2022

University of Texas at Austin

Read article
3rd Place Visualizing Science Competition
2021

University of Texas at Austin

Read article
Larry S. O'Hara Graduate Student Fellowship
2020

Georgia Institute of Technology

Amelio Award for Research Excellence
2020

Georgia Institute of Technology

Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting
2019

Oak Ridge, Lindau Committee

Georgia Tech Institute Fellowship
2016

Georgia Institute of Technology

Outstanding Senior in Physics
2016

University of Kentucky

Summer Research Grant
2015

University of Kentucky

Outstanding Junior in Physics
2015

University of Kentucky

Singletary Scholarship
2013

University of Kentucky

National Merit Finalist
2013

National Merit Scholarship Foundation

Open-Source Software


Mayawaves
Python library for analyzing numerical relativity simulations
https://github.com/MayaWaves/mayawaves

Media


Contact


University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign - Illinois Center for Advanced Studies of the Universe
Loomis Laboratory, Office 255
Urbana, IL 61801
E: dferg [at] illinois.edu