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. I conduct this research with Dr. Deirdre Shoemaker as a postdoc at the University of Texas at Austin. I am also involved with the LIGO Scientific Collaboration and the LISA Consortium.
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. I conduct this research with Dr. Deirdre Shoemaker as a postdoc at the University of Texas at Austin. I am also involved with the LIGO Scientific Collaboration and the LISA Consortium.
Education
Ph.D. Physics
Georgia Institute of Technology
M.S. Physics
Georgia Institute of Technology
B.S. Physics
Minors: Mathematics, Computer Science
University of Kentucky
Short Author Publications
Optimizing the Placement of Numerical Relativity Simulations using a Mismatch Predicting Neural Network
D. Ferguson
2023
Collaboration Publications
- LIGO Scientific and Virgo Collaborations. "Search for lensing signatures in the gravitational-wave observations from the first half of LIGO-Virgo’s third observing run" (May 2021). arXiv: 2105.06384 [gr-qc]
- LIGO Scientific, Virgo, and KAGRA Collaborations. "Constraints from LIGO O3 data on gravitational-wave emission due to r-modes in the glitching pulsar PSR J0537-6910". Astrophys. J. 922.1 (2021), p. 71. DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/ac0d52. arXiv: 2104.14417 [astro-ph.HE]
- LIGO Scientific and Virgo Collaborations. "Search for anisotropic gravitational-wave backgrounds using data from Advanced LIGO’s and Advanced Virgo’s first three observing runs". Phys. Rev. D 104.2 (2021), p. 022005. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevD.104.022005. arXiv: 2103.08520 [gr-qc]
- LIGO Scientific, Virgo, and KAGRA Collaborations. "Constraints on cosmic strings using data from the third Advanced LIGO-Virgo observing run". Phys. Rev. Lett. 126.24 (2021), p. 241102. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.126.241102. arXiv: 2101.12248 [gr-qc]
- LIGO Scientific, Virgo, and KAGRA Collaborations. "Upper Limits on the Isotropic Gravitational-Wave Background from Advanced LIGO’s and Advanced Virgo’s Third Observing Run". Phys. Rev. D 104.2 (2021), p. 022004. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevD.104.022004. arXiv: 2101.12130 [gr-qc]
- LIGO Scientific, Virgo, and KAGRA Collaborations. "Diving below the spin-down limit: Constraints on gravitational waves from the energetic young pulsar PSR J0537-6910" (Dec. 2020). arXiv: 2012.12926 [astro-ph.HE]
- LIGO Scientific and Virgo Collaborations. "All-sky search in early O3 LIGO data for continuous gravitational-wave signals from unknown neutron stars in binary systems". Phys. Rev. D 103.6 (2021), p. 064017. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevD.103.064017. arXiv: 2012.12128 [gr-qc]
- LIGO Scientific and Virgo Collaborations. "Search for Gravitational Waves Associated with Gamma-Ray Bursts Detected by Fermi and Swift During the LIGO-Virgo Run O3a". Astrophys. J. 915.2 (2020), p. 86. DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/abee15. arXiv: 2010.14550 [astro-ph.HE]
- LIGO Scientific and Virgo Collaborations. "Population Properties of Compact Objects from the Second LIGO-Virgo Gravitational-Wave Transient Catalog" (Oct. 2020). arXiv: 2010.14533 [astro-ph.HE]
- LIGO Scientific and Virgo Collaborations. "Tests of General Relativity with Binary Black Holes from the second LIGO-Virgo Gravitational-Wave Transient Catalog" (Oct. 2020). arXiv: 2010.14529 [gr-qc]
- LIGO Scientific and Virgo Collaborations. "GWTC-2: Compact Binary Coalescences Observed by LIGO and Virgo During the First Half of the Third Observing Run" (Oct. 2020). arXiv: 2010.14527 [gr-qc]
- LIGO Scientific and Virgo Collaborations. "Search for Gravitational Waves Associated with Gamma-Ray Bursts Detected by Fermi and Swift During the LIGO-Virgo Run O3a" (Oct. 2020). arXiv: 2010.14550 [astro-ph.HE]
- LIGO Scientific and Virgo Collaborations. "Population Properties of Compact Objects from the Second LIGO-Virgo Gravitational-Wave Transient Catalog" (Oct. 2020). arXiv: 2010.14533 [astro-ph.HE]
- LIGO Scientific and Virgo Collaborations. "Tests of General Relativity with Binary Black Holes from the second LIGO-Virgo Gravitational-Wave Transient Catalog" (Oct. 2020). arXiv: 2010.14529 [gr-qc]
- LIGO Scientific and Virgo Collaborations. "GWTC-2: Compact Binary Coalescences Observed by LIGO and Virgo During the First Half of the Third Observing Run" (Oct. 2020). arXiv: 2010.14527 [gr-qc]
- LIGO Scientific and Virgo Collaborations. "Properties and Astrophysical Implications of the 150 M⊙ Binary Black Hole Merger GW190521". Astrophys. J. Lett. 900.1 (2020), p. L13. DOI: 10.3847/2041-8213/aba493. arXiv: 2009.01190 [astro-ph.HE]
- LIGO Scientific and Virgo Collaborations. "GW190521: A Binary Black Hole Merger with a Total Mass of 150M⊙". Phys. Rev. Lett. 125.10 (2020), p. 101102. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.125.101102. arXiv: 2009.01075 [gr-qc]
- LIGO Scientific and Virgo Collaborations. "GW190814: Gravitational Waves from the Coalescence of a 23 Solar Mass Black Hole with a 2.6 Solar Mass Compact Object". Astrophys. J. Lett. 896.2 (2020), p. L44. DOI: 10.3847/2041-8213/ab960f. arXiv: 2006.12611 [astro-ph.HE]
- LIGO Scientific and Virgo Collaborations. "GW190412: Observation of a Binary-Black-Hole Coalescence with Asymmetric Masses". Phys. Rev. D 102.4 (2020), p. 043015. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevD.102.043015. arXiv: 2004.08342 [astro-ph.HE]
- LIGO Scientific and Virgo Collaborations. "Open data from the first and second observing runs of Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo" (Dec. 2019). arXiv: 1912.11716 [gr-qc]
- LIGO Scientific and Virgo Collaborations. "Search for intermediate mass black hole binaries in the first and second observing runs of the Advanced LIGO and Virgo network". Phys. Rev. D 100.6 (2019), p. 064064. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevD.100.064064. arXiv: 1906.08000 [gr-qc]
Invited Talks
Optimizing the Placement of Numerical Relativity Simulations using a Mismatch Predicting Neural Network
D. Ferguson
Webinar for the Simulating eXtreme Spacetimes Collaboration
Potsdam, Germany
Numerical Relativity with an Eye Toward Next Generation Gravitational Wave Detectors
D. Ferguson
Seminar at Albert Einstein Institute Potsdam
Potsdam, Germany
Waveforms for Gravitational Wave Astronomy
D. Ferguson
Petnica Summer Institute
Virtual
Gravitational Wave Data Analysis
D. Ferguson
North American Einstein Toolkit Workshop
Virtual
Assessing the Preparedness of Numerical Relativity for Current and Future Gravitational Wave Detectors
D. Ferguson
Seminar at Gravity Group of University of Mississippi
Virtual
Assessing the Preparedness of Numerical Relativity for Current and Future Gravitational Wave Detectors
D. Ferguson
Seminar at Astrophysics/Gravity/Cosmology Group of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Virtual
Conference Presentations
Optimizing Numerical Relativity Placement using Neural Networks
D. Ferguson
14th International LISA Symposium
Virtual
Predicting Match to Optimize Numerical Relativity Template Placement
D. Ferguson
American Physical Society April Meeting
New York City, NY
Impact of Secondary Spin in Black Hole Binaries with Increasing Mass Ratio
D. Ferguson, D. Shoemaker
14th Edoardo Amaldi Conference on Gravitational Waves
Virtual
Impact of Secondary Spin in Black Hole Binaries with Increasing Mass Ratio
D. Ferguson, D. Shoemaker
American Physical Society April Meeting
Virtual
Assessing the Readiness of Numerical Relativity for LISA
D. Ferguson, K. Jani, P. Laguna, D. Shoemaker
13th International LISA Symposium
Virtual
Assessing the Readiness of Numerical Relativity for Future Gravitational Wave Detections
D. Ferguson, K. Jani, D. Shoemaker
American Physical Society April Meeting
Virtual
Assessing the Readiness of Numerical Relativity for Future Gravitational Wave Detections
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
D. Ferguson
Machine Learning in Science and Engineering Conference
Atlanta, GA
Numerical Relativity Errors in LISA
D. Ferguson, K. Jani, D. Shoemaker
LISA Waveform Working Group Meeting
Golm, Germany
Revealing the Final Black Hole from Signal at Maximum Amplitude
D. Ferguson, et al.
American Physical Society April Meeting
Columbus, OH
Apparent Horizon Dynamics of Binary Black Hole Systems
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
C. Powell, D. Ferguson
National Conference on Undergraduate Research
Lexington, KY
Honors and Awards
Larry S. O'Hara Graduate Student Fellowship
Georgia Institute of Technology
Amelio Award for Research Excellence
Georgia Institute of Technology
Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting
Oak Ridge, Lindau Committee
Georgia Tech Institute Fellowship
Georgia Institute of Technology
Outstanding Senior in Physics
University of Kentucky
Summer Research Grant
University of Kentucky
Outstanding Junior in Physics
University of Kentucky
Singletary Scholarship
University of Kentucky
National Merit Finalist
National Merit Scholarship Foundation
Contact
University of Texas at Austin - Center for Gravitational Physics
Welch, Office 4.252
Austin, TX 78712
E: deborah.ferguson [at] austin.utexas.edu