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Stefan Ballmer

Stefan Ballmer

Stefan Ballmer

Professor

CONTACT

Physics
263-5 Physics Building
Email: sballmer@syr.edu
Office: 315.443.3882

Degrees

  • 2006 Ph.D. in Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • 2000 Diploma in Physics, with honors in Theoretical Physics, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) - Zurich
CV

Social/Academic Links

Research Interests

  • Third-generation gravitational-wave detector technology.
  • Quantum control of macroscopic objects.
  • Commissioning of Advanced LIGO.

Searching for a stochastic background of gravitational waves with Advanced LIGO.

Research Spotlight

ballmer-stefan-SB.jpg

The Syracuse University Gravitational Wave Group is working to detect gravitational waves with the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO).

Syracuse University Gravitational Wave Group web-site.

News

Five NSF Grants Fund Syracuse University Researchers’ Work with Cosmic Explorer

(Oct. 10, 2023)

Researchers from the University’s new Center for Gravitational Wave Astronomy and Astrophysics are at the intellectual center of the next-generation observatory.

Syracuse University Launches the Center for Gravitational Wave Astronomy and Astrophysics

(Sept. 25, 2023)

The new center officially launched with an opening ceremony featuring distinguished speakers from Harvard, MIT and Princeton.

A&S Physicists Part of NSF PAARE Grant to Diversify Astrophysics

(Aug. 28, 2022)

The grant will establish a pathway to success for physics graduate students from underrepresented groups.

A&S Physicist Awarded NSF Grant to Continue Gravitational Wave Detector Research

(Aug. 19, 2022)

Professor Stefan W. Ballmer and his students are collaborating with researchers from MIT to increase detector sensitivity – a key to observing some of the Universe’s most energetic events.

A&S Physicist Stefan Ballmer Named APS Fellow

(Oct. 14, 2021)

The APS recognized Ballmer for his role in designing gravitational-wave detectors and interpreting their observations.

Physicist Awarded NSF Grant for Gravitational Wave Research

(June 12, 2020)

Using observations of neutron star collisions, Professor Duncan Brown will study the nature of matter.

Coming Into Focus

(Jan. 29, 2020)

Physics department works to improve gravitational wave detection.

Physicists Usher in 'Golden' Age of Astronomy

(Oct. 16, 2017)

Professors Saulson, Brown, Ballmer trace origins of gold and heavy metals to neutron star collisions

Physicists Relish Role in Nobel Prize-Winning Research

(Oct. 2, 2017)

Peter Saulson, Duncan Brown, and Stefan Ballmer played a lead role in the analysis of Gravitational wave signals as part of the multinational Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO)

Syracuse Alumnus Instrumental in LIGO's Third Detection of Gravitational Waves

(June 1, 2017)

Alex Nitz G'15 helped detect gravitational-wave signal with software he began developing at Syracuse

Measuring the Elusive ‘Big G’

(May 17, 2017)

Syracuse physicist part of $600,000 grant to more accurately measure gravity

Syracuse, Cal State Fullerton Awarded Grant to Enhance Diversity in Astrophysics

(Aug. 19, 2016)

Professors Duncan Brown, Stefan Ballmer use NSF grant to help recruit, train students from underrepresented groups

Syracuse University Helps Make History—Again

(June 15, 2016)

LIGO detects second pair of colliding black holes

Syracuse Physicists Among Recipients of Breakthrough, Gruber Prizes for Detection of Gravitational Waves

(May 25, 2016)

Gravitational Wave Group honored for contributions to physics, astronomy

Gravitational Waves Detected 100 Years After Einstein's Prediction

(Feb. 11, 2016)

LIGO Opens New Window on the Universe with Observation of Gravitational Waves from Colliding Black Holes

LIGO: At a Glance

(Feb. 11, 2016)

Everything you need to know about the "Theory of Everything"

Syracuse University Makes History

(Feb. 11, 2016)

Finding coincides with 100th anniversary of Einstein's Theory of Relativity (VIDEO)

Syracuse Advances Search for Gravitational Waves

(Sept. 17, 2015)

Physicists participate in first run of new Advanced LIGO Detector, after five-year rebuild

University Integral to Advanced LIGO Success

(May 27, 2015)

Physics department has been leading the search for gravitational waves for more than 25 years

Honors and Awards

  • Robert A. Millikan Postdoctoral Prize Fellowship for Experimental Astrophysics (2006), California Institute of Technology
  • Honorable Mention, GWIC (Gravitational Wave International Committee) Thesis Prize (2006)

Selected Publications

J. Abadie et.al. , "Directional limits on persistent gravitational waves using LIGO S5 science data", Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 271102 (2012).

S. Ballmer, S. Marka, P. Shawhan, "Feasibility of measuring the Shapiro time delay over meter-scale distances", Class. Quantum Grav. 27 185018.

B. Abbott, et. al., “An upper limit on the stochastic gravitational-wave background of cosmological origin” Nature 460 (2009) 990.

E. Thrane, S. Ballmer, J. D. Romano, S. Mitra, D. Talukder, S. Bose, V. Mandic, “Probing the anisotropies of a stochastic gravitational-wave background using a network of ground-based laser interferometers” Phys. Rev. D80, 122002 (2009).

M. Evans, S. Ballmer, M. Fejer, P. Fritschel, G. Harry, G. Ogin “Thermo-optic noise in coated mirrors for high-precision optical measurements” Phys. Rev. D78, 102003 (2008).