Lisa Barsotti is a principal research scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Kavli Institute at the LIGO Laboratory, beginning her career in 2010.

Biography

Barsotti was born June 1,1978 and was raised in Pisa, Italy. She obtained her PhD in applied physics from University of Pisa in 2006 on The control of the Virgo interferometer for gravitational wave detection and moved to the United States in 2007 to work on the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO).[1]

Barsotti was involved in the discovery of gravitational waves reported in 2016.[2]

She currently investigates technology to improve gravitational wave detection using squeezed states of life, which led an upgrade to LIGO in 2017, known as Virgo.[1][3][4][5]

Main themes of her work include astronomy, remote sensing, optics, interferometry, laser, electric field, and sensitivity.

Reflecting on her work, she has expressed that, even in the years before detections were made, she found fulfillment in the challenge of utilizing highly sophisticated instruments and contributing to the understanding of Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity. She admires the hard work and diverse knowledge of those she's worked with. She views the prize as a recognition of the collective efforts of scientists worldwide who have pushed the boundaries of gravitational wave research.[6]

Honors and awards

Selected publications

References

  1. ^ a b "Lisa Barsotti". Inspiring Fifty: Italy. Archived from the original on 1 January 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  2. ^ Zain Humayun (13 March 2020). "The Chirp Heard 'Round the World: LIGO's Lisa Barsotti Reflects on a Landmark Discovery". Knight Science Journalism @MIT.
  3. ^ Jennifer Chu (5 December 2019). "New instrument extends LIGO's reach". MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
  4. ^ "Squeezing Improves LIGO's Sensitivity to Quantum Noise". www.photonics.com. 10 December 2019.
  5. ^ Jennifer Chu (1 April 2019). "3 Questions: Lisa Barsotti on the new and improved LIGO". MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
  6. ^ "Breakthrough Prize – Fundamental Physics Breakthrough Prize Laureates – Lisa Barsotti". breakthroughprize.org. Retrieved 17 March 2025.
  7. ^ "APS Fellow Archive". www.aps.org.
  8. ^ "Breakthrough Prize – Fundamental Physics Breakthrough Prize Laureates – Lisa Barsotti". breakthroughprize.org.
  9. ^ ""I'm doing something that is bigger than me": Lisa Barsotti on being a scientist". 7 August 2019 – via www.youtube.com.
  10. ^ Romano, Anna (26 June 2019). "Premio Capperuccio a Lisa Barsotti". Telegranducato di Toscana.
  11. ^ "Il Premio Capperuccio a Lisa Barsotti". Città di Livorno. 24 June 2019.
  12. ^ "Capperuccio, il Lions Club Porto Mediceo premia Lisa Barsotti". LivornoToday. 4 June 2019.
  13. ^ "Italy 2021". Inspiring Fifty: Italy. 2021. Archived from the original on 16 March 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
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