为宇宙探测器（Cosmic Explorer，CE）确定成本效益高的选址
Identifying Cost-Favorable Locations for Cosmic Explorer
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中文总结 AI 辅助
本文设计了Python软件包CELS，结合场地准备成本与探测器科学影响，为下一代引力波天文台CE在美国本土确定成本效益高的候选站点，其分析补充了相关适宜性研究。
中文摘要 AI 辅助
宇宙探测器（Cosmic Explorer，CE）是拟议中的下一代引力波天文台，旨在将人类的引力波观测能力扩展到可观测宇宙的边缘。该探测器以美国国家科学基金会的激光干涉引力波天文台（Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory，LIGO）所验证的技术为基础，将观测宇宙不同时期的黑洞和中子星，以高保真度探索极端物质的性质，并研究引力的本质和基础物理学。CE的参考设计包含两个间距较远的L形探测器，拟位于美国本土，其中一个臂长20公里，另一个臂长40公里。截至2026年，CE正处于设计和选址评估阶段，计划于21世纪40年代初与欧洲的爱因斯坦望远镜（Einstein Telescope）一同开始观测。CE天文台的规模——比4公里臂长的LIGO天文台大一个数量级——为确定合适的候选站点带来了重大挑战，这些站点需满足CE的科学目标、在成本范围内建造、吸引并留住劳动力，且符合社区价值观。本文中，我们介绍了一款名为宇宙探测器选址搜索（Cosmic Explorer Location Search，CELS）的Python软件包的设计与应用，以确定CE的成本效益高的站点。对于美国本土内指定的探测器位置和L形几何结构，CELS会估算与挖掘、土地清理和土地购置相关的场地准备成本，同时考虑探测器倾斜、臂长和臂张开角的科学影响。在描述该软件包的方法后，我们展示了一项国家级成本与定位分析的结果，该分析补充了近期的一项国家级适宜性分析。我们还讨论了CELS未来的改进方向，随着CE团队缩小潜在地点的范围，这些改进将支持更深入、更本地化的研究。
英文摘要
Cosmic Explorer (CE) is a proposed next-generation gravitational-wave observatory that aims to extend our gravitational-wave vision to the edge of the observable universe. With a foundation of technology proven by the National Science Foundation's Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO), CE will observe black holes and neutron stars across cosmic time, explore the nature of extreme matter with high fidelity, and probe the nature of gravity and fundamental physics. CE's reference design consists of two widely separated L-shaped detectors to be located in the conterminous United States, one with 20 km arms and one with 40 km arms. As of 2026, CE is in its design and site evaluation phase, with plans to begin observing in the early 2040s together with the Einstein Telescope in Europe. The size of CE observatories---up to an order of magnitude larger than the 4 km LIGO observatories---presents a significant challenge for identifying suitable candidate sites where CE will achieve its science goals, be built within cost boundaries, attract and retain a workforce, and align with community values. In this paper, we report on the design and use of a Python package, the Cosmic Explorer Location Search (CELS) package, to identify cost-favorable sites for CE. For a specified detector location and L-shaped geometry in the conterminous United States, CELS estimates site-preparation costs associated with excavation, land clearing, and land acquisition, while accounting for the scientific effects of detector tilt, arm length, and arm opening angle. After describing the package's methods, we present results for a national-level cost and positioning analysis that complements a recent national suitability analysis. We also discuss how future improvements to CELS will allow deeper, more local studies as the Cosmic Explorer team narrows its list of potential locations.
