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2026-2027 / SPAT0264-1

Machine Learning for Gravitational-wave Astronomy

Durée

10h Th, 20h Pr

Nombre de crédits

 Master en science des données, à finalité spécialisée5 crédits 
 Master : ingénieur civil en science des données, à finalité spécialisée5 crédits 

Enseignant

Maxime Fays

Langue(s) de l'unité d'enseignement

Langue anglaise

Organisation et évaluation

Enseignement au deuxième quadrimestre

Horaire

Horaire en ligne

Unités d'enseignement prérequises et corequises

Les unités prérequises ou corequises sont présentées au sein de chaque programme

Contenus de l'unité d'enseignement

This course explores the application of machine learning to gravitational-wave astronomy. Through lectures and practical work, students investigate how machine learning methods can identify and characterise astrophysical signals in noisy interferometer data.

The following list indicates the range of applications and methods from which course topics will be selected. The selection and depth of coverage may vary according to students' prior knowledge, course progression, available time and developments in the field. Not all listed topics will necessarily be covered.

Potential topics include:

  • Gravitational-wave detection: identifying signals from astrophysical sources, including binary black holes and neutron stars.

  • Signal processing and denoising: exploring methods such as sparse dictionary learning and autoencoders for denoising and glitch mitigation.

  • Time-series analysis: applying recurrent neural networks, including long short-term memory (LSTM) networks, to transient signal detection.

  • Convolutional neural networks (CNNs): analysing gravitational-wave data and time-frequency representations for detection and classification.

  • Anomaly detection: identifying unusual features in interferometer data, including applications of convolutional autoencoders.

  • Generative adversarial networks (GANs): exploring synthetic data generation and data augmentation for machine learning applications.

  • Gradient boosting, including XGBoost: classification and regression applications in gravitational-wave data analysis.

Acquis d'apprentissage (objectifs d'apprentissage) de l'unité d'enseignement

By the end of the course, students should be able to:

  • Formulate a gravitational-wave data analysis problem as a machine learning task.

  • Prepare and analyse interferometer datasets, recognising the challenges posed by noise, glitches and limitations in the data.

  • Implement selected machine learning methods using Python and Jupyter notebooks.

  • Evaluate model performance and interpret the results in their astrophysical context.

  • Explain and justify methodological choices, assumptions and limitations.

  • Critically assess scientific explanations, code and results, including LLM-generated material where used.

Savoirs et compétences prérequis

Students should have a solid foundation in Python programming and basic machine learning concepts. Prior knowledge of gravitational-wave astronomy is also recommended.

Activités d'apprentissage prévues et méthodes d'enseignement

The course combines lectures with practical projects using real gravitational-wave datasets and Jupyter notebooks. Students develop and apply machine learning methods under the instructor's guidance. Group discussions and student presentations provide opportunities to explain methodological choices, compare approaches and interpret results.

During this academic year, the instructor will pilot the use of large language models (LLMs), with the aim of providing each student with personalised lecture slides and notebooks based on the instructor's course materials. Personalisation will draw on an initial questionnaire and feedback during the course. The approach will be reviewed throughout the year and may be adapted or discontinued in response to student feedback, its educational effectiveness and the availability of technical resources.

Learning activities may also include guided critical review of scientific explanations, code and results, including LLM-generated material. Students may use LLMs to support these review activities, following guidance and prompts provided by the instructor. Discussions will focus on assessing accuracy, examining assumptions and limitations, and justifying proposed corrections.

Mode d'enseignement (présentiel, à distance, hybride)

Cours donné exclusivement en présentiel


Informations complémentaires:

The course will be delivered in person, with flexibility for online discussions or assignments as needed.

Supports de cours, lectures obligatoires ou recommandées

Plate-forme(s) utilisée(s) pour les supports de cours :
- MyULiège


Informations complémentaires:

Course materials will be made available through MyULiège and will include lecture slides, Jupyter notebooks, Python tutorials and selected research papers on machine learning applied to gravitational-wave data analysis. Any required readings will be identified explicitly.

Personalised versions of the lecture slides and notebooks may also be provided as part of the LLM teaching pilot. LLM-adapted materials will be identified as such and may be revised during the course following review and student feedback.

Modalités d'évaluation et critères

Examen(s) en session

Toutes sessions confondues

- En présentiel

évaluation orale

Travail à rendre - rapport


Informations complémentaires:

  • An oral exam to assess students' understanding of both gravitational-wave concepts and the machine learning techniques discussed during the course.
  • A homework assignment that will be graded, focused on applying machine learning methods to gravitational-wave data.

Stage(s)

Remarques organisationnelles et modifications principales apportées au cours

Sessions will typically combine discussion of the relevant gravitational-wave and machine learning concepts with practical work using Jupyter notebooks.

The main teaching development this academic year is the pilot of personalised learning materials described above. Students will be invited to provide feedback on their clarity, usefulness and accuracy throughout the course. This feedback will inform revisions to the materials and decisions about the scope and continuation of the pilot. Any adjustments will be communicated to students during the course.

Contacts

Maxime Fays

(maxime.fays@uliege.be)

Room 4.43 Bât. B5A

Inter. fondamentales en physique et astrophysique (IFPA)

Quartier Agora allée du six Août 19

4000 Liège

Téléphone de service: +32 4 3663643  

Association d'un ou plusieurs MOOCs