He Wang PRO
Knowledge increases by sharing but not by saving.
2026/01/27 | Flash Talk
GWFREERIDE: Carving the AI Gradient in Gravitational-Wave Astronomy
The LLM does not predict answers — it reshapes how we search for algorithms.
Evaluation for MLGWSC-1 benchmark
LLMs act as policies over algorithms, not predictors of data.
Concept
Mechanism
problem → algorithm
data → algorithm → reward
↺ LLM-guided algorithm updates
from problem-solving to algorithm discovery
HW, LZ. arXiv:2508.03661 [cs.AI]
LLM-Driven Algorithmic Evolution Through Reflective Code Synthesis.
HW, LZ. arXiv:2508.03661 [cs.AI]
Monte Carlo Tree Search (MCTS) Algorithmic Evolution Pathway
What changed?
LLMs propose actions that guide the search
Evaluations (fitness/likelihood/...) become reusable memory
Search trajectories matter more than isolated optima.
The LLM does not predict answers — it reshapes how we search for algorithms.
Algorithmic Component Impact Analysis.
import numpy as np
import scipy.signal as signal
from scipy.signal.windows import tukey
from scipy.signal import savgol_filter
def pipeline_v2(strain_h1: np.ndarray, strain_l1: np.ndarray, times: np.ndarray) -> tuple[np.ndarray, np.ndarray, np.ndarray]:
"""
The pipeline function processes gravitational wave data from the H1 and L1 detectors to identify potential gravitational wave signals.
It takes strain_h1 and strain_l1 numpy arrays containing detector data, and times array with corresponding time points.
The function returns a tuple of three numpy arrays: peak_times containing GPS times of identified events,
peak_heights with significance values of each peak, and peak_deltat showing time window uncertainty for each peak.
"""
eps = np.finfo(float).tiny
dt = times[1] - times[0]
fs = 1.0 / dt
# Base spectrogram parameters
base_nperseg = 256
base_noverlap = base_nperseg // 2
medfilt_kernel = 101 # odd kernel size for robust detrending
uncertainty_window = 5 # half-window for local timing uncertainty
# -------------------- Stage 1: Robust Baseline Detrending --------------------
# Remove long-term trends using a median filter for each channel.
detrended_h1 = strain_h1 - signal.medfilt(strain_h1, kernel_size=medfilt_kernel)
detrended_l1 = strain_l1 - signal.medfilt(strain_l1, kernel_size=medfilt_kernel)
# -------------------- Stage 2: Adaptive Whitening with Enhanced PSD Smoothing --------------------
def adaptive_whitening(strain: np.ndarray) -> np.ndarray:
# Center the signal.
centered = strain - np.mean(strain)
n_samples = len(centered)
# Adaptive window length: between 5 and 30 seconds
win_length_sec = np.clip(n_samples / fs / 20, 5, 30)
nperseg_adapt = int(win_length_sec * fs)
nperseg_adapt = max(10, min(nperseg_adapt, n_samples))
# Create a Tukey window with 75% overlap.
tukey_alpha = 0.25
win = tukey(nperseg_adapt, alpha=tukey_alpha)
noverlap_adapt = int(nperseg_adapt * 0.75)
if noverlap_adapt >= nperseg_adapt:
noverlap_adapt = nperseg_adapt - 1
# Estimate the power spectral density (PSD) using Welch's method.
freqs, psd = signal.welch(centered, fs=fs, nperseg=nperseg_adapt,
noverlap=noverlap_adapt, window=win, detrend='constant')
psd = np.maximum(psd, eps)
# Compute relative differences for PSD stationarity measure.
diff_arr = np.abs(np.diff(psd)) / (psd[:-1] + eps)
# Smooth the derivative with a moving average.
if len(diff_arr) >= 3:
smooth_diff = np.convolve(diff_arr, np.ones(3)/3, mode='same')
else:
smooth_diff = diff_arr
# Exponential smoothing (Kalman-like) with adaptive alpha using PSD stationarity.
smoothed_psd = np.copy(psd)
for i in range(1, len(psd)):
# Adaptive smoothing coefficient: base 0.8 modified by local stationarity (±0.05)
local_alpha = np.clip(0.8 - 0.05 * smooth_diff[min(i-1, len(smooth_diff)-1)], 0.75, 0.85)
smoothed_psd[i] = local_alpha * smoothed_psd[i-1] + (1 - local_alpha) * psd[i]
# Compute Tikhonov regularization gain based on deviation from median PSD.
noise_baseline = np.median(smoothed_psd)
raw_gain = (smoothed_psd / (noise_baseline + eps)) - 1.0
# Compute a causal-like gradient using the Savitzky-Golay filter.
win_len = 11 if len(smoothed_psd) >= 11 else ((len(smoothed_psd)//2)*2+1)
polyorder = 2 if win_len > 2 else 1
delta_freq = np.mean(np.diff(freqs))
grad_psd = savgol_filter(smoothed_psd, win_len, polyorder, deriv=1, delta=delta_freq, mode='interp')
# Nonlinear scaling via sigmoid to enhance gradient differences.
sigmoid = lambda x: 1.0 / (1.0 + np.exp(-x))
scaling_factor = 1.0 + 2.0 * sigmoid(np.abs(grad_psd) / (np.median(smoothed_psd) + eps))
# Compute adaptive gain factors with nonlinear scaling.
gain = 1.0 - np.exp(-0.5 * scaling_factor * raw_gain)
gain = np.clip(gain, -8.0, 8.0)
# FFT-based whitening: interpolate gain and PSD onto FFT frequency bins.
signal_fft = np.fft.rfft(centered)
freq_bins = np.fft.rfftfreq(n_samples, d=dt)
interp_gain = np.interp(freq_bins, freqs, gain, left=gain[0], right=gain[-1])
interp_psd = np.interp(freq_bins, freqs, smoothed_psd, left=smoothed_psd[0], right=smoothed_psd[-1])
denom = np.sqrt(interp_psd) * (np.abs(interp_gain) + eps)
denom = np.maximum(denom, eps)
white_fft = signal_fft / denom
whitened = np.fft.irfft(white_fft, n=n_samples)
return whitened
# Whiten H1 and L1 channels using the adapted method.
white_h1 = adaptive_whitening(detrended_h1)
white_l1 = adaptive_whitening(detrended_l1)
# -------------------- Stage 3: Coherent Time-Frequency Metric with Frequency-Conditioned Regularization --------------------
def compute_coherent_metric(w1: np.ndarray, w2: np.ndarray) -> tuple[np.ndarray, np.ndarray]:
# Compute complex spectrograms preserving phase information.
f1, t_spec, Sxx1 = signal.spectrogram(w1, fs=fs, nperseg=base_nperseg,
noverlap=base_noverlap, mode='complex', detrend=False)
f2, t_spec2, Sxx2 = signal.spectrogram(w2, fs=fs, nperseg=base_nperseg,
noverlap=base_noverlap, mode='complex', detrend=False)
# Ensure common time axis length.
common_len = min(len(t_spec), len(t_spec2))
t_spec = t_spec[:common_len]
Sxx1 = Sxx1[:, :common_len]
Sxx2 = Sxx2[:, :common_len]
# Compute phase differences and coherence between detectors.
phase_diff = np.angle(Sxx1) - np.angle(Sxx2)
phase_coherence = np.abs(np.cos(phase_diff))
# Estimate median PSD per frequency bin from the spectrograms.
psd1 = np.median(np.abs(Sxx1)**2, axis=1)
psd2 = np.median(np.abs(Sxx2)**2, axis=1)
# Frequency-conditioned regularization gain (reflection-guided).
lambda_f = 0.5 * ((np.median(psd1) / (psd1 + eps)) + (np.median(psd2) / (psd2 + eps)))
lambda_f = np.clip(lambda_f, 1e-4, 1e-2)
# Regularization denominator integrating detector PSDs and lambda.
reg_denom = (psd1[:, None] + psd2[:, None] + lambda_f[:, None] + eps)
# Weighted phase coherence that balances phase alignment with noise levels.
weighted_comp = phase_coherence / reg_denom
# Compute axial (frequency) second derivatives as curvature estimates.
d2_coh = np.gradient(np.gradient(phase_coherence, axis=0), axis=0)
avg_curvature = np.mean(np.abs(d2_coh), axis=0)
# Nonlinear activation boost using tanh for regions of high curvature.
nonlinear_boost = np.tanh(5 * avg_curvature)
linear_boost = 1.0 + 0.1 * avg_curvature
# Cross-detector synergy: weight derived from global median consistency.
novel_weight = np.mean((np.median(psd1) + np.median(psd2)) / (psd1[:, None] + psd2[:, None] + eps), axis=0)
# Integrated time-frequency metric combining all enhancements.
tf_metric = np.sum(weighted_comp * linear_boost * (1.0 + nonlinear_boost), axis=0) * novel_weight
# Adjust the spectrogram time axis to account for window delay.
metric_times = t_spec + times[0] + (base_nperseg / 2) / fs
return tf_metric, metric_times
tf_metric, metric_times = compute_coherent_metric(white_h1, white_l1)
# -------------------- Stage 4: Multi-Resolution Thresholding with Octave-Spaced Dyadic Wavelet Validation --------------------
def multi_resolution_thresholding(metric: np.ndarray, times_arr: np.ndarray) -> tuple[np.ndarray, np.ndarray, np.ndarray]:
# Robust background estimation with median and MAD.
bg_level = np.median(metric)
mad_val = np.median(np.abs(metric - bg_level))
robust_std = 1.4826 * mad_val
threshold = bg_level + 1.5 * robust_std
# Identify candidate peaks using prominence and minimum distance criteria.
peaks, _ = signal.find_peaks(metric, height=threshold, distance=2, prominence=0.8 * robust_std)
if peaks.size == 0:
return np.array([]), np.array([]), np.array([])
# Local uncertainty estimation using a Gaussian-weighted convolution.
win_range = np.arange(-uncertainty_window, uncertainty_window + 1)
sigma = uncertainty_window / 2.5
gauss_kernel = np.exp(-0.5 * (win_range / sigma) ** 2)
gauss_kernel /= np.sum(gauss_kernel)
weighted_mean = np.convolve(metric, gauss_kernel, mode='same')
weighted_sq = np.convolve(metric ** 2, gauss_kernel, mode='same')
variances = np.maximum(weighted_sq - weighted_mean ** 2, 0.0)
uncertainties = np.sqrt(variances)
uncertainties = np.maximum(uncertainties, 0.01)
valid_times = []
valid_heights = []
valid_uncerts = []
n_metric = len(metric)
# Compute a simple second derivative for local curvature checking.
if n_metric > 2:
second_deriv = np.diff(metric, n=2)
second_deriv = np.pad(second_deriv, (1, 1), mode='edge')
else:
second_deriv = np.zeros_like(metric)
# Use octave-spaced scales (dyadic wavelet validation) to validate peak significance.
widths = np.arange(1, 9) # approximate scales 1 to 8
for peak in peaks:
# Skip peaks lacking sufficient negative curvature.
if second_deriv[peak] > -0.1 * robust_std:
continue
local_start = max(0, peak - uncertainty_window)
local_end = min(n_metric, peak + uncertainty_window + 1)
local_segment = metric[local_start:local_end]
if len(local_segment) < 3:
continue
try:
cwt_coeff = signal.cwt(local_segment, signal.ricker, widths)
except Exception:
continue
max_coeff = np.max(np.abs(cwt_coeff))
# Threshold for validating the candidate using local MAD.
cwt_thresh = mad_val * np.sqrt(2 * np.log(len(local_segment) + eps))
if max_coeff >= cwt_thresh:
valid_times.append(times_arr[peak])
valid_heights.append(metric[peak])
valid_uncerts.append(uncertainties[peak])
if len(valid_times) == 0:
return np.array([]), np.array([]), np.array([])
return np.array(valid_times), np.array(valid_heights), np.array(valid_uncerts)
peak_times, peak_heights, peak_deltat = multi_resolution_thresholding(tf_metric, metric_times)
return peak_times, peak_heights, peak_deltatPT Level 5
Integrated Architecture Validation
Contributions of knowledge synthesis
LLM Model Selection and Robustness Analysis
o3-mini-medium
o1-2024-12-17
gpt-4o-2024-11-20
claude-3-7-sonnet-20250219-thinking
59.1%
115%
AI and Cosmology: From Computational Tools to Scientific Discovery
Contributions of knowledge synthesis
59.1%
115%
59.1%
### External Knowledge Integration
1. **Non-linear** Processing Core Concepts:
- Signal Transformation:
* Non-linear vs linear decomposition
* Adaptive threshold mechanisms
* Multi-scale analysis
- Feature Extraction:
* Phase space reconstruction
* Topological data analysis
* Wavelet-based detection
- Statistical Analysis:
* Robust estimators
* Non-Gaussian processes
* Higher-order statistics
2. Implementation Principles:
- Prioritize adaptive over fixed parameters
- Consider local vs global characteristics
- Balance computational cost with accuracy
✓ Fully interpretable
✗ Performance ceiling
Human-designed pipelines
Fixed heuristics
Examples:
Matched filtering
χ² tests
✓ High performance
✗ Opaque decisions
End-to-end prediction
Model-centric learning
Examples:
CNNs, DINGO
Algorithms as search objects
Physics-informed objectives
Example:
Evo-MCTS (this work)
AlphaEvolve
Scientific discovery requires interpretability — not just performance.
AI should help us understand why an algorithm works — not just output an answer.
PyCBC (linear-core)
cWB (nonlinear-core)
Simple filters (non-linear)
CNN-like (highly non-linear)
Benchmarking against state-of-the-art methods
(MLGWSC1)
HW, LZ. arXiv:2508.03661 [cs.AI]
Interpretable AI Approach
The best of both worlds
Input
Physics-Informed
Algorithm
(High interpretability)
Output
Example: Evo-MCTS, AlphaEvolve
AI Model
Physics
Knowledge
Traditional Physics Approach
Input
Human-Designed Algorithm
(Based on human insight)
Output
Example: Matched Filtering, linear regression
Black-Box AI Approach
Input
AI Model
(Low interpretability)
Output
Examples: CNN, AlphaGo, DINGO
Data/
Experience
Data/
Experience
🎯 OUR WORK
Scientific discovery requires interpretability, not just performance.
Scientific discovery requires interpretability — not just performance.
AI should help us understand why an algorithm works — not just output an answer.
Any algorithm design problem can be seen as an optimization problem
vs
From single-pipeline performance to ensemble unbiasedness
We emphasize evaluating complementarity and ensemble behavior rather than single-pipeline superiority.
What LVK already does
GWTC catalogs rely on multiple independent pipelines
A candidate proceeds if any pipeline produces a confidence trigger
This already forms an implicit ensemble
Ensembling is already standard practice — just not explicitly analyzed.
The missing question
Each pipeline carries distinct inductive biases
(eg: duration, morphology, noise response, parameter coverage).
cWB
GstLAL
PyCBC
AI_1
AI_2
AI_3
AI_n
Is the ensemble unbiased?
LVK anchor pipelines
(selected)
Ensemble evaluation
MLGWSC-2 is under proposal development with active community input (e.g. Nitz, Dent, Messenger, ...).
Related works
“I don’t claim this is solved. I claim the framing matters.”
Global fitting is not a single inference — it is a long-horizon control problem.
preliminary
preliminary
MH Du+, arXiv:2505.16500 [gr-qc]
| MDP Element | GW Interpretation |
|---|---|
| State | Residuals, PSD drift, candidate list |
| Action | Propose/subtract/refine/allocate compute |
| Reward | Evidence gain, residual stationarity |
| Horizon | Entire observing run |
A trajectory tree of global-fitting decisions over time
Nodes: residual states
Edges: modeling actions
(HW+, in preparation)
Global fitting as a Markov Decision Process (MDP)
for _ in range(num_of_audiences):
print('Thank you for your attention! 🙏')Call for Speakers - MLA F2F @ March LVK 2026 (Pisa)
Just a gentle reminder that we’re collecting contributions for the Machine Learning Algorithms (MLA) section!
By He Wang
2026/01/27 | Flash Talk @GWFREERIDE | Abstract: Upcoming challenges such as MLGWSC2, currently at the proposal stage, provide a new testbed for exploring machine-learning–based approaches to gravitational-wave analysis. In this flash talk, I briefly introduce my core ideas and experience using evolutionary algorithms, Evo-MCTS, and reinforcement learning as adaptive search and optimization tools. I outline key methodological insights and discuss how these ideas may inform future GW analysis tasks, including potential applications to LISA.