Small-Sized Interferometer with Fabry–Perot Resonators for Gravitational Wave Detection

Interferometer techniques for gravitational-wave detection

Several km-scale gravitational-wave detectors have been constructed world wide. These instruments combine a number of advanced technologies to push the limits of precision length measurement. The core devices are laser interferometers of a new kind; developed from the classical Michelson topology these interferometers integrate additional optical elements, which significantly change the propert...

Sagnac interferometer for gravitational-wave detection.

We have investigated a zero-area Sagnac interferometer as a broad band gravitational-wave detector. Frequency response measurements of a laboratory-scale interferometer are in excellent agreement with theory. The measured contrast ratio, 0.996, is insensitive to induced birefringence, laser-frequency variation, arm imbalance, and dc mirror displacement. A near shot-noise-limited phase sensitivi...

Polarization Sagnac interferometer with postmodulation for gravitational-wave detection.

We describe a polarization Sagnac interferometer with an in-loop half-wave plate that allows signal detection at the reciprocal port of the beam splitter while maintaining the ability to detect the signal at a dark fringe. Postmodulation and balanced heterodyne detection are used to recover the signal. This topology is simple to control because of its common-path characteristics and its colline...

The Virgo 3 km interferometer for gravitational wave detection

VIRGO, a French-Italian collaboration located in Cascina (Pisa, Italy) aiming at the detection of gravitational waves, is a ground based power recycled Michelson interferometer, which arms are 3-km-long Fabry-Perot suspended cavities. The VIRGO first scientific data taking has started in mid may 2007 in coincidence with the corresponding American detectors. The optical scheme of the interferome...

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