Developments toward Monolithic Suspensions for Advanced Gravitational Wave Detectors
نویسندگان
چکیده
The proposed upgrades to both the LIGO and Virgo gravitational wave observatories will seek to improve detector sensitivity by reducing thermal noise. Based on technologies first implemented at the GEO600 detector, the test mass mirrors will be suspended using fused silica fibres of either circular or rectangular cross section to form monolithic suspensions. In GEO600 cylindrical fused silica fibres were produced using a hydrogen-oxygen flame based machine. Here we report on a new CO2 laser based fibre pulling system under development in Glasgow designed to achieve higher tolerances and reduce contamination of fibres. Preliminary testing of a laser welding process suitable for constructing full scale monolithic suspensions for advanced detectors is described.
منابع مشابه
Advanced technologies for future ground-based, laser-interferometric gravitational wave detectors
We present a review of modern optical techniques being used and developed for the field of gravitational wave detection. We describe the current state-of-the-art of gravitational waves detector technologies with regard to optical layouts, suspensions and test masses. We discuss the dominant sources and noise in each of these subsystems and the developments that will help mitigate them for futur...
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In 2000 the first mirror suspensions to use a quasi-monolithic final stage were installed at the GEO600 detector site outside Hannover, pioneering the use of fused silica suspension fibers in long baseline interferometric detectors to reduce suspension thermal noise. Since that time, development of the production methods of fused silica fibers has continued. We present here a review of a novel ...
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