Dresden 2009 – scientific programme
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TT: Fachverband Tiefe Temperaturen
TT 31: Matter at Low Temperature: Materials
TT 31.3: Talk
Wednesday, March 25, 2009, 16:15–16:30, HSZ 304
Experimental setup for investigation of mechanical losses of thin dielectric films at low temperatures — •Christian Schwarz1, Stefanie Kroker1, Ronny Nawrodt2, Daniel Heinert1, Stuart Reid2, Iain Martin2, Eleanor Chalkley2, Ralf Neubert1, Wolfgang Vodel1, Andreas Tünnermann3, Sheila Rowan2, Jim Hough2, and Paul Seidel1 — 1Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Institut für Festkörperphysik, Helmholtzweg 5, D-07743 Jena, Germany — 2University of Glasgow, Institute for Gravitational Research, Kelvinbuilding, University Avenue, G12 8QQ Glasgow, Scotland — 3Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Institut für Angewandte Physik, Albert-Einstein-Straße 15, D-07745 Jena, Germany
Low mechanical loss materials are needed for enhanced future gravitational wave detectors in order to reduce thermal noise. The dielectric layers needed to form optical components play a crucial role. We present an experimental setup for the investigation of the mechanical losses of thin (<1 µm) dielectric films on silicon cantilevers over a temperature range from 5 to 300 K. The experimental limits of the setup are investigated and discussed. First results on uncoated and coated cantilevers are presented. The cantilevers are coated with tantala (Ta2O5) by means of electron beam evaporation.
This work is in part supported by the German science foundation DFG under contract SFB TR7.