Erlangen 2018 – scientific programme

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A: Fachverband Atomphysik

A 36: Precision Measurements and Metrology (Gravity and Miscellaneous) (joint session Q/A)

A 36.2: Talk

Thursday, March 8, 2018, 10:45–11:00, K 2.013

Pre-stabilized laser system for future gravitational-wave detectors at a wavelength of 1550nm — •Fabian Thies, Nico Koper, and Benno Willke — Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics, Hannover, Germany

To reduce thermal noise in future gravitational-wave detectors(GWDs)[1] and in updated current detectors[2] the use of cryogenic test masses is proposed. Silicon is a promising material for these test masses, because of its high mechanical quality factor and the good thermal conductivity at cryogenic temperatures. The use of silicon requires a laser source at a wavelength of 1550nm or longer.

Currently commercial available laser systems do not fulfill the demanding requirements concerning the laser power, frequency and intensity noise and the spatial beam profile of future GWDs.

We will use a low noise laser at the wavelength of 1550nm as a seed for erbium-ytterbium fiber amplifiers, to get into the range of the proposed laser power levels. To reach the demanded noise levels active stabilizations are necessary in such a laser system for GWDs.

Here we present the results of the characterization of several possible seed lasers and of a fiber ring cavity as an in-fiber frequency sensor.

[1]ET Science Team, ET conceptual design document ET-0106C-10, http://www.et-gw.eu/index.php/etdsdocument

[2]LIGO Scientic Collaboration, Instrument Science White Paper, https://dcc.ligo.org/public/0113/T1400316/004/T1400316-v5.pdf