Compact Michelson Interferometers with Subpicometer Sensitivity
Abstract
The network of interferometric gravitational-wave observatories has successfully detected tens of astrophysical signals since 2015. In this paper, we experimentally investigate compact sensors that have the potential to improve the sensitivity of gravitational-wave detectors to intermediate-mass black holes. We use only commercial components, such as sensing heads and lasers, to assemble the setup and demonstrate its subpicometer precision. The setup consists of a pair of Michelson interferometers that use deep frequency modulation techniques to obtain a linear, relative displacement readout over multiple interference fringes. We implement a laser-frequency stabilization scheme to achieve a sensitivity of 0.3 pm/√Hz above 0.1 Hz. The device has also the potential to improve other experiments, such as torsion balances and commercial seismometers.
Additional Information
We thank members of the LIGO SWG group for useful discussions and Michael Ross for his valuable feedback. The authors acknowledge the support of the Institute for Gravitational Wave Astronomy at the University of Birmingham, STFC 2018 Equipment Call ST/S002154/1, STFC "Astrophysics at the University of Birmingham" Grant No. ST/S000305/1. A.S.U. and J.S. are supported by STFC studentships 2117289 and 2116965. O.G. is supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) under Germany's Excellence Strategy — EXC 2121 "Quantum Universe" — 390833306, and by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF, Project 05A20GU5).Additional details
- Eprint ID
- 117215
- Resolver ID
- CaltechAUTHORS:20221003-756400000.25
- ST/S002154/1
- Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
- ST/S000305/1
- Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
- 2117289
- Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
- 2116965
- Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
- 390900948
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)
- 05A20GU5
- Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF)
- Created
-
2022-10-09Created from EPrint's datestamp field
- Updated
-
2022-10-09Created from EPrint's last_modified field
- Caltech groups
- LIGO