Topics of LIGO physics: quantum noise in advanced interferometers and template banks for compact-binary inspirals

Citation

Chen, Yanbei (2003) Topics of LIGO physics: quantum noise in advanced interferometers and template banks for compact-binary inspirals. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. http://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechETD:etd-05302003-044325

Abstract

This thesis deals with the planning for advanced interferometric gravitational-wave detectors, as well as the detection of inspiral waves using first-generation interferometers.

In Chapters 2 -- 4 (in collaboration with Alessandra Buonanno), the the signal recycling interferometer proposed for LIGO-II is studied in the two-photon formalism. This study reveals the optical spring effect, which allows the interferometer to beat the standard quantum limit, while in the same time introduces a dynamical instability. A classical control system is designed to suppress this instability. In Chapter 5 (in collaboration with Alessandra Buonanno and Nergis Mavalvala), the quantum noise in heterodyne readout schemes for advanced interferometers is studied. In Chapter 6 (in collaboration with Patricia Purdue), a QND Speed-Meter interferometer with Michelson topology is proposed, analyzed and shown to be a promising candidate for third-generation interferometers (LIGO-III or EURO). This design requires adding a kilometer-scale cavity into the interferometer. In Chapter 7, Sagnac interferometers are analyzed and shown to exhibit a similar broadband QND performance without the need of additional cavity --- as expected since these interferometers are sensitive only to time-dependent mirror displacement, and are automatic speed meters.

In Chapter 8 (in collaboration with Alessandra Buonanno and Michele Vallisneri), the Post-Newtonian (PN) breakdown at late-stage inspirals of non-spinning binary black holes is studied. We propose the use of Detection Template Families (DTFs) --- extensions of ordinary PN templates that can mimic all different PN waveforms and hence are plausible to catch the real waveform, yet do not provide straightforward parameter estimation. In Chapter 9 (in collaboration with Alessandra Buonanno and Michele Vallisneri), binaries carrying spins are studied using an adiabatic PN model. Based on features of the precession dynamics, we construct a DTF, using a modified Apostolatos' ansatz, that can mimic the modulated waveforms reasonably well, while keeping a small number of parameters to be searched over one by one, with the rest searched over automatically. We also propose a (computationally) plausible way of searching over the entire physical parameter space of neutron-star--black-hole binaries.

Thesis Files