Length sensing and control of a prototype advanced interferometric gravitational wave detector

Citation

Ward, Robert L (2010) Length sensing and control of a prototype advanced interferometric gravitational wave detector. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. http://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:05252010-134621351

Abstract

There is a worldwide effort to directly detect gravitational radiation. The Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) operates three kilometer-scale interferometric gravitational wave detectors at two sites: two in Hanford, WA and one in Livingston, LA. A significant upgrade, called Advanced LIGO, is planned for these detectors. The core work of this thesis involves using a 40m prototype interferometer on the Caltech campus to study length and sensing and control techniques for Advanced LIGO. The principal results are the development of a lock acquisition protocol for an advanced detector and a comparison of noise couplings between two gravitational wave signal extraction techniques, called RF and DC readout. In addition, a search in LIGO data was carried out for broadband, long-duration stochastic gravitational waves emitted from point sources. The results of this search are presented.

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