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Improving the Performance and Sensitivity of Gravitational Wave Detectors

Citation

Quintero, Eric Antonio (2018) Improving the Performance and Sensitivity of Gravitational Wave Detectors. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/Z9DZ06HS. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:10162017-190056286

Abstract

The field of observational gravitational wave astronomy has begun in earnest, starting with the detection of the strain signal from the binary black hole merger GW150914 by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) in 2015. The current incarnation of the LIGO observatories, known as Advanced LIGO, has achieved strain sensitivities on the order of 10−23/√Hz in the hundreds of Hz region, which has enabled unambiguous detection of astrophysical gravitational wave signals. Nevertheless, the scientific output from the LIGO observatories is constrained by the instrumental performance and sensitivity, as there remain many more distant and exotic sources to be observed.

This thesis describes a few topics in experimental gravitational physics, broadly unified by the desire to improve the performance and sensitivity of gravitational wave interferometers. First, it describes an experimental effort to search for a novel form of nonlinear mechanical noise that may be relevant for the ultimate performance of the mirror sus- pension systems used throughout the instrument. Next, it summarizes work done at the CalTech 40m LIGO controls prototype to realize its fully operational state, and a novel automated controls algorithm developed and tested there that may be useful in simplifying the control of current and future interferometers. Finally, it describes work done on a system to identify and subtract unwanted noise couplings out of recorded aLIGO strain data in an automated fashion. The noise subtraction system applied to GW150914 is demonstrated to reduce the uncertainties of the black hole mass parameters by about 10%.

Item Type:Thesis (Dissertation (Ph.D.))
Subject Keywords:LIGO, Gravitational Wave, Interferometer, Noise Subtraction
Degree Grantor:California Institute of Technology
Division:Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy
Major Option:Physics
Thesis Availability:Public (worldwide access)
Research Advisor(s):
  • Adhikari, Rana
Group:LIGO
Thesis Committee:
  • Adhikari, Rana (chair)
  • Weinstein, Alan Jay
  • Zmuidzinas, Jonas
  • Chen, Yanbei
Defense Date:25 September 2017
Other Numbering System:
Other Numbering System NameOther Numbering System ID
LIGO P1700380
Record Number:CaltechTHESIS:10162017-190056286
Persistent URL:https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:10162017-190056286
DOI:10.7907/Z9DZ06HS
Related URLs:
URLURL TypeDescription
https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4953114DOIArticle adapted for Chapter 2
ORCID:
AuthorORCID
Quintero, Eric Antonio0000-0002-4269-3445
Default Usage Policy:No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided.
ID Code:10521
Collection:CaltechTHESIS
Deposited By: Eric Quintero
Deposited On:14 Nov 2017 23:01
Last Modified:26 Oct 2021 18:16

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