CaltechTHESIS
  A Caltech Library Service

Mitigating Noise in Interferometric Gravitational Wave Detectors

Citation

Korth, William Zachary (2019) Mitigating Noise in Interferometric Gravitational Wave Detectors. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/4H7V-W213. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:05292019-020613259

Abstract

Gravitational waves, first predicted by Einstein in 1916, eluded detection for nearly a century. These faint ripples in the fabric of spacetime, with typical strain amplitudes at the Earth on the order of |h| ∼ 10−22, carry secrets of the universe untold by electromagnetic radiation. Following decades of research and development, a network of terrestrial interferometric detectors succeeded in measuring the passing of a gravitational wave (GW150914) for the first time in 2015. Individual detectors within this network are currently said to be operating in a “second-generation” configuration; over the next decade, planned upgrades will take these detectors beyond this into a new generation. This thesis concerns the characterization and reduction of noise in one of these second-generation detectors, Advanced LIGO, as well as efforts underway to improve its sensitivity in the coming years.

The first part of this thesis is a detailed overview of gravitational waves, the history of gravitational wave detection, and a reasonably thorough description of the Advanced LIGO detector. Particular attention is paid to a pedagogical motivation of the optical configuration of Advanced LIGO with reference to its forebears. This part ends with an overview of the sources of noise limiting the sensitivity of Advanced LIGO, and an exposition of plans to reduce their influence in the future.

The second part describes the development of a laser gyroscope for use in tilt sensing in Advanced LIGO, starting with a motivation of the work based on limitations in the area of seismic noise sensing and cancellation.

The third part recounts the design, fabrication, testing, installation and commissioning of an important component of the Advanced LIGO detector: the output mode cleaner (OMC).

The fourth part outlines a proposed scheme for reduction of quantum noise in gravitational wave detectors and other experiments. In particular, this scheme allows for the operation of a so-called “optical spring” cavity in such a way as to be largely immune from the deleterious effects of quantum radiation pressure noise.

The fifth and final part describes progress towards a direct measurement of thermal noise in thin silicon ribbons, which is pertinent to the design of suspensions in future cryogenic gravitational wave detectors.

This thesis has the internal LIGO document number P1900035.

Item Type:Thesis (Dissertation (Ph.D.))
Subject Keywords:LIGO; gravitational waves; laser; interferometer; quantum noise; thermal noise; laser gyroscope
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, Kavli Nanoscience Institute
Thesis Committee:
  • Weinstein, Alan Jay (chair)
  • Adhikari, Rana
  • Chen, Yanbei
  • Schwab, Keith C.
Defense Date:12 February 2019
Other Numbering System:
Other Numbering System NameOther Numbering System ID
LIGOP1900035
Record Number:CaltechTHESIS:05292019-020613259
Persistent URL:https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:05292019-020613259
DOI:10.7907/4H7V-W213
Related URLs:
URLURL TypeDescription
https://doi.org/10.1088/0264-9381/33/3/035004DOIPaper by the author from which Part II of the thesis is derived
https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.88.033805DOIPaper by the author from which Part IV of the thesis is derived
ORCID:
AuthorORCID
Korth, William Zachary0000-0002-4422-1070
Default Usage Policy:No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided.
ID Code:11555
Collection:CaltechTHESIS
Deposited By: William Korth
Deposited On:31 May 2019 20:40
Last Modified:26 Oct 2021 18:04

Thesis Files

[img]
Preview
PDF - Final Version
See Usage Policy.

44MB

Repository Staff Only: item control page