Thermal Noise and Pendulum Design for Gravitational Wave Interferometers

索尔森教授将启动一个关于机械热噪声的重力物理实验研究项目。这一努力非常及时，因为测试质量摆的热噪声谱可能是干涉引力波探测器的灵敏度极限，比如提议的LIGO。索尔森的研究计划将有三个主要重点领域。一种是直接测量受内部损耗影响的测试系统中的热噪声功率谱。第二个领域将是一系列可能的钟摆弯曲材料的测试。最后，他将检查提议的LIGO悬挂设计，以验证它们是否显示出预期的低损失水平。还将探讨在其他重力实验中的应用。

Professor Saulson will initiate a program of research in experimental gravitational physics concerning mechanical thermal noise. This effort is quite timely, since the spectrum of thermal noise of the test mass pendulums will likely be the limit of sensitivity of interferometric gravitational wave detectors, such as the proposed LIGO. Saulson's research program will have three main areas of emphasis. One will be a direct measurement of the thermal noise power spectrum in a test system that is damped by internal losses. A second area will be a set of tests of possible pendulum flexure materials. Finally, he will check proposed suspension designs for LIGO to verify that they show the expected low levels of losses. Applications to other gravitational experiments will also be explored.