Prototype Advanced LIGO Diagnostics and Optical Components: In Situ Measurement and Control of Thermo-optical Effects

先进 LIGO 诊断和光学元件原型：热光效应的原位测量和控制

• 批准号: 0457107
• 负责人: David Reitze
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: University of Florida
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2005
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2005-07-01 至 2009-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0457107&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Prototype; Advanced; LIGO; Diagnostics; Optical

Advanced LIGO will use high power lasers to detect gravitational waves from a variety of astrophysical objects in the universe. In order to operate the Advanced LIGO detectors at sufficiently high laser powers, the laser beam must pass through optical components, including simple elements mirrors and lenses as well as more complicated elements such as Faraday isolators and electro-optic modulators. Because nothing is perfectly transmitting, infinitesimal amounts of the laser beam are absorbed and heat the component. This heating reacts back upon the laser beam and changes its properties in a way that is detrimental to the operation of the detector. This research will develop methods to detect these tiny distortions. In addition, optical components will be developed that are immune to the optical distortions that accompany laser beam absorption. This research will enable gravitational wave detectors to operate with a sensitivity sufficient to potentially detect gravitational waves from many classes of astrophysical sources. The detection of gravitational waves will open an entirely new window on the universe, and allow astrophysicists to look at exotic objects such as black holes in ways that are impossible with any observational technique. This research will also add to the technology base of high power laser systems as well as foster international scientific collaborations.

先进的LIGO将使用高功率激光来探测来自宇宙中各种天体的引力波。为了在足够高的激光功率下运行Advanced LIGO探测器，激光束必须通过光学元件，包括简单元件反射镜和透镜以及更复杂的元件，如法拉第隔离器和电光调制器。因为任何东西都不能完美地传输，所以极少量的激光束被吸收并加热部件。这种加热作用于激光束，并以不利于探测器运行的方式改变其性质。这项研究将开发出检测这些微小扭曲的方法。此外，还将开发不受激光吸收引起的光学失真影响的光学元件。这项研究将使引力波探测器能够以足够高的灵敏度工作，以潜在地探测到来自多种天体物理源的引力波。引力波的探测将为宇宙打开一扇全新的窗口，并使天体物理学家能够以任何观测技术都不可能实现的方式来观察像黑洞这样的奇异物体。这项研究还将增加高功率激光系统的技术基础，并促进国际科学合作。