Optical coating optimisation to enable the transfer of technologies from gravitational wave detection to quantum and intense light-matter experiments

英国和国际上计划进行的一些最令人兴奋的实验--从研究极端的光与物质相互作用，到量子技术的开发--都要求镜面镀膜技术具有前所未有的性能。光学薄膜在我们周围的技术中随处可见，但现有的性能不能满足这些实验的要求，从而限制了这些实验的开发。例如，新兴的极端轻物质实验现在处理的功率密度比以前达到的高出一个数量级。这包括英国的主要基础设施，包括中央激光设施(CLF)和苏格兰等离子体加速器应用中心(SCAPA)，以及在欧洲的合作倡议，包括850MEuro欧洲资助的极限光基础设施(ELI)。所有这些实验将很快要求高反射镜的激光损伤阈值(LDT)性能达到目前无法获得的水平。这项提议将首次寻求利用先进的光学涂层技术，该技术与引力波天文学领域一起开发，用于强光物质实验。此外，所开发的能力将大大支持量子基础物理技术(QTFP)内的现有活动，以及英国在引力波天文学方面的持续努力。

Some of the most exciting experiments planned in the UK and internationally - from studying extreme light-matter interactions, to the exploitation of quantum technologies - are demanding unpreceded performance in mirror coating technology. Optical thin film coatings appear ubiquitously in the technology around us, however current available performances will not meet the requirements for, and will thus limit the exploitation from, many of these experiments. For example, emerging extreme light-matter experiments are now handling power densities an order of magnitude higher than those previously achieved. This includes major UK infrastructures, including the Central Laser Facility (CLF) and the Scottish Centre for the Application of Plasma-based Accelerators (SCAPA), in addition to partnership initiatives in Europe including the 850MEuro European funded Extreme Light Infrastructure (ELI). All these experiments will soon require laser damage threshold (LDT) performance in the highly reflective mirrors at a level not currently available. This proposal, for the first time, will seek to exploit advanced optical coating technologies, developed with the field of gravitational wave astronomy, for use in intense-light matter experiments. Moreover, the capabilities developed will significantly support existing activities within the Quantum Technologies for Fundamental Physics (QTFP) and the UK's continued effort in gravitational wave astronomy.