Developing suspension hardware for next generation gravitational wave detectors

引力研究所是为当前和未来的引力波探测器开发悬挂硬件的领导者。我们目前提供的技术支撑着aLIGO探测器及其A+升级。事实上，开发完全单片的熔融石英悬浮体是降低alIGO仪器热噪声基底的重要一步，使其能够在2015年探测到第一个引力波。该项目将进一步开发目前正在规划/开发的第三代仪器的悬浮体技术。这可能包括位于美国的宇宙探测器探测器或位于欧洲的爱因斯坦望远镜高频仪器。这些设计的共同点是需要开发一种能够将悬挂质量增加到200- 400 kg（与aLIGO中的40 kg相比）的完全单片悬挂。最后的悬挂阶段也将增加，以进一步改善热噪声性能。该项目将专注于为第三代探测器开发一种完全工程化的悬挂，特别关注最有效的方法来拉动熔融石英纤维，将其焊接到测试质量连接耳的侧面，以及耳本身的设计，以确保它们满足悬架的结构要求。

The Institute for Gravitational Research is a leader in the development of suspension hardware for current and future gravitational wave detectors. We currently provide the technology which underpins the aLIGO detectors and their A+ upgrade. Indeed it was the development of fully monolithic fused silica suspensions which was an essential step to lower the thermal noise floor of the aLIGO instruments to enable them to detect the first gravitational waves in 2015.This project will further develop suspension technology for the third generation instruments currently under panning/development. This could include a Cosmic Explorer detector located in the US or an Einstein Telescope High Frequency instrument located in Europe. In common with these designs is the need to develop a fully monolithic suspensions which is capable of increasing the suspended mass up to 200-400kg (compared to 40kg in aLIGO). The final suspension stage will also be increased to enable a further improvement in the thermal noise performance.The project will focus on developing a fully engineered suspension for a third generation detector, focussing in particular on the most efficient way to pull fused silica fibres, weld them onto the sides of the test mass attachment ears, and the design of the ears themselves, to ensure that they meet the structural requirements of the suspensions.