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

先进的LIGO将使用高功率激光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操作Advanced LIGO探测器，激光束必须通过光学组件，包括简单的元件，如反射镜和透镜，以及更复杂的元件，如法拉第隔离器和电光调制器。 因为没有什么是完全透射的，所以极少量的激光束被吸收并加热部件。这种加热会对激光束产生反作用，并以不利于检测器操作的方式改变其特性。 这项研究将开发出检测这些微小失真的方法。 此外，还将开发不受激光束吸收引起的光学畸变影响的光学元件。 这项研究将使引力波探测器能够以足够的灵敏度运行，以潜在地探测来自许多类别的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，并允许天体物理学家以任何观测技术都不可能的方式观察黑洞等奇异物体。 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。

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.