Advanced LIGO: Research on thermal coating noise, the thermal correction system, and sensing and control issues

未来的干涉引力波探测器，如增强型LIGO和先进LIGO，只有在重大技术问题能够首先解决的情况下才会达到它们的基本灵敏度极限。通过使用自适应模式匹配技术和采用一种称为稳定循环腔的新光学结构，可以显著减少许多与激光功率相关的问题。在这项研究工作中，将研究这些技术与其他子系统上的配置变化的相互作用。先进的干涉探测器还依赖于改进的传感器和改进的调制技术。这些技术的发展将超出现有技术的水平。在LIGO探测器的调试过程中，发现了意外的问题，在许多情况下，使用了非最佳解决方案来缓解这些问题。这些通常是即兴的解决方案对LIGO来说是足够的，但在像Advanced LIGO这样的未来探测器中就不够用了。已经为Advanced LIGO开发了新的解决方案，但它们对整个仪器的广泛影响可能还没有完全了解。必须开发新技术，或者改进旧技术，以确保未来引力波探测器的成功。这些技术的发展也为新生和博士后提供了一个机会，让他们参与并为这个非常令人兴奋且仍在不断扩大的科学领域做出贡献。

Future interferometric gravitational wave detectors such as enhanced LIGO and Advanced LIGO will only reach their fundamental sensitivity limits if significant technical problems can be solved first. Many laser power related problems can be reduced significantly by using adaptive mode matching techniques and employing a new optical configuration known as a stable recycling cavity. The interaction of these techniques and configuration changes on other subsystems will be studied in this research effort. Advanced interferometric detectors also depend on improved sensors and improved modulation techniques. These technologies will be developed beyond the current state of the art.During the commissioning of the LIGO detectors unexpected problems were discovered and in many cases non-optimal solutions where used to mitigate the problems. These often improvised solutions are sufficient for LIGO but will not be sufficient in future detectors like Advanced LIGO. New solutions have been developed for Advanced LIGO but their broad impact on the entire instrument may not be fully understood. New technologies have to be developed or older technologies have to be improved to ensure the success of future gravitational wave detectors. These technology developments are also a chance for new students and postdocs to participate in and contribute to this very exciting and still expanding scientific area.