Development of high power laser components and in situ contamination monitoring for future terrestrial GW detectors

该研究奖将使先进激光干涉仪引力波天文台（Advanced LIGO）的重要研究成为可能。首先，镜面的质量对先进LIGO的性能至关重要。将开发一种方法，可以监测镜面污染物在先进的LIGO运行过程中使用非线性光学技术称为表面二次谐波产生。其次，高功率激光束的光隔离对于先进的LIGO非常重要，本研究将解决能够处理更高功率激光的光隔离器的发展问题。先进的LIGO将打开一扇新的天文学窗口——通过发射引力波来探测宇宙中一些最具灾难性的事件的能力，引力波是阿尔伯特·爱因斯坦在近100年前提出的一种机制，但尚未被直接观察到。这些研究将有助于高级LIGO在长时间内的运行，并有可能在运行后提高其性能。它们还将影响许多使用高功率激光器的应用。最后，这项研究还将促进国际合作。

This research award will enable investigations important to the Advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (Advanced LIGO). First, the quality of the mirror surfaces is crucial to the performance of Advanced LIGO. A method will be developed which can monitor mirror surface contaminants during the operation of Advanced LIGO using a nonlinear optical technique known as surface second harmonic generation. Second, optical isolation of high power laser beams is important for Advanced LIGO, and this research will address issues with the development of optical isolators capable of handling higher laser powers.Advanced LIGO will open a new astronomical window --- the ability to probe some of the most cataclysmic events in universe through the emission of gravitational waves, a mechanism proposed by Albert Einstein almost 100 years ago, but yet to be directly observed. These investigations will both aid in the operation of Advanced LIGO over long time scales and potentially improve its performance once it is in operation. They will also impact many applications which use high power lasers. Finally, this research will also foster international collaborations.