Laser frequency stabilisation for LISA: Experimental progress

McNamara, P.W., Ward, H. and Hough, J. (2000) Laser frequency stabilisation for LISA: Experimental progress. Advances in Space Research, 25(6), 1137 -1141. (doi: 10.1016/S0273-1177(99)00974-6)

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Publisher's URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0273-1177(99)00974-6

Abstract

In all space-borne laser interferometric gravitational wave detectors, inevitable differences in the lengths of the interferometer arms will potentially allow laser frequency noise to give rise to apparent gravitational wave signals. Active frequency stabilisation to a reference optical cavity and use of a frequency noise correction algorithm are both required to allow the target gravitational wave sensitivity to be achieved. Here we report on an experiment to frequency stabilise a laser over timescales of several hours, and to measure the excess noise using an independent analysing cavity. The residual frequency noise, at the spectral frequencies of interest to LISA, is shown to be significantly above the desired specification. However, in this relatively simple experiment it appears that the residual frequency noise can largely be accounted for by thermal drifts in the frequency discriminator cavity pathlength. Thermal stabilisation of the reference cavity can be expected to yield a major improvement in absolute laser stability.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Hough, Professor James and Ward, Professor Henry
Authors: McNamara, P.W., Ward, H., and Hough, J.
Subjects:Q Science > QB Astronomy
Q Science > QC Physics
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy
Research Centre:College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy > Institute for Gravitational Research
Journal Name:Advances in Space Research
ISSN:0273-1177

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