Calibration of the Glasgow 10 m prototype laser interferometric gravitational wave detector using photon pressure

Clubley, D.A., Newton, G.P., Skeldon, K.D. and Hough, J. (2001) Calibration of the Glasgow 10 m prototype laser interferometric gravitational wave detector using photon pressure. Physics Letters A, 283(1-2), 85 -88. (doi: 10.1016/S0375-9601(01)00231-6)

Abstract

We show that the radiation pressure from an amplitude modulated, low power, Nd:YAG laser can be used to calibrate the displacement sensitivity of the Glasgow 10 m prototype gravitational wave detector. This demonstrates the possibility of radiation pressure being used as a standard method of calibrating long base line gravitational wave detectors. Further, this technique has the very important additional advantage that the test mass acted upon by the radiation pressure is not altered in any way, by, for example, the attachment of magnets, etc. The high Q-factor of the internal modes, required for good detector sensitivity, is therefore preserved.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Hough, Professor James and Newton, Dr Gavin and Skeldon, Dr Kenneth
• Authors: Clubley, D.A., Newton, G.P., Skeldon, K.D., and Hough, J.
• Subjects: 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: Physics Letters A
• ISSN: 0375-9601