Performance of a 1200 m long suspended Fabry-Perot cavity

Freise, A. et al. (2002) Performance of a 1200 m long suspended Fabry-Perot cavity. Classical and Quantum Gravity, 19(7), 1389 -1397. (doi: 10.1088/0264-9381/19/7/322)

Abstract

Using one arm of the Michelson interferometer and the power recycling mirror of the interferometric gravitational wave detector GEO 600, we created a Fabry-Perot cavity with a length of 1200 m. The main purpose of this experiment was to gather first experience with the main optics, its suspensions and the corresponding control systems. The residual displacement of a main mirror is about 150 nm rms. By stabilizing the length of the 1200 m long cavity to the pre-stabilized laser beam, we achieved an error point frequency noise of 100 muHz Hz(-1/2) at 100 Hz Fourier frequency. In addition we demonstrated the reliable performance of all included subsystems by several 10- hour-periods of continuous stable operation. Thus the full frequency stabilization scheme for GEO 600 was successfully tested.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Casey, Dr Morag and Robertson, Dr David and Hough, Professor James and Ward, Professor Henry and Strain, Professor Kenneth
• Authors: Freise, A., Casey, M., Gossler, S., Grote, H., Heinzel, G., Luck, H., Robertson, D., Strain, K., Ward, H., Willke, B., Hough, J., and Danzmann, K.
• 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: Classical and Quantum Gravity
• ISSN: 0264-9381
• ISSN (Online): 1361-6382