Spencer, A.P. , Barr, B.W. , Bell, A.S. , Briggs, J., Dupej, P. , Huttner, S.H., Sorazu, B. , Wright, J. and Strain, K.A. (2021) Experimental investigation of the limitations of polarisation optics for future gravitational wave detectors based on the polarisation Sagnac speedmeter. Classical and Quantum Gravity, 38(19), 195004. (doi: 10.1088/1361-6382/ac1a67)
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Abstract
The polarisation Sagnac speedmeter interferometer has the potential to replace the Michelson interferometer as the instrumental basis for future generations of ground-based gravitational wave detectors. The quantum noise benefit of this speedmeter is dependent on high-quality polarisation optics, the polarisation beam-splitter (PBS) and quarter-waveplate (QWP) optics that are key to this detector configuration and careful consideration of the effect of birefringence in the arm cavities of the interferometer. A PBS with an extinction ratio of better than 4000 in transmission and 700 in reflection for a 41° angle of incidence was characterised along with a QWP of birefringence: λ/4+λ/324. The cavity mirror optics of a 10m prototype polarisation Sagnac speedmeter were measured to have birefringence in the range 1×10-3 to 2×10-5 radians. This level of birefringence, along with the QWP imperfections, can be canceled out by careful adjustment of the QWP angle, to the extent that the extinction ratio of the PBS is the leading limitation for the polarisation Sagnac speedmeter in terms of polarisation effects.
| Item Type: | Articles |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | This work was supported by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (Grant ref: ST/N005422/1) and through STFC Studentship award number 1653071. |
| Status: | Published |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | WRIGHT, Jennifer and Spencer, Dr Andrew and Dupej, Peter and Bell, Dr Angus and Briggs, Mr Joseph and Barr, Dr Bryan and Sorazu Lucio, Dr Borja and Huttner, Dr Sabina and Strain, Professor Kenneth |
| Authors: | Spencer, A.P., Barr, B.W., Bell, A.S., Briggs, J., Dupej, P., Huttner, S.H., Sorazu, B., Wright, J., and Strain, K.A. |
| 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 |
| Publisher: | IOP Publishing |
| ISSN: | 0264-9381 |
| ISSN (Online): | 1361-6382 |
| Published Online: | 03 August 2021 |
| Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2021 The Authors |
| First Published: | First published in Classical and Quantum Gravity 38(19): 195004 |
| Publisher Policy: | Reproduced under a Creative Commons License |
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