CO2 laser production of fused silica fibers for use in interferometric gravitational wave detector mirror suspensions

Heptonstall, A. et al. (2011) CO2 laser production of fused silica fibers for use in interferometric gravitational wave detector mirror suspensions. Review of Scientific Instruments, 82(1), 011301. (doi: 10.1063/1.3532770) (PMID:21280809)

Abstract

In 2000 the first mirror suspensions to use a quasi-monolithic final stage were installed at the GEO600 detector site outside Hannover, pioneering the use of fused silica suspension fibers in long baseline interferometric detectors to reduce suspension thermal noise. Since that time, development of the production methods of fused silica fibers has continued. We present here a review of a novel CO₂ laser-based fiber pulling machine developed for the production of fused silica suspensions for the next generation of interferometric gravitational wave detectors and for use in experiments requiring low thermal noise suspensions. We discuss tolerances, strengths, and thermal noise performance requirements for the next generation of gravitational wave detectors. Measurements made on fibers produced using this machine show a 0.8% variation in vertical stiffness and 0.05% tolerance on length, with average strengths exceeding 4 GPa, and mechanical dissipation which meets the requirements for Advanced LIGO thermal noise performance.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Grant, Mr Alastair and Heptonstall, Dr Alastair and Cantley, Dr Caroline and Rowan, Professor Sheila and Kumar, Mr Rahul and Crooks, Dr David and Bell, Dr Angus and van Veggel, Dr Marielle and Martin, Dr Iain and Hammond, Professor Giles and Hough, Professor James and Cumming, Dr Alan and Tokmakov, Dr Kirill and Strain, Professor Kenneth and Jones, Mr Russell
• Authors: Heptonstall, A., Barton, M.A., Bell, A.S., Cagnoli, G., Cantley, C.A., Crooks, D.R.M., Cumming, A., Grant, A., Hammond, G.D., Harry, G.M., Hough, J., Jones, R., Kelley, D., Kumar, R., Martin, I.W., Robertson, N., Rowan, S., Strain, K.A., Tokmakov, K., and van Veggel, A.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: Review of Scientific Instruments
• ISSN: 0034-6748
• ISSN (Online): 1089-7623
• Published Online: 21 January 2011

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
45931	2	Investigations in Gravitational Radiation.	Sheila Rowan	Science & Technologies Facilities Council (STFC)	ST/I001085/1	Physics and Astronomy
33792	1	UK involvement in advanced LIGO	Kenneth Strain	Particle Physics & Astronomy Research Council (PPARC)	ST/G504284/1	Physics and Astronomy