Thermal Compensation in LIGO

Document #:

LIGO-G0900358-x0

Document type:

G - Presentations (eg Graphics)

Abstract:

Initial LIGO and Enhanced LIGO possess optics that impose self-induced thermal aberrations on the main laser light and its radio frequncy sidebands. These effects driven by mirror absorption lead to failures in interferometer power build-up and loss of control signal strength especially in the power recycling cavity. A thermal compensation system (TCS) comprised of auxillary heating lasers aided initial LIGO with optical stability at 8 W injected power. Enhanced LIGO faces larger thermal difficulties at above 8 W. Additionally control signals available during initial LIGO will be removed. Consequently a model comprised of a commercial FEM program and an in-house interferometer simulator is being constructed to predict interferometer response to the Enhanced LIGO TCS. Furthermore, we hope to discover new figures of merit to optimize TCS settings during high power operation.

Files in Document:

None

Topics:

• Auxiliary Optics
• Core Optics
• Modelling

Authors:

• Rupal Amin

Keywords:

Thermal Compensation System TCS FINESSE Comsol