Readout and Control of a Power-Recycled Interferometric Gravitational Wave Antenna

Abstract:: Interferometric gravitational wave antennas are based on Michelson interferometers whose sensitivity to small differential length changes has been enhanced by adding multiple coupled optical resonators. The use of optical cavities is essential for reaching the required sensitivity, but sets challenges for the control system which must maintain the cavities near resonance. The goal for the strain sensitivity of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) is 10-21 rms, integrated over a 100 Hz bandwidth centered at 150 Hz. We present the major design features of the LIGO length and frequency sensing and control system which will hold the interferometric lengths to within 2 x 10-12 m of the operating point. We also highlight the restrictions imposed by couplings of noise into the gravitation wave readout signal and the required immunity against them.

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Notes and Changes:: Migrated document information from the old DCC:
- Full document number: LIGO-P000008-A-D
- Author(s): Rolf Bork; Peter Fritschel; Gabriela Gonzalez; Nergis Mavalvala; Dale Ouimette; Haisheng Rong; Daniel Sigg; Mike Zucker
- Document date: 2000-10-02
- Document received date: 2000-10-11
- Document entry date: 2000-10-11
- Publcation info: Submitted to Journal of the Optical Society of America A
- Publication author(s): Fritschel, P., Zucker, M., Bork, R., Mavalvala, N., Ouimette, D., Gonzalez, G., Rong, H., and Sigg, D.

LIGO Document P000008-x0