Stabilized laser systems at 1550nm wavelength for future gravitational wave detectors

Document #:

LIGO-P2100012-v3

Document type:

P - Publications

Abstract:

The continuous improvement of current gravitational wave detectors (GWDs) and the preparations for next generation GWDs place high demands on their stabilized laser sources. Some of the laser souces need to operate at laser wavelengths between 1.5u and 2.2um to support future detectors, based on cooled silicon test masses for thermal noise reduction.
We present a detailed characterizations of different commercial low power seed laser sources and power amplifiers at the wavelength of 1550nm with regard to performance parameters needed in GWDs. A combination with the most complete set of actuators was arranged as a master-oscillator power amplifier (MOPA) and integrated into a stabilization environment. We demonstrate the operation of a pre-stabilized laser system (PSL) and characterize its performance.
We present the results of this characterization that make this PSL to a highly relevant prototype for future GWDs as well as a low noise light source for other experiments in high precision metrology.

Files in Document:

• Manuscript.pdf (1.6 MB)

Topics:

• Laser Systems
• Basic R&D

Authors:

• Fabian Meylahn
• Benno Willke

Keywords:

single-frequency fiber amplifier 1550nm laser