Modeling Loss and Thermal Noise in Silicon Gravitational Wave Detector Suspensions

Document #:

LIGO-T1600290-v10

Document type:

T - Technical notes

Abstract:

Thermal noise is one of the most significant limitations to gravitational wave detector sensitivity. The next generation of LIGO detectors may be cryogenically cooled to reduce more of the thermal noise, but this requires research into new materials and geometries to be used for the mirror suspensions. This project is focused on using a finite element analysis software called Ansys to build new models of the suspensions with crystalline silicon in order to study the thermal noise effects and guide the design of the upgraded mirror suspensions. If successful, these new models will result in further reduced contributions of thermal noise and an improvement to the sensitivity and range of the LIGO detectors.

Files in Document:

• NikhilMathur_LIGOSURF_FinalPresentation.pdf (1.3 MB)
• Final Report (NikhilMathur_LIGOSURF_FINALREPORT.pdf, 1011.9 kB)

Other Files:

• Progress Report 1 (NikhilMathur_LIGOSURF_PR1.pdf, 705.4 kB)
• Progress Report 2 (NikhilMathur_LIGOSURF_PR2.pdf, 726.5 kB)
• Project Proposal (Project Proposal.pdf, 50.4 kB)

Topics:

• Conceptual Design
• Modelling
• Upgrades
• Suspensions

Authors:

• Nikhil Mathur
• Alastair Heptonstall

Keywords:

SURF16

Notes and Changes:

Final version of final report

Referenced by:

• LIGO-T1700002: Final reports from LIGO SURF program, Summer 2016