Higher-order Laguerre-Gauss mode generation and interferometry for gravitational wave detectors

We report on the first experimental demonstration of higher-order Laguerre-Gauss (LG(p)(ℓ)) mode generation and interferometry using a method scalable to the requirements of gravitational wave (GW) detection. GW detectors which use higher-order LG(p)(ℓ) modes will be less susceptible to mirror therm...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physical review letters 2010-12, Vol.105 (23), p.231102-231102, Article 231102
Main Authors: Granata, M, Buy, C, Ward, R, Barsuglia, M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Astrophysics
Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysic
Physics
Sciences of the Universe
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Summary:We report on the first experimental demonstration of higher-order Laguerre-Gauss (LG(p)(ℓ)) mode generation and interferometry using a method scalable to the requirements of gravitational wave (GW) detection. GW detectors which use higher-order LG(p)(ℓ) modes will be less susceptible to mirror thermal noise, which is expected to limit the sensitivity of all currently planned terrestrial detectors. We used a diffractive optic and a mode-cleaner cavity to convert a fundamental LG(0)(0) Gaussian beam into an LG(3)(3) mode with a purity of 98%. The ratio between the power of the LG(0)(0) mode of our laser and the power of the LG(3)(3) transmitted by the cavity was 36%. By measuring the transmission of our setup using the LG(0)(0), we inferred that the conversion efficiency specific to the LG(3)(3) mode was 49%. We illuminated a Michelson interferometer with the LG(3)(3) beam and achieved a visibility of 97%.
ISSN:0031-9007
1079-7114
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.105.231102