Mechanical quality factor and thermal noise analysis of NEXCERA for optical cavities

verfasst von: Nico Wagner, Mateusz Naroznik, Marcin Bober, Michal Zawada, Stefanie Kroker
Abstract: NEXCERA has recently emerged as a novel ceramic-based material for spacers in ultra-stable optical cavities, featuring a zero-crossing coefficient of thermal expansion at room temperature. Thermal noise is currently the primary limitation to the performance of these cavities, and the mechanical quality factor, a key parameter in assessing this noise, has not been previously reported for NEXCERA. In this study, using the Gentle Nodal Suspension technique, we explore the mechanical quality factor of NEXCERA N117B at room temperature across various resonance frequencies. We measure a promising mechanical quality factor of Q = 52 800, highlighting NEXCERA’s potential for ultra-stable optical cavities. Based on this result, we estimate the thermal noise performance of NEXCERA when used as a spacer material, showing that it is a promising candidate for next-generation ultra-stable laser cavities operating at room temperature.
Externe Organisation(en): Technische Universität Braunschweig
Laboratory for Emerging Nanometrology Braunschweig (LENA)
Nikolaus-Kopernikus-Universität Toruń
Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB)
Typ: Aufsatz in Konferenzband
Publikationsdatum: 07.07.2025
Publikationsstatus: Veröffentlicht
Peer-reviewed: Ja
ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete: Elektronische, optische und magnetische Materialien, Physik der kondensierten Materie, Angewandte Informatik, Angewandte Mathematik, Elektrotechnik und Elektronik
Elektronische Version(en): https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3041984 (Zugang: Unbekannt)

BibTeX

@inproceedings{067b3e16dd304c0595a110fcd08b814c,
title = "Mechanical quality factor and thermal noise analysis of NEXCERA for optical cavities",
abstract = "NEXCERA has recently emerged as a novel ceramic-based material for spacers in ultra-stable optical cavities, featuring a zero-crossing coefficient of thermal expansion at room temperature. Thermal noise is currently the primary limitation to the performance of these cavities, and the mechanical quality factor, a key parameter in assessing this noise, has not been previously reported for NEXCERA. In this study, using the Gentle Nodal Suspension technique, we explore the mechanical quality factor of NEXCERA N117B at room temperature across various resonance frequencies. We measure a promising mechanical quality factor of Q = 52 800, highlighting NEXCERA{\textquoteright}s potential for ultra-stable optical cavities. Based on this result, we estimate the thermal noise performance of NEXCERA when used as a spacer material, showing that it is a promising candidate for next-generation ultra-stable laser cavities operating at room temperature.",
keywords = "Brownian thermal noise, mechanical loss, NEXCERA, optical cavities, ultra-stable lasers",
author = "Nico Wagner and Mateusz Naroznik and Marcin Bober and Michal Zawada and Stefanie Kroker",
note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 SPIE.; SPIE Photonics West OPTO 2025, OPTO 2025 ; Conference date: 25-01-2025 Through 31-01-2025",
year = "2025",
month = jul,
day = "7",
doi = "10.1117/12.3041984",
language = "English",
series = "Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering",
publisher = "SPIE",
editor = "Jacob Scheuer",
booktitle = "Optical Sensing and Precision Metrology",
address = "United States",
}