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QuantumFrontiers
 
QuantumFrontiers Research Topics

Laser Development and Stabilisation for Next-Generation Gravitational Wave Detectors

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Design and stabilization of high-power laser systems for next generation Gravitational Wave Detectors.

Contributions to QuantumFrontiers

  • Power noise sensing below the quantum limit via the quantum-correlation-method and squeezed light assisted power-noise detection.
  • Opto-mechanical sub-shot noise sensing of power fluctuations required for the laser stabilization of next generation gravitational wave detectors.
  • Creation of a worldwide leading collaboration for GWD laser development and their stabilization.

Collaborative Innovation

Power scaling concepts for single-frequency fibre amplifiers at 1064 nm, 1550 nm and 2000 nm (laser development group, LZH / laser stabilization team, AEI, LUH)

  • designing, fabricating and testing all-fibre amplifier concepts for GWDs
  • optimizing the free-running noise performance of these lasers
  • investigating hybrid solid-state fiber-amplifier systems
  • designing the control systems required for the coherent combination of two high power beams
  • coherent combination of multiple high-power lasers

Laser stabilisation for 3rd generation gravitational wave detectors (laser development group, LZH / laser stabilization team, AEI, LUH)

  • development of shot-noise-limited sensing of laser frequency, power and beam pointing fluctuations
  • analysis and mitigation of the influence of scattered light in sensing schemes
  • development of laser stabilization schemes with high-bandwidth fibre-actuators at 1550nm and 1064nm
  • improved sub-shot noise power sensing via the combination of squeezed light and the optical AC-coupling technique for laser power stabilization
  • laser power stabilization via back-action free interferometric sensing of power fluctuations with micro-oscillator mirrors
  • simulations to derive the laser stability requirement of next generation GWDs
  • advancing future integration of the displacement sensing interferometers developed for back-action free power noise measurements as sensors in the sophisticated power stabilization loops of future GWDs (Kroker, TUBS / Heurs AEI, LUH / Willke AEI, LUH)

Scientific Output

  • Publications
    Vahlbruch H, Meylahn F, Willke B. Characterization of non-planar ring oscillators at a wavelength of 1064 nm for high precision metrology. Review of scientific instruments. 2025 Nov;96(11):113001. doi: 10.1063/5.0298918
    Haverland N, Brockmüller E, Kranert F, Neumann J, Kracht D. Optimizing fiber component manufacturing by observing the modal composition and PER in real-time. In Glebov AL, Leisher PO, editors, Components and Packaging for Laser Systems X. SPIE. 2024. 1286606. (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering). doi: 10.1117/12.3000926
    Kruska K, Booker P, Weßels P, Neumann J, Kracht D. High-power single-frequency depressed-cladding, confined-doping Yb3+ fiber amplifier. In Jollivet C, editor, Fiber Lasers XXI: Technology and Systems. SPIE. 2024. 1286513. (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering). doi: 10.1117/12.3001458
    Schneewind M, Booker P, Spiekermann S, Weßels P, Neumann J, Kracht D. Thermal aberration analysis in Nd:YVO4. In Clarkson WA, Shori RK, editors, Solid State Lasers XXXIII: Technology and Devices. SPIE. 2024. 128640M. (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering). doi: 10.1117/12.3002325
    Behren BV, Heinze J, Bode N, Willke B. High-power laser beam in higher-order Hermite–Gaussian modes. Applied physics letters. 2023 May 9;122(19):191105. doi: 10.1063/5.0137085
    Bode N, Holmes Z, Ng S, von Behren B, Ottaway D, Willke B. Multiple beam coherent combination via an optical ring resonator. Optics letters. 2023 Sept 1;48(17):4717-4720. Epub 2023 Aug 15. doi: 10.1364/ol.500684
    Brockmüller E, Wellmann F, Kimmelma O, Lowder T, Novotny S, Neumann J et al. Fiber components based on large-mode area chirally coupled core specialty fibers for all-fiber laser systems. In Kalli K, Mendez A, Peterka P, editors, Specialty Optical Fibres. SPIE. 2023. 125730E. (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering). doi: 10.1117/12.2665663
    Schneewind M, Booker P, Spiekermann S, Weßels P, Neumann J, Kracht D. Experimental and numerical analysis of thermal aberrations in Nd:YVO4 laser amplifiers. In 2023 Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics Europe and European Quantum Electronics Conference: CLEO/Europe-EQEC. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. 2023 doi: 10.1109/CLEO/EUROPE-EQEC57999.2023.10232647
    Brockmueller E, Wellmann F, Lutscher D, Kimmelma O, Lowder T, Novotny S et al. CO2-laser-ablation-assisted fabrication of signal-pump combiners with chirally coupled core fibers for co- and counter-pumped all-fiber amplifiers. Optics express. 2022 Jul 18;30(15):25946-25957. doi: 10.1364/OE.455606
    Brockmüller E, Kleihaus L, Wellmann F, Lachmayer R, Neumann J, Kracht D. CO2-laser-based ablation of glass fibers for fiber-component manufacturing. Procedia CIRP. 2022;111:621-624. Epub 2022 Sept 6. doi: 10.1016/j.procir.2022.08.164
    Brockmüller E, Lange T, Wellmann F, Kimmelma O, Lowder T, Novotny S et al. Development of efficient CCC-fiber-based components for fiber lasers and amplifiers. In Jauregui-Misas C, Supradeepa VR, editors, Fiber Lasers XIX: Technology and Systems: PROCEEDINGS OF SPIE. SPIE. 2022. 1198105. (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering). doi: 10.1117/12.2608966
    Cullen T, Aronson S, Pagano R, Trad Nery M, Cain H, Cripe J et al. Passive laser power stabilization via an optical spring. Optics letters. 2022 Jun 1;47(11):2746-2749. doi: 10.48550/arXiv.2204.00414, 10.1364/OL.456535
    Meylahn F, Willke B. Characterization of Laser Systems at 1550 nm Wavelength for Future Gravitational Wave Detectors. Instruments. 2022 Mar 6;6(1):15. doi: 10.3390/instruments6010015
    Meylahn F, Willke B, Vahlbruch H. Squeezed States of Light for Future Gravitational Wave Detectors at a Wavelength of 1550 nm. Physical review letters. 2022 Sept 16;129(12):121103. doi: 10.1103/physrevlett.129.121103
    Meylahn F, Knust N, Willke B. Stabilized laser system at 1550 nm wavelength for future gravitational-wave detectors. Physical Review D. 2022 Jun 22;105(12):122004. doi: 10.1103/physrevd.105.122004
    Schneewind M, Spiekermann S, Weßels P, Neumann J, Kracht D. Comparative study on pump wavelength dependent efficiency in Nd:YVO 4. In Helfenstein P, editor, 10th EPS-QEOD Europhoton Conference on Solid-State, Fibre, and Waveguide Coherent Light Sources (EUROPHOTON 2022). EDP Sciences. 2022. p. 01013. (EPJ Web of Conferences). Epub 2022 Oct 18. doi: 10.1051/epjconf/202226701013
    Schneewind M, Booker P, Iakushev S, Weßels P, Willke B, Neumann J et al. Thermo-optical wavefront distortions in Nd:YVO4 laser amplifiers. In Helfenstein P, editor, 10th EPS-QEOD Europhoton Conference on Solid-State, Fibre, and Waveguide Coherent Light Sources (EUROPHOTON 2022): Hannover, Germany, August 28-September 2, 2022. EDP Sciences. 2022. p. 01012. (EPJ Web of Conferences). Epub 2022 Oct 18. doi: 10.1051/epjconf/202226701012
    Utina A, Amato A, Arends J, Arina C, de Baar M, Baars M et al. ETpathfinder: a cryogenic testbed for interferometric gravitational-wave detectors. Classical and Quantum Gravity. 2022 Sept 26;39(21):215008. doi: 10.48550/arXiv.2206.04905, 10.1088/1361-6382/ac8fdb
    Bailes M, Berger BK, Brady PR, Branchesi M, Danzmann K, Evans M et al. Gravitational-wave physics and astronomy in the 2020s and 2030s. Nature Reviews Physics. 2021 May;3(5):344-366. Epub 2021 Apr 14. doi: 10.1038/s42254-021-00303-8
    Booker P, de Varona O, Steinke M, Weßels P, Neumann J, Kracht D. Two-stage fully monolithic single-frequency Er:Yb fiber amplifier at 1556 nm for next-generation of gravitational wave detectors. In Zervas MN, Jauregui-Misas C, editors, Fiber Lasers XVIII: Technology and Systems. SPIE. 2021. 116650O doi: 10.1117/12.2577446
    Brockmüller E, Hochheim S, Wessels P, Koponen J, Lowder T, Novotny S et al. Pump combiner with chirally coupled core fibers for side pumped single frequency all fiber amplifiers. In Glebov AL, Leisher PO, editors, Components and Packaging for Laser Systems VII. SPIE. 2021. 116670J. (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering). doi: 10.1117/12.2583079
    Hochheim S, Brockmuller E, Wessels P, Steinke M, Koponen J, Lowder T et al. Highly-integrated signal and pump combiner in chirally-coupled-core fibers. Journal of lightwave technology. 2021 Sept 13;39(22):7246-7250. doi: 10.1109/JLT.2021.3111993
    Hochheim S, Brockmüller E, Wessels P, Koponen J, Lowder T, Novotny S et al. Low noise spliceless single-frequency chirally-coupled-core all-fiber amplifier. In Zervas MN, Jauregui-Misas C, editors, Fiber Lasers XVIII: Technology and Systems. SPIE. 2021. 116651L. (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering). doi: 10.1117/12.2577441
    Junker J, Wilken D, Huntington E, Heurs M. High-precision cavity spectroscopy using high-frequency squeezed light. Optics express. 2021 Feb 10;29(4):6053-6068. doi: 10.1364/OE.416713, 10.15488/11389
    Nery MT, Venneberg JR, Aggarwal N, Cole GD, Corbitt T, Cripe J et al. Laser power stabilization via radiation pressure. Optics letters. 2021 Apr 14;46(8):1946-1949. Epub 2021 Mar 18. doi: 10.1364/OL.422614, 10.15488/11012
    Trad Nery M. Laser power stabilization via radiation pressure. Nature Reviews Physics. 2021 Oct;3(10):677. Epub 2021 Aug 6. doi: 10.1038/s42254-021-00361-y, 10.15488/11012
    Wellmann F, Bode N, Steinke M, Meylahn F, Willke B, Overmeyer L et al. Coherent beam combining of two single-frequency 200W fiber amplifiers for gravitational wave detectors. In Zervas MN, editor, Fiber Lasers XVIII: Technology and Systems. SPIE. 2021. 116651J doi: 10.1117/12.2578085
    Wellmann F, Bode N, Wessels P, Overmeyer L, Neumann J, Willke B et al. Low noise 400 W coherently combined single frequency laser beam for next generation gravitational wave detectors. Optics express. 2021 Mar 29;29(7):10140-10149. Epub 2021 Mar 16. doi: 10.1364/OE.420350
    Bode N, Briggs J, Chen X, Frede M, Fritschel P, Fyffe M et al. Advanced ligo laser systems for o3 and future observation runs. Galaxies. 2020 Dec 8;8(4):1-13. 84. doi: 10.3390/galaxies8040084
    Bode N, Meylahn F, Willke B. Sequential high power laser amplifiers for gravitational wave detection. Optics express. 2020 Sept 18;28(20):29469-29478. doi: 10.1364/OE.401826
    Booker P, de Varona O, Steinke M, Weßels P, Neumann J, Kracht D. Experimental and numerical study of interlock requirements for high-power EYDFAs. Optics Express. 2020 Oct 12;28(21):31480-31486. doi: 10.1364/OE.405812
    Heinze J, Vahlbruch H, Willke B. Frequency-doubling of continuous laser light in Laguerre–Gaussian modes LG0,0 and LG3,3. Optics letters. 2020 Sept 15;45(18):5262-5265. Epub 2020 Aug 12. doi: 10.1364/OL.402371, 10.1364/OL.410805
    Heinze J, Vahlbruch H, Willke B. Numerical analysis of LG3,3second harmonic generation in comparison to the LG0,0case. Optics express. 2020 Nov 10;28(24):35816-35832. doi: 10.1364/OE.409507
    Hochheim S, Steinke M, Wessels P, Neumann J, Kracht D. Broadband excess intensity noise due to an asymmetric Brillouin gain spectrum in optical fibers. OSA Continuum. 2020;3(10):2902-2911. doi: 10.1364/OSAC.404728
    Hochheim S, Brockmüller E, Wessels P, Steinke M, Koponen J, Lowder T et al. Integrated fiber components based on chirally-coupled-core fibers for all-fiber amplifier. In Ferrari M, Mackenzie JI, Taccheo S, Taccheo S, editors, Fiber Lasers and Glass Photonics: Materials through Applications II. SPIE. 2020. 113570Y. (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering). doi: 10.1117/12.2555401
    Hochheim S, Brockmüller E, Wessels P, Koponen J, Lowder T, Novotny S et al. Integrated signal and pump combiner in chirally-coupled-core fibers for all-fiber lasers and amplifiers. In OSA Advanced Photonics Congress (AP) 2020 (IPR, NP, NOMA, Networks, PVLED, PSC, SPPCom, SOF). OSA - The Optical Society. 2020 doi: 10.1364/sof.2020.sotu2h.6
    Hochheim S, Steinke M, Wessels P, De Varona O, Koponen J, Lowder T et al. Single-frequency chirally-coupled-core all-fiber amplifier with 100W in a linearly-polarized TEM00-mode. In Dong L, editor, Fiber Lasers XVII: Technology and Systems. SPIE. 2020. 112601C. (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering). doi: 10.1117/12.2542192
    Nery MT, Danilishin SL, Venneberg JR, Willke B. Fundamental limits of laser power stabilization via a radiation pressure transfer scheme. Optics letters. 2020 Jul 10;45(14):3969-3972. Epub 2020 Jun 15. doi: 10.1364/OL.394547
    Wellmann F, Steinke M, Wessels P, Bode N, Meylahn F, Willke B et al. Performance study of a high-power single-frequency fiber amplifier architecture for gravitational wave detectors. Applied optics. 2020 Sept 10;59(26):7945-7950. Epub 2020 Aug 10. doi: 10.1364/AO.401048
    Booker P, Dürbeck M, Boetti NG, Pugliese D, Abrate S, Milanese D et al. Single-frequency Er3+ doped phosphate fiber MOPA. In 2019 Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics Europe and European Quantum Electronics Conference, CLEO/Europe-EQEC 2019. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. 2019. 8871636 doi: 10.1109/cleoe-eqec.2019.8871636
    Hochheim S, Steinke M, Koponen J, Lowder T, Novotny S, Neumann J et al. Monolithic amplifier based on a chirally-coupled-core fiber. In 2019 Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics Europe and European Quantum Electronics Conference, CLEO/Europe-EQEC 2019. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. 2019. 8872811 doi: 10.1109/cleoe-eqec.2019.8872811
    Wellmann F, Steinke M, Thies F, Bode N, Oppermann P, Willke B et al. Characterization of the monolithic fiber amplifier engineering prototype for the next generation of gravitational wave detectors. In Carter AL, Dong L, editors, Fiber Lasers XVI: Technology and Systems. SPIE. 2019. 1089722. (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering). doi: 10.15488/10252, 10.1117/12.2508532

TG Members

  • Involved Members and their Relevant Expertise
    Members Institution Relevant Expertise
    Benno Willke, LeaderAEISqueezed Light Sources; Advanced Light Sources; Laser stabilization
    Marina Trad NeryAEIAdvanced Light Sources; Quantum limited laser stabilization
    Dietmar KrachtLZHAdvanced Light Sources; Precision Additive Manufacturing of Quantum Sensors; High power solid-state single frequency amplifiers; Low-noise high-power laser development
    Guido MüllerAEI
    Merle SchneewindLZHAdvanced Light Sources
    Fabian MeylahnAEIAdvanced Light Sources; Quantum limited laser stabilization Sqzeezed Light
    Nina BodeAEIAdvanced Light Sources; Quantum limited laser stabilization
    Jasper VennebergAEIQuantum limited laser stabilization; Squzeezed Light
    Nicole KnustAEIAdvanced Light Sources; Quantum limited laser stabilization Squzeezed Light
    Sven HochheimLZHAdvanced Light Sources
    Fabian KranertLZHAdvanced Light Sources
    Peter WeßelsLZHAdvanced Light Sources
    Michael SteinkeLUHActive optical fibers and fiber components
    Stefanie KrokerPTB / TUBSET Analyse
    Uwe SterrPTBNovel Frequency References
    Ernst M. RaselLUHQuantum Gravimeters; Atom-Chip Based Gravimeters and Inertial Sensors
    Harald LückAEINext Generation Gravitational Wave Observatories; Sub-Standard Quantum Limit Interferometry
    Henning VahlbruchAEINon-classical light sources
    Eike BrockmüllerLZHAdvanced Light Sources
    Kristopher KruskaLZHAdvanced Light Sources
    Graziano PascaleAEIQuantum limited laser stabilization
    Riteshbhai KhadelaAEIAdvanced Light Sources
    Debanjan AdhikariAEI
    Stefanie UnlandLZHSimulations and performance scaling of single-frequency fiber amplifiers
    Nils HaverlandLZH

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