Probing the limits imposed on precision interferometry with suspended macroscopic mirrors by the quantum nature of light and aim to surpass them.
Contributions to QuantumFrontiers
- Establishment of a long-term, internationally unique testing facility
- Development of measurement techniques surpassing the Standard Quantum Limit (SQL) of optical interferometry
- Interfacing of microscopic and table-top quantum opto-mechanics with large scale gravitational wave detector scale instruments
- Enhancement of current and future gravitational wave detector sensitivity to increase their range towards cosmological distances
- Foster knowledge transfer among Quantum Frontiers groups on techniques to suppress noise in precision experiment.
Collaborative Innovation
- Focus on developing technologies and techniques to suppress classical and technical noise sources to below quantum noise in precision measurements, with a particular emphasis on gravitational-wave-detector-like laser interferometry with suspended optics. (Lück, Wu, Valbruch AEI, LUH)
- Investigating and developing new technology to suppress classical and technical noise in ground based interferometric gravitational wave detectors (Heurs, Willke AEI, LUH)
- Constructing the Sub-SQL Interferometer: a 10m Fabry-Perot Michelson interferometer, nominally limited by SQL in the band between 60 and 200 Hz using macroscopic test masses of 100 g. (Lück, Wu, AEI, LUH)
- Improving techniques to suppress classical and technical noise below quantum noise, for example: improving seimsic isolation platforms, suspended optics, laser noise, and environmental noise. (Lück, Wu, Willke, Heurs Valbruch, AEI, LUH)
Scientific Output
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Publications
Brown DD, Jones P, Rowlinson S, Leavey S, Green AC, Töyrä D et al. PYKAT: Python package for modelling precision optical interferometers. SoftwareX. 2020 Dec;12:100613. Epub 2020 Oct 21. doi: 10.48550/arXiv.2004.06270, 10.1016/j.softx.2020.100613Kirchhoff R, Mow-Lowry CM, Bergmann G, Hanke MM, Koch P, Köhlenbeck SM et al. Local active isolation of the AEI-SAS for the AEI 10 m prototype facility. Classical and quantum gravity. 2020 May 4;37(11):115004. doi: 10.1088/1361-6382/ab857eKoch P, Cole GD, Deutsch C, Follman D, Heu P, Kinley-Hanlon M et al. Thickness uniformity measurements and damage threshold tests of large-area GaAs/AlGaAs crystalline coatings for precision interferometry. Optics express. 2019 Dec 9;27(25):36731-36740. Epub 2019 Dec 4. doi: 10.1364/OE.27.036731, 10.15488/10464
TG Members
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Involved Members and their Relevant Expertise
Members Institution Relevant Expertise David Wu, Leader LUH Sub-Standard Quantum Limit Interferometry; Precision laser interferometry; Vacuum outgassing test chamber Harald Lück AEI Next Generation Gravitational Wave Observatories; Sub-Standard Quantum Limit Interferometry Matteo Carlassara AEI Multi-stage suspended optics Michèle Heurs LUH Backaction-Evading Techniques Benno Willke AEI Squeezed Light Sources; Advanced Light Sources Guido Müller AEI Johannes Lehmann AEI Precision laser interferometry; Multi-stage suspended optics; Seismic isolation platforms; Vacuum compatable sensors and actuators Juliane von Wrangel AEI Precision glass welding and bonding of quasi-monolithic suspended mirrors Henning Vahlbruch AEI Squeezed states of light Sara al-Kershi AEI Multi-stage suspended optics Firoz Khan AEI Optical scattering of optical components; Scattered light mitigation Paul Hapke AEI Steady state simulations of interferometers using FINESSE Pritam Sarkar AEI Precision laser interferometry; Control strategies; Vacuum compatable sensors and actuators Sara Al-Kershi AEI
