The development of technology for high performance laser interferometer gravitational wave detectors at the UWA

C.N. Zhao, J. Winterflood, M. Taniwaki, M. Notcutt, J. Liu, L. Ju, D.G. Blair

( Department of Physics, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6907, Australia )

Abstract

In this paper we report progress in the development of technology for high performance laser interferometer gravitational wave detectors. This includes: (a) the development of ULF pre-isolators which are expected to greatly simplify laser interferometer control systems, (b) the demonstration of successful locking of an interferometer using multistage cantilever spring vibration isolators, and (c) the design of sapphire test masses capable of achieving a 16 fold reduction in test mass thermal noise.