Characterisation of optical materials for next generation gravitational wave detectors
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Glasgow
Department Name: School of Physics and Astronomy
Abstract
Characterisation of optical materials for next generation gravitational wave detectors
Publications
Abbott B
(2017)
GW170608: Observation of a 19 Solar-mass Binary Black Hole Coalescence
in The Astrophysical Journal
Abbott B
(2019)
Directional limits on persistent gravitational waves using data from Advanced LIGO's first two observing runs
in Physical Review D
Abbott B
(2017)
First narrow-band search for continuous gravitational waves from known pulsars in advanced detector data
in Physical Review D
Abbott B
(2019)
Searches for Gravitational Waves from Known Pulsars at Two Harmonics in 2015-2017 LIGO Data
in The Astrophysical Journal
Abbott B
(2019)
Search for Gravitational Waves from a Long-lived Remnant of the Binary Neutron Star Merger GW170817
in The Astrophysical Journal
Abbott B
(2019)
Binary Black Hole Population Properties Inferred from the First and Second Observing Runs of Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo
in The Astrophysical Journal
Abbott B
(2017)
On the Progenitor of Binary Neutron Star Merger GW170817
in The Astrophysical Journal
Abbott BP
(2018)
GW170817: Implications for the Stochastic Gravitational-Wave Background from Compact Binary Coalescences.
in Physical review letters
Abbott BP
(2018)
GW170817: Measurements of Neutron Star Radii and Equation of State.
in Physical review letters
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ST/N504075/1 | 01/10/2015 | 31/03/2021 | |||
| 1802888 | Studentship | ST/N504075/1 | 01/10/2016 | 01/10/2019 | Simon Tait |
| Description | The research presented in this thesis has been dedicated to the development of measurement techniques that can characterise a coating material's key material properties, which can affect the level of thermal noise and optical absorption produced by the coating material. As the next generation of gravitational wave detectors has a wide range of desired operation temperatures, wavelengths and laser cavity powers. Coating materials that complement each set of conditions are required. The main focus of this thesis was the experimental verification of a novel multi-material coating design. This coating stack, known as the `Full Stack' takes advantage of the low absorption of some silica and tantala layers to reduce the transmission of laser light to lower layers consisting of silica and amorphous silicon. The novel coating design requires less coating layers to produce the required 99.9999% optical reflectivity, which meets the requirements in reflectivity for gravitational wave detectors test mass optics. Measurements of the coatings optical absorption at a laser wavelength of 2000nm were carried out in conjunction with measurements of its mechanical loss. It was shown that by heat-treating the coatings to 500C for 3 hours that the optical and mechanical properties of the coating stack could be significantly improved. The properties of the Full Stack material were also measured using a custom cryogenic mechanical loss apparatus developed by the author, allowing its mechanical loss to be measured between 80K - 293K, providing crucial information for future, 3rd generation gravitational wave detectors which plan to operate at these ( or lower ) temperatures. |
| Exploitation Route | The findings in this research will be of significant interest to the gravitational wave coatings community. The materials, and apparatus developed by the author will be replicated by other institutions allowing the same insight to be gained. |
| Sectors | Other |
| URL | https://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevLett.125.011102 |
| Title | Measurement System for categorisation for Cryogenic mechanical loss of thin disk substrates |
| Description | As the thermoelastic loss at room temperature dominates (phi) of silicon, this requires that the sample is cooled below the temperatures in which this dominates (< 200K). This would require that the sample and apparatus are placed inside a cryostat chamber where it can be evacuated to pressures 1x10-5,mbar and cooled. As the automatic suspension of silica disks was proven a viable method for balancing samples without external intervention, the same apparatus could, in theory, be adapted for this purpose. A system to measure the mechanical loss of thin cSi disks using the nodal support method was designed and built by myself and Mr R.Jones ( University of Glasgow ). This method allows for coating loss categorisation for materials which can reduce the total thermal noise in future cryogenic gravitational wave detectors. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | This apparatus is a novel methodology which allows for measurements of coating loss in the cryogenic regime. Coating loss directly attributes to the limiting source of noise in gravitational wave detectors, and thus any method which aids for the categorisation of new materials to support this process is of the utmost importance for the gravitational wave detector community. |
| Description | LIGO Scientific Collaboration |
| Organisation | LIGO |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Research focus for has been to provide measurements of optical absorption and mechanical loss of thin film coatings for future gravitational wave detector upgrades |
| Collaborator Contribution | Research focus for has been to provide measurements of optical absorption and mechanical loss of thin film coatings for future gravitational wave detector upgrades |
| Impact | optical absorption and mechanical loss of thin film coatings for future gravitational wave detector upgrades have been provided. The development of absorption monitoring of ETMs on site using mechanical eigenfrequencies was also implemented on site through this work |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Highschool masterclass for science outreach: Royal Society of Edinburgh |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) runs masterclasses for high school students to raise engagement in STEM subjects. These classes which I have lead involve a 1 hour talk, and team building exercises involving scientific themes such as aerodynamics, astronomy and structural engineering. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018,2019,2020 |
| Description | Outreach Festival of Physics |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Outreach Physics Festival was a held at the Glasgow science centre with the aims of educating the general public on the outcomes of research produced by multiple universities in the area |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Physics&Astronomy Masterclass |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Local school students with ages between 10 and 15 were invited to the unverisity for fun classes aimed to educated and open their minds to science. Looking at topics such as aerodynamics, rocketry and astrophysics |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015,2016,2017,2018,2019 |
| Description | Science Centre Open Day |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Glasgow science centre open day was held with the aims of educating the general public on the outcomes of research produced by multiple universities in the area |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |