Optical materials for future gravitational wave detectors

This project is in the broad area of the development of novel mirror substrates and coating materials for use in future gravitational wave detectors operating both at room temperature and at cryogenic temperatures. The project will be supported by our close links with the Centre for Extreme Performance Optical Coatings - EPOC - located in Glasgow and giving access to world-class optical coating deposition facilities, and by our cryogenic gravitational wave detector prototype system, currently being constructed. There will be a particular focus of experimental measurements of the key optical properties of coatings and mirror materials (optical absorption, optical scattering), on optical design and on precision measurements of the mechanical loss, to verify mirror thermal noise performance.