Testing and Constructing of a Short-Arm Interferometer and Low Frequency Prototype of Laser Interferometer Suspensions for Gravitational Wave Detection
Faculty Mentor Name
Michele Zanolin
Format Preference
Poster
Abstract
Our project is designed to understand the concepts needed for space based low frequency (1-10 Hz) gravitational wave astronomy. The first objective is a feasibility analysis for a small arm-length interferometer for the proposed use in a 3U class CubeSat. As such, determining the configuration and the components used will be the primary deliverable. Given the available resources and funding, a functional model of the interferometer is to be constructed in the optics lab to serve as a test bed and be used as a learning tool. Additional outcomes include the development of deployment mechanisms for in-orbit operations. Hence, the study will provide the necessary foundation to allow the ease of implementation of such a payload for a 3U class CubeSat. The second objective is centered on looking into how to improve the detection capabilities of low-frequency gravitational waves. The current generation of gravitational wave detectors is not focused on the low-frequency end of the spectrum, and this project aims to design and potently build a detector that is solely focused on the low-frequency range. Another aspect of this project will be to build a functional representation of the LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational wave Observatory) mirrors to learn about their natural frequencies and how to mitigate the noise due to these natural frequencies. Since the noise most common in the LIGO interferometer is in the low-frequency range, the same range as low-frequency gravitational waves, reducing the noise will allow LIGO to detect these gravitational waves.
Testing and Constructing of a Short-Arm Interferometer and Low Frequency Prototype of Laser Interferometer Suspensions for Gravitational Wave Detection
Our project is designed to understand the concepts needed for space based low frequency (1-10 Hz) gravitational wave astronomy. The first objective is a feasibility analysis for a small arm-length interferometer for the proposed use in a 3U class CubeSat. As such, determining the configuration and the components used will be the primary deliverable. Given the available resources and funding, a functional model of the interferometer is to be constructed in the optics lab to serve as a test bed and be used as a learning tool. Additional outcomes include the development of deployment mechanisms for in-orbit operations. Hence, the study will provide the necessary foundation to allow the ease of implementation of such a payload for a 3U class CubeSat. The second objective is centered on looking into how to improve the detection capabilities of low-frequency gravitational waves. The current generation of gravitational wave detectors is not focused on the low-frequency end of the spectrum, and this project aims to design and potently build a detector that is solely focused on the low-frequency range. Another aspect of this project will be to build a functional representation of the LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational wave Observatory) mirrors to learn about their natural frequencies and how to mitigate the noise due to these natural frequencies. Since the noise most common in the LIGO interferometer is in the low-frequency range, the same range as low-frequency gravitational waves, reducing the noise will allow LIGO to detect these gravitational waves.