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Free keywords:
Physics, Optics, physics.optics,General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology, gr-qc,Quantum Physics, quant-ph
Abstract:
The techniques of power recycling and signal recycling have proven as key
concepts to increase the sensitivity of large-scale gravitational wave
detectors by independent resonant enhancement of light power and signal
sidebands within the interferometer. Developing the latter concept further,
twin signal recycling was proposed as an alternative to conventional detuned
signal recycling. Twin signal recycling features the narrow-band sensitivity
gain of conventional detuned signal recycling but furthermore facilitates the
injection of squeezed states of light, increases the detector sensitivity over
a wide frequency band and requires a less complex detection scheme for optimal
signal readout. These benefits come at the expense of an additional recycling
mirror, thus increasing the number of degrees of freedom in the interferometer
which need to be controlled.
In this article we describe the development of a length sensing and control
scheme and its successful application to a tabletop-scale power recycled
Michelson interferometer with twin signal recycling. We were able to lock the
interferometer in all relevant longitudinal degrees of freedom, enabling the
long-term stable operation of the experiment. We thus laid the foundation for
further investigations of this interferometer topology to evaluate its
viability for the application in gravitational wave detectors.
