Ultra-stable performance of an underground-based laser interferometer observatory for gravitational waves

Abstract

In order to detect the rare astrophysical events that generate gravitational wave (GW) radiation, sufficient stability is required for GW antennas to allow long-term observation. In practice, seismic excitation is one of the most common disturbances effecting stable operation of suspended-mirror laser interferometers. A straightforward means to allow more stable operation is therefore to locate the antenna, the ``observatory'', at a ``quiet'' site. A laser interferometer gravitational wave antenna with a baseline length of 20m (LISM) was developed at a site 1000m underground, near Kamioka, Japan. This project was a unique demonstration of a prototype laser interferometer for gravitational wave observation located underground. The extremely stable environment is the prime motivation for going underground. In this paper, the demonstrated ultra-stable operation of the interferometer and a well-maintained antenna sensitivity are reported.

8 pages, to appear on PRD

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Cited by in corpus (8)

• Interferometer design of the KAGRA gravitational wave detector
• Detector configuration of KAGRA - the Japanese cryogenic gravitational-wave detector
• KAGRA: 2.5 Generation Interferometric Gravitational Wave Detector
• Construction of KAGRA: an Underground Gravitational Wave Observatory
• A brief history of gravitational wave research
• Evaluation of heat extraction through sapphire fibers for the GW observatory KAGRA
• Coincidence analysis to search for inspiraling compact binaries using TAMA300 and LISM data
• Current status of the CLIO project