Experimental testing of LIGO vibration isolation system

The LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory) project is designed to detect gravitational waves using precision interferometry. The detection from astrophysical sources has the potential to test Einstein's Theory of General Relativity, and additionally open a new window into the universe and its origin. The Initial LIGO detectors are currently operating at a strain sensitivity of 10-21 Hz, or equivalently 1018 m/ [square root of] Hz, at 100 Hz. In order to attain improved sensitivity required for guaranteed detection of astrophysical sources, e.g. coalescing neutron star binaries and black holes, pulsars, and supernovae collapses, improvements of the strain sensitivity must be achieved. Next generation detectors such as Advanced LIGO are under development, which aims to improve the sensitivity by more than a factor of 10 at all frequencies, compared to initial LIGO. This improvement in sensitivity will be achieved in part by improved seismic isolation one component of which is an active vibration isolation platform. Currently, research and development is being conducted at MIT on a prototype of this vibration isolation system. The work described in this thesis focuses on the Internal Seismic Isolation (ISI) system under development for Advanced LIGO.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2007

Author dc:creator

• Krull, Alexander G. (Alexander Gerhard)

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Nergis Mavalvala.

• Mechanical Engineering.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/40439

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/40439