Alignment control in gravitational-wave detectors has consistently proven to be a
dicult problem due to the stringent noise contamination requirement for the gravitational
wave readout and the radiation-pressure induced angular instability in Fabry-
Perot cavities (Sidles-Sigg instability). In this thesis, I present optical springs as a
tool to damp the motion of a mirror. I discuss the design and implementation of a single
degree-of-freedom optical spring system and the importance of the photothermal
eect in properly predicting optical spring behavior.
I also present the development and implementation of an angular control scheme,
attempting to damp two degrees of freedom with two optical cavities. I then extend
this understanding into a plausible concept for implementing optical-spring-based
angular control in the Advanced LIGO detectors.
","abstract_html":"<p>Alignment control in gravitational-wave detectors has consistently proven to be a</p> <p>dicult problem due to the stringent noise contamination requirement for the gravitational</p> <p>wave readout and the radiation-pressure induced angular instability in Fabry-</p> <p>Perot cavities (Sidles-Sigg instability). In this thesis, I present optical springs as a</p> <p>tool to damp the motion of a mirror. I discuss the design and implementation of a single</p> <p>degree-of-freedom optical spring system and the importance of the photothermal</p> <p>eect in properly predicting optical spring behavior.</p> <p>I also present the development and implementation of an angular control scheme,</p> <p>attempting to damp two degrees of freedom with two optical cavities. I then extend</p> <p>this understanding into a plausible concept for implementing optical-spring-based</p> <p>angular control in the Advanced LIGO detectors.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Kelley, David Bruce"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)","degree_level":"Dissertation","degree_discipline":"Physics","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Stefan W. Ballmer"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2015,"date_issued":"2015-12-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2015-12-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T04:55:06Z","subjects":["Angular control","Gravitational waves","LIGO","Optical spring","Radiation pressure","Physical Sciences and Mathematics"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://surface.syr.edu/etd/392","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Stefan W. Ballmer"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Kelley, David Bruce"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Physics"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Dissertation"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Angular control","Gravitational waves","LIGO","Optical spring","Radiation pressure","Physical Sciences and Mathematics"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://surface.syr.edu/etd/392"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Alignment control in gravitational-wave detectors has consistently proven to be a
dicult problem due to the stringent noise contamination requirement for the gravitational
wave readout and the radiation-pressure induced angular instability in Fabry-
Perot cavities (Sidles-Sigg instability). In this thesis, I present optical springs as a
tool to damp the motion of a mirror. I discuss the design and implementation of a single
degree-of-freedom optical spring system and the importance of the photothermal
eect in properly predicting optical spring behavior.
I also present the development and implementation of an angular control scheme,
attempting to damp two degrees of freedom with two optical cavities. I then extend
this understanding into a plausible concept for implementing optical-spring-based
angular control in the Advanced LIGO detectors.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Angular trapping of a mirror using radiation pressure"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Stefan W. Ballmer"],"dc:creator":["Kelley, David Bruce"],"dc:description.abstract":["Alignment control in gravitational-wave detectors has consistently proven to be a
dicult problem due to the stringent noise contamination requirement for the gravitational
wave readout and the radiation-pressure induced angular instability in Fabry-
Perot cavities (Sidles-Sigg instability). In this thesis, I present optical springs as a
tool to damp the motion of a mirror. I discuss the design and implementation of a single
degree-of-freedom optical spring system and the importance of the photothermal
eect in properly predicting optical spring behavior.
I also present the development and implementation of an angular control scheme,
attempting to damp two degrees of freedom with two optical cavities. I then extend
this understanding into a plausible concept for implementing optical-spring-based
angular control in the Advanced LIGO detectors.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://surface.syr.edu/etd/392"],"dc:subject":["Angular control","Gravitational waves","LIGO","Optical spring","Radiation pressure","Physical Sciences and Mathematics"],"dc:title":["Angular trapping of a mirror using radiation pressure"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Physics"],"thesis:degree_level":["Dissertation"],"thesis:degree_name":["Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T04:55:06Z"}