Prospects of higher-order Laguerre Gauss modes in future gravitational wave detectors

TL;DR

This paper analyzes the potential benefits of using higher-order Laguerre Gauss modes, specifically LG33, in future gravitational wave detectors, showing significant sensitivity improvements over fundamental modes.

Contribution

It provides a detailed simulation-based analysis of LG33 mode control signals and demonstrates a potential doubling of detection rates for binary neutron star inspirals in Advanced Virgo.

Findings

LG33 modes reduce coating Brownian noise

Performance of LG33 is comparable or better than TEM00

Sensitivity improvement factor of 2.1 for binary neutron star detection

Abstract

The application of higher-order Laguerre Gauss (LG) modes in large-scale gravitational wave detectors has recently been proposed. In comparison to the fundamental mode, some higher-order Laguerre Gauss modes can significantly reduce the contribution of coating Brownian noise. Using frequency domain simulations we give a detailed analysis of the longitudinal and angular control signals derived with a LG33 mode in comparison to the fundamental TEM00 mode. The performance regarding interferometric sensing and control of the LG33 mode is found to be similar, if not even better in all aspects of interest. In addition, we evaluate the sensitivity gain of the implementation of LG33 modes into the Advanced Virgo instrument. Our analysis shows that the application of the LG33 mode results in a broadband improvement of the Advanced Virgo sensitivity, increasing the potential detection rate of binary neutron star inspirals by a factor 2.1.