Mirror thermal noise in laser interferometer gravitational wave detectors operating at room and cryogenic temperature

TL;DR

This paper evaluates mirror thermal noise in laser interferometer gravitational wave detectors, considering various materials and temperatures, highlighting its impact on detector sensitivity at room and cryogenic conditions.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive projection of mirror thermal noise across different materials and temperatures, including all known thermal noise sources.

Findings

Thermal noise significantly limits detector sensitivity.

Cryogenic operation reduces thermal noise.

Material choice impacts noise levels.

Abstract

Mirror thermal noise is and will remain one of the main limitations to the sensitivity of gravitational wave detectors based on laser interferometers. We report about projected mirror thermal noise due to losses in the mirror coatings and substrates. The evaluation includes all kind of thermal noises presently known. Several of the envisaged substrate and coating materials are considered. The results for mirrors operated at room temperature and at cryogenic temperature are reported.