A New Class of Optical Beams for Large Baseline Interferometric Gravitational Wave Detectors

TL;DR

This paper explores a folded resonant Fabry-Perot cavity design using spherical mirrors to improve thermal noise performance in third-generation gravitational wave detectors, offering an alternative to higher order modes.

Contribution

It introduces a new optical beam configuration for large baseline interferometers that reduces thermal noise without degeneracy issues, unlike previous higher order mode approaches.

Findings

Comparable or better thermal noise reduction than higher order modes

Avoids degeneracy issues associated with other beam configurations

Potential for significant performance improvements in gravitational wave detectors

Abstract

A folded resonant Fabry-Perot cavity has the potential to significantly reduce the impact of coating thermal noise on the performance of kilometer scale gravitational wave detectors. When constructed using only spherical mirror surfaces it is possible to utilize the extremely robust $TEM_{00}$ mode optical mode. In this paper we investigate the potential thermal noise improvements that can be achieved for third generation gravitational wave detectors using realistic constraints. Comparing the previously proposed beam configurations such as e.g. higher order Laguerre-Gauss modes, we find that similar or better thermal noise improvement factors can be achieved, while avoiding degeneracy issues associated with those beams.