QND and higher order effects for a nonlinear meter in an interferometric gravitational wave antenna

TL;DR

This paper proposes a quantum nondemolition scheme for a nonlinear optical readout in gravitational wave detectors, analyzing fundamental sensitivity limits caused by higher order optical effects.

Contribution

It introduces a realistic QND readout scheme for nonlinear interferometric gravitational wave detectors and discusses the impact of higher order optical effects on sensitivity.

Findings

Proposed a feasible QND readout method for nonlinear interferometers.

Identified a fundamental sensitivity limit due to higher order optical effects.

Analyzed the impact of higher order effects on gravitational wave detection sensitivity.

Abstract

A new optical topology and signal readout strategy for a laser interferometer gravitational wave detector were proposed recently by Braginsky and Khalili . Their method is based on using a nonlinear medium inside a microwave oscillator to detect the gravitational-wave-induced spatial shift of the interferometer's standing optical wave. This paper proposes a quantum nondemolition (QND) scheme that could be realistically used for such a readout device and discusses a "fundamental" sensitivity limit imposed by a higher order optical effect.