Study of stable optical cavity at low temperature

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25287053
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Particle/Nuclear/Cosmic ray/Astro physics
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: OHASHI MASATAKE 東京大学, 宇宙線研究所, 教授 (80213833)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 山元 一広 東京大学, 宇宙線研究所, 助教 (00401290) ; 内山 隆 東京大学, 宇宙線研究所, 准教授 (60361656)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 重力波 / レーザー干渉計 / 極低温 / 光学薄膜

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The aim of this research is to realize a ultra-stable optical cavity at low temperrature. We measured the mechanical losses of optical thin films for high reflectivity mirror coating at low temperature (around 20K). We did not found any lowering of mechanical Q value at low temperature and the cooling of mirrors could reduce the thermal noise of mirros drastically. We confirmed that a long stable optical cavity at low temperature will be realized by using current techniques.

Free Research Field

重力波宇宙物理学