1. LIGO- G040011-02-D The LIGO Instruments Stan Whitcomb NSB Meeting LIGO Livingston Observatory 4 February 2004

2. LIGO- G040011-02-D NSB Meeting 2 Seismic motion-- ground motion due to natural and anthropogenic sources Thermal noise-- vibrations due to finite temperature- The Detection Challenge Shot noise-- quantum fluctuations in the number of photons detected L ~ 4 km For h ~ 10 –21  L ~ 10 -18 m

3. LIGO- G040011-02-D NSB Meeting 3 Initial Interferometer Design Noise Budget Limiting noise (with available technology) » Seismic at low frequencies » Thermal at mid frequencies » Shot noise at high frequencies Facility limits much lower to allow improved detectors as technology matures detectable signal zone Understanding of noise sources developed with 40 m prototype

4. LIGO- G040011-02-D NSB Meeting 4 “typical” photon makes 200 x 50 bounces—requires reflectivity 99.99% end test mass beam splitter signal Optical Configuration Laser Michelson Interferometer Michelson Interferometer recycling mirror Power Recycled 4 km Fabry-Perot arm cavity with Fabry-Perot Arm Cavities input test mass

5. LIGO- G040011-02-D NSB Meeting 5 Stabilized Laser Custom-built 10 W Nd:YAG laser— Now a commercial product Stabilization cavities for laser beam— Widely used for precision optical applications

6. LIGO- G040011-02-D NSB Meeting 6 LIGO Optics Substrates: SiO 2 High purity, low absorption Polishing Accuracy < 1 nm (~10 atomic diameters) Micro-roughness < 0.1 nm (1 atom) Coating Scatter < 50 ppm Absorption < 0.5 ppm Uniformity <10 -3 (~1 atom/layer) Worked with industry to develop required technologies 2 manufacturers of fused silica 4 polishers 5 metrology companies/labs 1 optical coating company

7. LIGO- G040011-02-D NSB Meeting 7 Optics Suspension and Control Suspension is the key to controlling thermal noise Magnets and coils to control position and angle of mirrors

8. LIGO- G040011-02-D NSB Meeting 8 Core Optics Installation and Alignment Cleanliness of paramount importance

9. LIGO- G040011-02-D NSB Meeting 9 Seismic Isolation damped spring cross section Cascaded stages of masses on springs (same principle as car suspension)

10. LIGO- G040011-02-D NSB Meeting 10 Seismic Isolation 10 2 10 0 10 - 2 10 - 4 10 - 6 10 - 8 10 -10 Horizontal Vertical 10 -6 In air In vacuum

11. LIGO- G040011-02-D NSB Meeting 11 Commissioning Progress

12. LIGO- G040011-02-D NSB Meeting 12 Science Runs as Sensitivity Improves S2 2 nd Science Run Feb - Apr 03 (59 days) S1 1 st Science Run Sept 02 (17 days) S3 3 rd Science Run Nov 03 – Jan 04 (70 days) LIGO Target Sensitivity S3 Duty Cycle Hanford 4km 69% Hanford 2km 63% Livingston 4 km 22%* * Limited by high ground noise

13. LIGO- G040011-02-D NSB Meeting 13 Anthropogenic ground vibrations »Related to human activity – mostly logging Microseism due to ocean waves Strategy for recovering full-time duty at LLO »Use Hydraulic External Pre-Isolator (HEPI) system developed for AdvLIGO »Prototype tested at Stanford and MIT »Fabrication nearly complete, installation just beginning Seismic Environment at LLO Test at MIT OFFLOAD SPRINGS HYDRAULIC LINES & VALVES CROSSBEAM PIER HYDRAULIC ACTUATOR ( HORIZONTAL )

14. LIGO- G040011-02-D NSB Meeting 14 Summary Jump from laboratory-scale to kilometer-scale interferometers has been successful Commissioning on track »Sensitivity nearing design level »Reliability and duty cycle as expected for this stage »Active seismic isolation development addresses excess seismic noise at LLO, as well as Advanced LIGO requirements Interleaving of Science Runs with commissioning » Science begins »Analysis community prepares for full operation –Development of analysis algorithms, grid computing, …