Feedback control of thermal lensing in a high optical power cavity

Y. Fan, C. Zhao, J. Degallaix, L. Ju, D. G. Blair, B. J. J. Slagmolen, D. J. Hosken, A. F. Brooks, P. J. Veitch, J. Munch

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This paper reports automatic compensation of strong thermal lensing in a suspended 80 m optical cavity with sapphire test mass mirrors. Variation of the transmitted beam spot size is used to obtain an error signal to control the heating power applied to the cylindrical surface of an intracavity compensation plate. The negative thermal lens created in the compensation plate compensates the positive thermal lens in the sapphire test mass, which was caused by the absorption of the high intracavity optical power. The results show that feedback control is feasible to compensate the strong thermal lensing expected to occur in advanced laser interferometric gravitational wave detectors. Compensation allows the cavity resonance to be maintained at the fundamental mode, but the long thermal time constant for thermal lensing control in fused silica could cause difficulties with the control of parametric instabilities.

Original languageEnglish
Article number104501
Number of pages5
JournalReview of Scientific Instruments
Volume79
Issue number10
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2008
Externally publishedYes

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Feedback control of thermal lensing in a high optical power cavity'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this