Letter abstract
Nature Physics 4, 472 - 476 (2008)
Published online: 30 March 2008 | doi:10.1038/nphys920
Subject Categories: Optical physics | Electronics, photonics and device physics | Techniques and instrumentation
A quantum-enhanced prototype gravitational-wave detector
K. Goda1, O. Miyakawa2, E. E. Mikhailov3, S. Saraf4, R. Adhikari2, K. McKenzie5, R. Ward2, S. Vass2, A. J. Weinstein2 & N. Mavalvala1
The quantum nature of the electromagnetic field imposes a fundamental limit on the sensitivity of optical precision measurements such as spectroscopy, microscopy and interferometry1. The so-called quantum limit is set by the zero-point fluctuations of the electromagnetic field, which constrain the precision with which optical signals can be measured2, 3, 4. In the world of precision measurement, laser-interferometric gravitational-wave detectors4, 5, 6 are the most sensitive position meters ever operated, capable of measuring distance changes of the order of 10- 18 m r.m.s. over kilometre separations caused by gravitational waves from astronomical sources7. The sensitivity of currently operational and future gravitational-wave detectors is limited by quantum optical noise6. Here, we demonstrate a 44% improvement in displacement sensitivity of a prototype gravitational-wave detector with suspended quasi-free mirrors at frequencies where the sensitivity is shot-noise-limited, by injecting a squeezed state of light1, 2, 3. This demonstration is a critical step towards implementation of squeezing-enhancement in large-scale gravitational-wave detectors.
- LIGO Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
- LIGO Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA
- The College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia 23187, USA
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
- Center for Gravitational Physics, The Australian National University, ACT 0200, Australia
Correspondence to: N. Mavalvala1 e-mail: nergis@ligo.mit.edu
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