Low noise Fused Silica suspensions: from the GEO600 experience to the 2 nd generation requirements Geppo Cagnoli INFN Sez. Firenze University of Glasgow ESF Workshop – 22 nd Sep. 2005, Perugia
22nd Sep. 2005ESF Workshop - Perugia 05 - Silica suspensions2 of 17 Fundamental milestones Braginsky, Mitrofanov, Tokmakov Silica cradle (Glasgow) Silicate bonding, J. Gwo Bi-filar pendulum, Moscow-Glasgow Bi-filar pendulum, Glasgow-Perugia First flame pulling machine in Glasgow 1 st silica suspensions in GEO nd silica suspensions in GEO EGO R&D on CO2 laser machine Advanced LIGO
22nd Sep. 2005ESF Workshop - Perugia 05 - Silica suspensions3 of 17 Pro and Cons of Silica Thermal noise –Low mech. losses –Low Young’s modulus –Monolithic suspensions Other issues –Tapering –Low excess noise (bursts ?) Safety –Careful handling –Ears breaking Cleanness –Welding on situ Electrical –Charging of test masses
22nd Sep. 2005ESF Workshop - Perugia 05 - Silica suspensions4 of 17 Something we have learned Broken fibres can be replaced Teflon can be applied on the fibres The reproducibility of fibres was not optimal The flame blows the fibre during welding Manual welding is dirty and not reproducible Probably side welding better than bottom welding (work in progress) After all the fibres are still there…
22nd Sep. 2005ESF Workshop - Perugia 05 - Silica suspensions5 of 17 Limitation of the H 2 -O 2 technology in GEO600 –Metal nozzles Surface contamination by combustion products can limit strength –Shape control - limited Very approximate with pulling machines More accurate with feed & pull –Reproducibility - limited Uniformity of cross sectional area at ~ 10% level in GEO 600 –Welding Contamination with combustion products Blowing of the flame
22nd Sep. 2005ESF Workshop - Perugia 05 - Silica suspensions6 of 17 Flames at work
22nd Sep. 2005ESF Workshop - Perugia 05 - Silica suspensions7 of 17 The new technology: CO2 laser Use CO 2 laser radiation ( 10.6 m) to melt silica Potential advantages of laser fabrication & weld: –Very fine control of quantity and localization of heating –Reduced contamination –Diameter self-regulation effect –Precision welding – improved weld shape –Welding of thin fibres on thick rods –No blowing Full control on beam delivering –Re-correction of shape, stress relief/annealing afterwards 10.6 m M c Lachlan & Meyer, Applied Optics Vol 26 No. 9, 1987
22nd Sep. 2005ESF Workshop - Perugia 05 - Silica suspensions8 of 17 CO2 laser at work
22nd Sep. 2005ESF Workshop - Perugia 05 - Silica suspensions9 of 17 Machine conceptual design Able to pull: –Circular fibres –Ribbons Able to weld Modular design 3 axes machine
22nd Sep. 2005ESF Workshop - Perugia 05 - Silica suspensions10 of 17 Conceptual design for cylindrical fibres Current conceptual design of cylindrical fibre machine –fibre stock clamped to base of machine –focus of laser (ring) moved downwards to progressively melt stock –upper stock clamp moves upwards to draw fibre CO 2 laser beam 10.6 m Silica fibre Conical mirror Rotating 45° mirror Motor PULL FEED Silica rod Block C
22nd Sep. 2005ESF Workshop - Perugia 05 - Silica suspensions11 of 17 Conceptual design for ribbons and welding Block C is here an XY scanner (mirror galvanometers) mounted on a rotational stage A 3 and the rotational stage are used for welding The laser path is the b one
22nd Sep. 2005ESF Workshop - Perugia 05 - Silica suspensions12 of 17 Some results Fibre profile The neck problem First ribbon with the new machine The new 3 axes pulling machine
22nd Sep. 2005ESF Workshop - Perugia 05 - Silica suspensions13 of 17 Some pictures
22nd Sep. 2005ESF Workshop - Perugia 05 - Silica suspensions14 of 17 The ears for Advanced LIGO New ears design for the 40 kg masses of Advanced LIGO 9 cm 2 is the maximum bonding surface. Triangular shape for peeling reduction
22nd Sep. 2005ESF Workshop - Perugia 05 - Silica suspensions15 of 17 Ear strength tests Breaking load: 9.5 kg Flame polished 37.5 kg breaking load 12 kg load On since 19/08
22nd Sep. 2005ESF Workshop - Perugia 05 - Silica suspensions16 of 17 Suspension thermal noise in Advanced LIGO
22nd Sep. 2005ESF Workshop - Perugia 05 - Silica suspensions17 of 17 Conclusions How much is the confidence in the low frequency performance of the Advanced Detectors? The effect of metal suspensions on the internal thermal noise of mirrors is not clear The CO2 laser machine seems to be able to produce fibres with the advanced detectors requirements The silicate bonded ears are giving a positive response to the test