Title :
The Big Bang Observer: High Laser Power for Gravitational Wave Astrophysics
Author :
Harry, Gregory M. ; Folkner, William ; Fritschel, Peter ; Phinney, E. Sterl ; Shaddock, Daniel A.
Author_Institution :
Massachusetts Inst. of Technol., Cambridge
Abstract :
The Big Bang Observer(BBO) is a proposed space-based gravitational wave detector which will look for the stochastic background of gravitational waves from the early universe. The positions of three free test masses, 50,000 km apart, will be monitored by laser interferometry. To reduce noise, 300 W of 355 nm light obtained from frequency-tripling the output of Nd:YAG lasers will be used. These lasers and other technology necessary for BBO will require significant research before a potential launch date of 2025.
Keywords :
gravitational wave detectors; gravitational waves; light interferometry; big bang observer; gravitational wave astrophysics; high laser power; laser interferometry; space-based gravitational wave detector; Astrophysics; Detectors; Frequency; Laser noise; Monitoring; Noise reduction; Optical interferometry; Power lasers; Stochastic resonance; Testing;
Conference_Titel :
Lasers and Electro-Optics, 2007. CLEO 2007. Conference on
Conference_Location :
Baltimore, MD
Print_ISBN :
978-1-55752-834-6
DOI :
10.1109/CLEO.2007.4453737
