11,794 research outputs found
Improving the sensitivity to gravitational-wave sources by modifying the input-output optics of advanced interferometers
We study frequency dependent (FD) input-output schemes for signal-recycling
interferometers, the baseline design of Advanced LIGO and the current
configuration of GEO 600. Complementary to a recent proposal by Harms et al. to
use FD input squeezing and ordinary homodyne detection, we explore a scheme
which uses ordinary squeezed vacuum, but FD readout. Both schemes, which are
sub-optimal among all possible input-output schemes, provide a global noise
suppression by the power squeeze factor, while being realizable by using
detuned Fabry-Perot cavities as input/output filters. At high frequencies, the
two schemes are shown to be equivalent, while at low frequencies our scheme
gives better performance than that of Harms et al., and is nearly fully
optimal. We then study the sensitivity improvement achievable by these schemes
in Advanced LIGO era (with 30-m filter cavities and current estimates of
filter-mirror losses and thermal noise), for neutron star binary inspirals, and
for narrowband GW sources such as low-mass X-ray binaries and known radio
pulsars. Optical losses are shown to be a major obstacle for the actual
implementation of these techniques in Advanced LIGO. On time scales of
third-generation interferometers, like EURO/LIGO-III (~2012), with
kilometer-scale filter cavities, a signal-recycling interferometer with the FD
readout scheme explored in this paper can have performances comparable to
existing proposals. [abridged]Comment: Figs. 9 and 12 corrected; Appendix added for narrowband data analysi
High purity bright single photon source
Using cavity-enhanced non-degenerate parametric downconversion, we have built
a frequency tunable source of heralded single photons with a narrow bandwidth
of 8 MHz, making it compatible with atomic quantum memories. The photon state
is 70% pure single photon as characterized by a tomographic measurement and
reconstruction of the quantum state, revealing a clearly negative Wigner
function. Furthermore, it has a spectral brightness of ~1,500 photons/s per MHz
bandwidth, making it one of the brightest single photon sources available. We
also investigate the correlation function of the down-converted fields using a
combination of two very distinct detection methods; photon counting and
homodyne measurement.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures; minor changes, added referenc
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