344 research outputs found
Demonstration of detuned dual recycling at the Garching 30m laser interferometer
Dual recycling is an advanced optical technique to enhance the
signal-to-noise ratio of laser interferometric gravitational wave detectors in
a limited bandwidth. To optimise the center of this band with respect to
Fourier frequencies of expected gravitational wave signals detuned dual
recycling has to be implemented. We demonstrated detuned dual recycling on a
fully suspended 30m prototype interferometer. A control scheme that allows to
tune the detector to different frequencies will be outlined. Good agreement
between the experimental results and numerical simulations has been achieved.Comment: 9 page
Experimental Demonstration of a Suspended Dual Recycling Interferometer for Gravitational Wave Detection
The advanced scheme of âsignal recyclingâ is to be used in the British-German GEO 600 project, in addition to âpower recyclingâ (which has become standard for all laser-interferometer gravitational wave detector projects). This combination, âdual recycling,â has been demonstrated for the first time on a fully suspended interferometer, the Garching prototype with 30 m arm length. Signal enhancement and power buildup were as predicted; operation was reliable, and a significant contrast enhancement was observed. A control system that can be extended to full scale gravitational wave detectors was employed
A polyphonic acoustic vortex and its complementary chords
Using an annular phased array of eight loudspeakers, we generate sound beams that simultaneously contain phase singularities at a number of different frequencies. These frequencies correspond to different musical notes and the singularities can be set to overlap along the beam axis, creating a polyphonic acoustic vortex. Perturbing the drive amplitudes of the speakers means that the singularities no longer overlap, each note being nulled at a slightly different lateral position, where the volume of the other notes is now nonzero. The remaining notes form a tri-note chord. We contrast this acoustic phenomenon to the optical case where the perturbation of a white light vortex leads to a spectral spatial distribution
An investigation of eddy-current damping of multi-stage pendulum suspensions for use in interferometric gravitational wave detectors
In this article we discuss theoretical and experimental investigations of the use of eddy-current damping for multi-stage pendulum suspensions such as those intended for use in Advanced LIGO, the proposed upgrade to LIGO (the US laser interferometric gravitational-wave observatory). The design of these suspensions is based on the triple pendulum suspension design developed for GEO 600, the German/UK interferometric gravitational wave detector, currently being commissioned. In that detector all the low frequency resonant modes of the triple pendulums are damped by control systems using collocated sensing and feedback at the highest mass of each pendulum, so that significant attenuation of noise associated with this so-called local control is achieved at the test masses. To achieve the more stringent noise levels planned for Advanced LIGO, the GEO 600 local control design needs some modification. Here we address one particular approach, namely that of using eddy-current damping as a replacement or supplement to active damping for some or all of the modes of the pendulums. We show that eddy-current damping is indeed a practical alternative to the development of very low noise sensors for active damping of triple pendulums, and may also have application to the heavier quadruple pendulums at a reduced level of damping
Recommended from our members
The effects of self-selected light-dark cycles and social constraints on human sleep and circadian timing: a modeling approach
Why do we go to sleep late and struggle to wake up on time? Historically, light-dark cycles were dictated by the solar day, but now humans can extend light exposure by switching on artificial lights. We use a mathematical model incorporating effects of light, circadian rhythmicity and sleep homeostasis to provide a quantitative theoretical framework to understand effects of modern patterns of light consumption on the human circadian system. The model shows that without artificial light humans wakeup at dawn. Artificial light delays circadian rhythmicity and preferred sleep timing and compromises synchronisation to the solar day when wake-times are not enforced. When wake-times are enforced by social constraints, such as work or school, artificial light induces a mismatch between sleep timing and circadian rhythmicity (âsocial jet-lagâ). The model implies that developmental changes in sleep homeostasis and circadian amplitude make adolescents particularly sensitive to effects of light consumption. The model predicts that ameliorating social jet-lag is more effectively achieved by reducing evening light consumption than by delaying social constraints, particularly in individuals with slow circadian clocks or when imposed wake-times occur after sunrise. These theory-informed predictions may aid design of interventions to prevent and treat circadian rhythm-sleep disorders and social jet-lag
Parametrically Excited Surface Waves: Two-Frequency Forcing, Normal Form Symmetries, and Pattern Selection
Motivated by experimental observations of exotic standing wave patterns in
the two-frequency Faraday experiment, we investigate the role of normal form
symmetries in the pattern selection problem. With forcing frequency components
in ratio m/n, where m and n are co-prime integers, there is the possibility
that both harmonic and subharmonic waves may lose stability simultaneously,
each with a different wavenumber. We focus on this situation and compare the
case where the harmonic waves have a longer wavelength than the subharmonic
waves with the case where the harmonic waves have a shorter wavelength. We show
that in the former case a normal form transformation can be used to remove all
quadratic terms from the amplitude equations governing the relevant resonant
triad interactions. Thus the role of resonant triads in the pattern selection
problem is greatly diminished in this situation. We verify our general results
within the example of one-dimensional surface wave solutions of the
Zhang-Vinals model of the two-frequency Faraday problem. In one-dimension, a
1:2 spatial resonance takes the place of a resonant triad in our investigation.
We find that when the bifurcating modes are in this spatial resonance, it
dramatically effects the bifurcation to subharmonic waves in the case of
forcing frequencies are in ratio 1/2; this is consistent with the results of
Zhang and Vinals. In sharp contrast, we find that when the forcing frequencies
are in ratio 2/3, the bifurcation to (sub)harmonic waves is insensitive to the
presence of another spatially-resonant bifurcating mode.Comment: 22 pages, 6 figures, late
Reactive ion etching of quartz and pyrex for micro electronic applications
The reactive ion etching of quartz and Pyrex substrates was carried out using CF4/Ar and CF4/O2 gas mixtures in a combined radio frequency (rf)/microwave (”w) plasma. It was observed that the etch rate and the surface morphology of the etched regions depended on the gas mixture (CF4/Ar or CF4/O2), the relative concentration of CF4 in the gas mixture, the rf power (and the associated self-induced bias) and microwave power. An etch rate of 95 nm/min for quartz was achieved. For samples covered with a thin metal layer, ex situ high resolution scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy imaging indicated that, during etching, surface roughness is produced on the surface beneath the thin metallic mask. Near vertical sidewalls with a taper angle greater than 80° and smooth etched surfaces at the nanometric scale were fabricated by carefully controlling the etching parameters and the masking technique. A simulation of the electrostatic field distribution was carried out to understand the etching process using these masks for the fabrication of high definition features
- âŠ