A Systematic Error in the Internal Friction Measurement of Coatings for Gravitational Waves Detectors

Low internal friction coatings are key components of advanced technologies such as optical atomic clocks and high-finesse optical cavity and often lie at the forefront of the most advanced experiments in Physics. Notably, increasing the sensitivity of gravitational-wave detectors depends in a very large part on developing new coatings, which entails developing more suitable methods and models to investigate their loss angle. In fact, the most sensitive region of the detection band in such detectors is limited by the coating thermal noise, which is related to the loss angle of the coating. Until now, models which describe only ideal physical properties have been adopted, wondering about the use of one or more loss angles to describe the mechanical properties of coatings. Here we show the presence of a systematic error ascribed to inhomogeneity of the sample at its edges in measuring the coating loss angle. We present a model for disk-shaped resonators, largely used in loss angle measurements, and we compare the theory with measurements showing how this systematic error impacts on the accuracy with which the loss model parameters are known

Ultralight vector dark matter search using data from the KAGRA O3GK run

Among the various candidates for dark matter (DM), ultralight vector DM can be probed by laser interferometric gravitational wave detectors through the measurement of oscillating length changes in the arm cavities. In this context, KAGRA has a unique feature due to differing compositions of its mirrors, enhancing the signal of vector DM in the length change in the auxiliary channels. Here we present the result of a search for U(1)B−L gauge boson DM using the KAGRA data from auxiliary length channels during the first joint observation run together with GEO600. By applying our search pipeline, which takes into account the stochastic nature of ultralight DM, upper bounds on the coupling strength between the U(1)B−L gauge boson and ordinary matter are obtained for a range of DM masses. While our constraints are less stringent than those derived from previous experiments, this study demonstrates the applicability of our method to the lower-mass vector DM search, which is made difficult in this measurement by the short observation time compared to the auto-correlation time scale of DM

Search for gravitational-lensing signatures in the full third observing run of the LIGO-Virgo network

Gravitational lensing by massive objects along the line of sight to the source causes distortions of gravitational wave-signals; such distortions may reveal information about fundamental physics, cosmology and astrophysics. In this work, we have extended the search for lensing signatures to all binary black hole events from the third observing run of the LIGO--Virgo network. We search for repeated signals from strong lensing by 1) performing targeted searches for subthreshold signals, 2) calculating the degree of overlap amongst the intrinsic parameters and sky location of pairs of signals, 3) comparing the similarities of the spectrograms amongst pairs of signals, and 4) performing dual-signal Bayesian analysis that takes into account selection effects and astrophysical knowledge. We also search for distortions to the gravitational waveform caused by 1) frequency-independent phase shifts in strongly lensed images, and 2) frequency-dependent modulation of the amplitude and phase due to point masses. None of these searches yields significant evidence for lensing. Finally, we use the non-detection of gravitational-wave lensing to constrain the lensing rate based on the latest merger-rate estimates and the fraction of dark matter composed of compact objects

Search for eccentric black hole coalescences during the third observing run of LIGO and Virgo

Despite the growing number of confident binary black hole coalescences observed through gravitational waves so far, the astrophysical origin of these binaries remains uncertain. Orbital eccentricity is one of the clearest tracers of binary formation channels. Identifying binary eccentricity, however, remains challenging due to the limited availability of gravitational waveforms that include effects of eccentricity. Here, we present observational results for a waveform-independent search sensitive to eccentric black hole coalescences, covering the third observing run (O3) of the LIGO and Virgo detectors. We identified no new high-significance candidates beyond those that were already identified with searches focusing on quasi-circular binaries. We determine the sensitivity of our search to high-mass (total mass M>70 M⊙) binaries covering eccentricities up to 0.3 at 15 Hz orbital frequency, and use this to compare model predictions to search results. Assuming all detections are indeed quasi-circular, for our fiducial population model, we place an upper limit for the merger rate density of high-mass binaries with eccentricities 0<e≤0.3 at 0.33 Gpc−3 yr−1 at 90\% confidence level

Etude numérique des interactions d'un laser femtoseconde avec des cibles diélectriques : applications à la détermination du seuil d'endommagement des composants optiques

With the appearance of new ultra-short laser systems, extremely high laser intensities became accessible thus allowing laser treatment of practically all materials. As a result, extremely precise processing techniques are under development considerably extending the number of the corresponding industrial and medical applications. Further progress in this field requires a better understanding of fundamental processes involved in the laser interactions. In addition, the success of several national and international involving the development and use of high power laser systems depends on the capacity of careful definition of damage threshold of their optical components. These points illustrate the importance of a detailed numerical modeling of laser interactions with dielectric materials. Under laser irradiation, seed electrons appear in the conduction band of dielectric materials due to photo-ionization process. Colliding with a third-body, these electrons are further heated in laser field. When the threshold electron energy is reached, electron-impact ionization begins. At the same time, the considered laser pulses are so short that electron sub-system has no time to reach an equilibrium state. The resulting optical properties are affected and the definition of the damage criterion should be revised. The proposed approach accounts for the non-equilibrium and provides a detailed description of all the involved processes. In particular, we consider the photo- and impact-ionization processes, as well as electron-electron, electron-phonon and electron-ion collisions. The electron energy distribution and heating of electronic and phonon subsystems is discussed. The role of laser parameters (wavelength, pulse duration, fluence) and material properties (energy gap, band structure) is investigated. The thermalization time is calculated and characterizes the non-equilibrium state as a function of laser pulse duration. A novel thermal criterion is proposed for damage definition based on the electron and phonon energies. The calculated damage thresholds are compared with recent experimental findings. An analysis of other criteria (classical optical breakdown and thermal) is also performedAvec l'apparition de nouveaux systèmes laser ultra-courts, des intensités laser extrêmement élevées sont devenues accessibles, permettant ainsi un traitement au laser de pratiquement tous les matériaux. En conséquence, les techniques de traitement extrêmement précises sont en cours de développement étendant considérablement le nombre des applications industrielles et médicales correspondantes. Des progrès dans ce domaine nécessitent une meilleure compréhension des processus fondamentaux impliqués dans les interactions laser. De plus le succès à l’international du développement et de l’utilisation de systèmes laser de forte puissance, dépend de la capacité de la définition minutieuse du seuil d’endommagement de leurs composants optiques. Ces points illustrent l'importance d'une modélisation numérique détaillée des interactions de laser avec des matériaux diélectriques. Sous irradiation laser, des électrons germes apparaissent dans la bande de conduction des matériaux diélectriques en raison de processus de photo-ionisation. En collision avec un troisième corps, ces électrons sont encore chauffés dans le domaine du laser. Lorsque l'énergie des électrons de seuil est atteinte, l'ionisation par impact d'électrons commence. Dans le même temps, les impulsions laser considérées sont si courtes que le sous-système électronique n'a pas le temps d'atteindre un état d'équilibre. Les propriétés optiques résultant sont affectées et la définition du critère de dommages devrait être révisée. Cela représente l'approche proposée pour le non-équilibre et fournit une description détaillée de tous les processus impliqués. En particulier, on considère le processus et l’impact de photo- ionisation, ainsi que électron-électron, électron-phonon et les collisions électron-ion. La distribution d'énergie des électrons et le chauffage de sous-systèmes électroniques et phonons est discutée. Le rôle des paramètres du laser (longueur d'onde, durée d'impulsion, fluence) et les propriétés des matériaux (de l'écart de l'énergie, de la structure de bande) sont étudiées. Le temps de thermalisation est calculé et caractérise l'état de non-équilibre en fonction de la durée d'impulsion du laser. Un nouveau critère thermique est proposé pour la définition des dommages sur la base des énergies d'électrons et phonons. Les seuils d’endommagement calculés sont comparés aux résultats expérimentaux récents. Une analyse d'autres critères (claquage optique classique et thermique) est également effectué

Numerical Analysis of Ultra-Short Laser Interactions with Dielectric Materials

International audienceLaser-induced electronic excitation, absorption and relaxation are the key issues in ultra-short laser interactions with dielectric materials. To numerically analyze these processes, a detailed non-equilibrium model is developed [1] based on the kinetic Boltzmann equations without any appeal to the classical Drude model. The calculations yield not only free carriers density, but also their energy distribution allowing a better analysis of the role of avalanche ionization. The calculations performed reveal a remarkable effect of the laser-field on collision frequencies resulting in smaller free-carriers absorption than the one predicted by commonly used rate-equation models. In addition, modeling clearly demonstrates laser intensity limits for the applicability of Keldysh's equation for the photoionization process [2]. Furthermore, both electron-electron and electron-phonon relaxation are examined, and the energy of the electron sub-system is investigated as a function of laser fluence and pulse duration. Because efficient bond breaking requires energy, these calculations provide the required thresholds. The dependency of the calculated fluence threshold on laser pulse duration is compared with the available experimental data. The obtained results also explain several recent pump-probe experiments. The developed model is useful for many laser applications including high precision in laser treatment, laser-assisted atomic probe tomography, and for the development of new powerful laser systems. [1] N. S. Shcheblanov and T. E. Itina, Appl. Phys. A DOI: 10.1007/s00339-012-7130-0 (2012) [2] N. S. Shcheblanov and T. E. Itina, submitte

Electronic excitation and relaxation processes in femtosecond laser interactions with insulators: the role of laser wavelength, intensity and different absorption mechanisms

International audienceElectronic excitation-relaxation processes induced by ultra-short laser pulses are studied numerically for a crystalline targets (α quartz and, MgO). A detailed kinetic approach is applied to the calculations accounting for electron-photon-phonon, electron-phonon, electron-electron, electronand electron ion scatterings. In addition, both laser field photoionization ranging from multi-photon to tunneling one, and electron impact ionization (avalanche process) processes are included in the model. The importancerole of the electron-ion collisions oin the calculation of laser energy absorption and ionization is demonstrated. Under a powerful femtosecond laser irradiation, the electron energy distribution is far from equilibrium state. Theis intialinitial excitation stage and following electron relaxation stage depend on the laser parameters, such as: wavelength, intensity, pulse duration and target properties. Based on the performed calculations we study the thermalization time as a function of laser parameters. Futhermore, Based on the performed calculations we presented comparing the thermal and optical breakdown new laser damage criteria derived from our calculations and based on electron energy. Comparison with the available experimental data confirms the validity of the calculations