Sub quantum noise limited position sensors for gravitational wave detectors

Our current ability to detect high mass blackholes is limited by significant excess noise in the low frequency band of the gravitational wave detectors.

A contributor to this is the noise present in the position sensors used to damp the suspension modes of the test masses. A fundamental limitation of these detectors is photon shot noise or quantum noise and detector noise.

In this project you will investigate a new laser-based position detector that will hopefully surpass these limits and allow the low frequency performance of gravitational wave detectors to improved.

Supervisors