Automatic beam alignment for the mode-cleaner cavities of GEO 600.
The automatic alignment system for the two suspended, triangular mode-cleaner cavities of the gravitational wave detector GEO 600 has been in continuous operation since the spring of 2001. A total of 20 angular degrees of freedom are controlled by feedback loops with almost no manual alignment having been required since installation. Error signals for the eight most important degrees of freedom are obtained with the differential wave-front sensing technique. We describe the sensing system, the control topology, and the performance of the automatic alignment system. A continuous locking stretch of more than 120 h has been achieved.
Grote
Hartmut
H
Institut für Atom- und Molekülphysik, Universität Hannover, Callinstrasse 38, D-30167 Hannover, Germany. hrg@mpq.mpg.de
Heinzel
Gerhard
G
Freise
Andreas
A
Gossler
Stefan
S
Willke
Benno
B
Lück
Harald
H
Ward
Harry
H
Casey
Morag M
MM
Strain
Kenneth A
KA
Robertson
David
D
Hough
Jim
J
Danzmann
Karsten
K