title: Direct measurement of absorption-induced wavefront distortion in high optical power systems.
abstract: Wavefront distortion due to absorption in the substrates and coatings of mirrors in advanced gravitational wave interferometers has the potential to compromise the operation and sensitivity of these interferometers [Opt. Lett.29, 2635-2637 (2004)]. We report the first direct spatially-resolved measurement, to our knowledge, of such wavefront distortion in a high optical power cavity. The measurement was made using an ultrahigh sensitivity Hartmann wavefront sensor on a dedicated test facility. The sensitivity of the sensor was lambda/730, where lambda=800 nm.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia. brooks_a@ligo.caltech.edu
authors.forename: Aidan F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Brooks
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hosken
authors.forename: Jesper
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Munch
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Veitch
authors.forename: Zewu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Chunnong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Yaohui
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ju
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Blair
authors.forename: Phil
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Willems
authors.forename: Bram
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Slagmolen
authors.forename: Jerome
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Degallaix