title: The advanced LIGO input optics.
abstract: The advanced LIGO gravitational wave detectors are nearing their design sensitivity and should begin taking meaningful astrophysical data in the fall of 2015. These resonant optical interferometers will have unprecedented sensitivity to the strains caused by passing gravitational waves. The input optics play a significant part in allowing these devices to reach such sensitivities. Residing between the pre-stabilized laser and the main interferometer, the input optics subsystem is tasked with preparing the laser beam for interferometry at the sub-attometer level while operating at continuous wave input power levels ranging from 100 mW to 150 W. These extreme operating conditions required every major component to be custom designed. These designs draw heavily on the experience and understanding gained during the operation of Initial LIGO and Enhanced LIGO. In this article, we report on how the components of the input optics were designed to meet their stringent requirements and present measurements showing how well they have lived up to their design.
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA.
authors.forename: Chris L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA.
authors.forename: Muzammil A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Arain
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA.
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ciani
authors.affiliation: Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, USA.
authors.forename: Ryan T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: DeRosa
authors.affiliation: Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, USA.
authors.forename: Anamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Effler
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Feldbaum
authors.affiliation: LIGO Livingston Observatory, Livingston, Louisiana 70754, USA.
authors.forename: Valery V
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Frolov
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fulda
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gleason
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heintze
authors.affiliation: LIGO Hanford Observatory, Richland, Washington 99352, USA.
authors.forename: Keita
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kawabe
authors.affiliation: University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.
authors.forename: Eleanor J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: King
authors.affiliation: Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, USA.
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kokeyama
authors.affiliation: LIGO, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA.
authors.forename: William Z
authors.initials: WZ
authors.lastname: Korth
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA.
authors.forename: Rodica M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.affiliation: LIGO Livingston Observatory, Livingston, Louisiana 70754, USA.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mullavey
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck-Institut für Gravitationsphysik, 30167 Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peold
authors.affiliation: University of Texas at Brownsville, Brownsville, Texas 78520, USA.
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Quetschke
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA.
authors.forename: David H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Reitze
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA.
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Tanner
authors.affiliation: LIGO Hanford Observatory, Richland, Washington 99352, USA.
authors.forename: Cheryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vorvick
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA.
authors.forename: Luke F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA.
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mueller