학술논문
High-power laser beam in higher-order Hermite–Gaussian modes.
Document Type
Article
Author
Source
Subject
*LASER beams
*HIGH power lasers
*SPATIAL light modulators
*THERMAL noise
*DETECTORS
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*
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Language
ISSN
0003-6951
Abstract
The sensitivities of current gravitational-wave detectors are limited around signal frequencies of 100 Hz by mirror thermal noise. One proposed option to reduce this thermal noise is to operate the detectors in a higher-order spatial laser mode. This operation would require a high-power laser input beam in such a spatial mode. Here, we discuss the generation of the Hermite–Gaussian modes HG 2 , 2 , HG 3 , 3 , and HG 4 , 4 using one water-cooled spatial light modulator (SLM) at a continuous-wave optical input power of up to 85 W. We report unprecedented conversion efficiencies for a single SLM of about 43%, 42%, and 41%, respectively, and demonstrate that the SLM operation is robust against the high laser power. This is an important step toward the implementation of higher-order laser modes in future gravitational-wave detectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]