Open AccessOptical loss study of the cryogenic molecular layer using a folded cavity for future gravitational-wave detectors
Author(s) -
S. Tanioka,
Y. Aso
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.415921
Subject(s) - detector , gravitational wave , optics , gravitational wave observatory , cryogenics , physics , interferometry , layer (electronics) , optoelectronics , materials science , nanotechnology , astronomy , quantum mechanics
In order to increase the number of detectable gravitational-wave sources, future gravitational-wave detectors will operate with cryogenically cooled mirrors. However, recent studies showed that cryogenic mirrors can suffer from the molecular layer formation, which introduces an additional optical loss, and the detector's performance degrades. In order to evaluate the impact of the molecular layer on future cryogenic gravitational-wave detectors, we built a cryogenic folded-cavity setup and developed an ellipsometric measurement method. The optical loss induced by the cryogenic molecular layer shows a large value even at a few nanometer thickness and can deteriorate the performance of the future cryogenic gravitational-wave detectors.