Advanced Suspension Techniques in Interferometric Gravitational Wave Detectors: An Overview

Interferometric gravitational wave (GW) detectors are sophisticated instruments that require suspended mirrors to be effectively isolated from all forms of vibrations and noise. This isolation is crucial for enabling the detectors to function efficiently at low frequencies, which directly impacts th...

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Main Author: Vishnu G. Nair
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Galaxies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4434/13/2/28
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author Vishnu G. Nair
author_facet Vishnu G. Nair
author_sort Vishnu G. Nair
collection DOAJ
description Interferometric gravitational wave (GW) detectors are sophisticated instruments that require suspended mirrors to be effectively isolated from all forms of vibrations and noise. This isolation is crucial for enabling the detectors to function efficiently at low frequencies, which directly impacts their capacity to detect distant events from the universe’s past. To address this challenge, various suspension systems have been developed, utilizing passive, active, or hybrid control mechanisms. The effectiveness of these systems in suppressing noise determines the lowest detectable frequencies. Designing and managing mirror suspensions present significant challenges across all interferometric GW detectors. Detectors such as LIGO, VIRGO, TAMA300, KAGRA, and GEO600 implement unique suspension designs and techniques to enhance their performance. A comprehensive comparison of these systems would offer valuable insights. This paper provides an overview of the different suspension systems employed in major global interferometric GW detectors, alongside a brief examination of proposed future detectors. It discusses the rationale behind each design, the materials utilized, and other relevant details, serving as a useful resource for the gravitational wave detector community.
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spelling doaj-art-ebfe1f13150447a6aa874f2ceca6dd462025-08-20T03:13:58ZengMDPI AGGalaxies2075-44342025-03-011322810.3390/galaxies13020028Advanced Suspension Techniques in Interferometric Gravitational Wave Detectors: An OverviewVishnu G. Nair0Department of Aeronautical and Automobile Engineering, Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Udupi 576104, Karnataka, IndiaInterferometric gravitational wave (GW) detectors are sophisticated instruments that require suspended mirrors to be effectively isolated from all forms of vibrations and noise. This isolation is crucial for enabling the detectors to function efficiently at low frequencies, which directly impacts their capacity to detect distant events from the universe’s past. To address this challenge, various suspension systems have been developed, utilizing passive, active, or hybrid control mechanisms. The effectiveness of these systems in suppressing noise determines the lowest detectable frequencies. Designing and managing mirror suspensions present significant challenges across all interferometric GW detectors. Detectors such as LIGO, VIRGO, TAMA300, KAGRA, and GEO600 implement unique suspension designs and techniques to enhance their performance. A comprehensive comparison of these systems would offer valuable insights. This paper provides an overview of the different suspension systems employed in major global interferometric GW detectors, alongside a brief examination of proposed future detectors. It discusses the rationale behind each design, the materials utilized, and other relevant details, serving as a useful resource for the gravitational wave detector community.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4434/13/2/28gravitational wave detectorsmirror suspension systemsvibration isolationinterferometrylow-frequency noise suppression
spellingShingle Vishnu G. Nair
Advanced Suspension Techniques in Interferometric Gravitational Wave Detectors: An Overview
Galaxies
gravitational wave detectors
mirror suspension systems
vibration isolation
interferometry
low-frequency noise suppression
title Advanced Suspension Techniques in Interferometric Gravitational Wave Detectors: An Overview
title_full Advanced Suspension Techniques in Interferometric Gravitational Wave Detectors: An Overview
title_fullStr Advanced Suspension Techniques in Interferometric Gravitational Wave Detectors: An Overview
title_full_unstemmed Advanced Suspension Techniques in Interferometric Gravitational Wave Detectors: An Overview
title_short Advanced Suspension Techniques in Interferometric Gravitational Wave Detectors: An Overview
title_sort advanced suspension techniques in interferometric gravitational wave detectors an overview
topic gravitational wave detectors
mirror suspension systems
vibration isolation
interferometry
low-frequency noise suppression
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4434/13/2/28
work_keys_str_mv AT vishnugnair advancedsuspensiontechniquesininterferometricgravitationalwavedetectorsanoverview