Date of Award

Winter 12-22-2021

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Physics

Advisor(s)

Ballmer, Stefan

Keywords

camera, cmos, gravitational-wave, LIGO, phase, solid-state

Subject Categories

Physical Sciences and Mathematics | Physics

Abstract

I present a novel way of wavefront sensing using a commercially available, continuouswavetime-of- ight camera with QVGA-resolution. This CMOS phase camera is capable of sensing externally modulated light sources with frequencies up to 100 MHz. The high-spatial-resolution of the sensor, combined with our integrated control electronics, allows the camera to image power modulation index as low as -62 dBc/second/pixel. The phase camera is applicable to problems where alignment and mode-mismatch sensing is needed and suited for diagnostic and control applications in gravitationalwave detectors. Specically, I explore the use of the phase camera in sensing the beat signals due to thermal distortions from point-like heat absorbers on the test masses in the Advanced LIGO detectors. The camera is capable of sensing optical path distortions greater than about two nanometers in the Advanced LIGO input mirrors, limited by the phase resolution. In homodyne readout, the performance can reach up to 0.1 nm, limited by the modulation amplitude sensitivity.

Access

Open Access

Download

Included in

Physics Commons

Share

COinS