Geometric tilt-to-length coupling in precision interferometry: mechanisms and analytical descriptions

authored by: Marie-Sophie Hartig, Sönke Schuster, Gudrun Wanner
Abstract: Tilt-To-length (TTL) coupling is a technical term for the cross-coupling of angular or lateral jitter into an interferometric phase signal. It is an important noise source in precision interferometers and originates either from changes in the optical path lengths or from wavefront and clipping effects. Within this paper, we focus on geometric TTL coupling and categorise it into a number of different mechanisms for which we give analytic expressions. We then show that this geometric description is not always sufficient to predict the TTL coupling noise within an interferometer. We, therefore, discuss how understanding the geometric effects allows TTL noise reduction already by smart design choices. Additionally, they can be used to counteract the total measured TTL noise in a system. The presented content applies to a large variety of precision interferometers, including space gravitational wave detectors like LISA.
Organisation(s): Institute of Gravitation Physics
QuantumFrontiers
PhoenixD: Photonics, Optics, and Engineering - Innovation Across Disciplines
External Organisation(s): Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute)
Type: Article
Journal: Journal of Optics
Volume: 24
ISSN: 2040-8978
Publication date: 05.05.2022
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials, Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1088/2040-8986/ac675e (Access: Open)

BibTeX

@article{eea2f5e7a02c4317b86030ab8c4305ad,
title = "Geometric tilt-to-length coupling in precision interferometry: mechanisms and analytical descriptions",
abstract = "Tilt-To-length (TTL) coupling is a technical term for the cross-coupling of angular or lateral jitter into an interferometric phase signal. It is an important noise source in precision interferometers and originates either from changes in the optical path lengths or from wavefront and clipping effects. Within this paper, we focus on geometric TTL coupling and categorise it into a number of different mechanisms for which we give analytic expressions. We then show that this geometric description is not always sufficient to predict the TTL coupling noise within an interferometer. We, therefore, discuss how understanding the geometric effects allows TTL noise reduction already by smart design choices. Additionally, they can be used to counteract the total measured TTL noise in a system. The presented content applies to a large variety of precision interferometers, including space gravitational wave detectors like LISA.",
keywords = "Gravitational wave detection, Interferometric noise sources, Laser interferometry, LISA, Optical cross talk, Space interferometry, Tilt-To-length coupling",
author = "Marie-Sophie Hartig and S{\"o}nke Schuster and Gudrun Wanner",
note = "Funding Information: We thank Gerhard Heinzel for valuable discussions. This work was made possible by funds of both the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) and the German Space Agency, DLR. We gratefully acknowledge the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) for funding the Sonderforschungsbereich (SFB 1128: geo-Q) {\textquoteleft}Relativistic Geodesy and Gravimetry with Quantum Sensors{\textquoteright}, project A05 and all work contributions to this paper made by S{\"o}nke Schuster. Furthermore, we acknowledge DFG for funding the Clusters of Excellence PhoenixD (EXC 2122, Project ID 390833453) and QuantumFrontiers (EXC 2123, Project ID 390837967). Likewise, we gratefully acknowledge the German Space Agency, DLR and support by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy based on a resolution of the German Bundestag (FKZ 50OQ1801). Finally, we would like to acknowledge the Max Planck Society (MPG) for supporting the framework LEGACY on low-frequency gravitational wave astronomy, a cooperation between the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the MPG (M.IF.A.QOP18098).",
year = "2022",
month = may,
day = "5",
doi = "10.1088/2040-8986/ac675e",
language = "English",
volume = "24",
journal = "Journal of Optics",
issn = "2040-8978",
publisher = "IOP Publishing Ltd.",
number = "6",
}