Quantum correlation measurements in interferometric gravitational wave detectors

Understand

Quantum fluctuations in the phase and amplitude quadratures of light set limitations on the sensitivity of modern optical instruments.

• The sensitivity of the interferometric gravitational wave detectors, such as the Advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational wave Observatory (LIGO), is limited by quantum shot noise, quantum radiation pressure noise, and a set of classical noises.
• We show how the quantum properties of light can be used to distinguish these noises using correlation techniques.
• Particularly, in the first part of the paper we show estimations of the coating thermal noise and gas phase noise, hidden below the quantum shot noise in the Advanced LIGO sensitivity curve.