Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Correcting Unwanted Amplitude Modulation In Electro-Optic Modulators, Kevin Doyle

Physics & Astronomy Honors Theses

The Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) is designed to detect disturbances in spacetime created by the motion of large masses, referred to as gravitational waves. The effects of gravitational waves seen on Earth are very small; waves arriving at Earth are only expected to disturb spacetime by a factor of 10-21, thus LIGO must be extremely sensitive to detect their effects. In order to increase LIGO s sensitivity, the lengths of LIGO s arm cavities must be carefully controlled and sensed. One component of a subsystem used to attain such control is an electro-optic modulator. Also known as a …