Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Angular Trapping Of A Mirror Using Radiation Pressure, David Bruce Kelley

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Alignment control in gravitational-wave detectors has consistently proven to be a

dicult problem due to the stringent noise contamination requirement for the gravitational

wave readout and the radiation-pressure induced angular instability in Fabry-

Perot cavities (Sidles-Sigg instability). In this thesis, I present optical springs as a

tool to damp the motion of a mirror. I discuss the design and implementation of a single

degree-of-freedom optical spring system and the importance of the photothermal

eect in properly predicting optical spring behavior.

I also present the development and implementation of an angular control scheme,

attempting to damp two degrees of freedom with …