Adaptive Optics Boost Gravitational Wave Detection

A team at the University of California, Riverside, led by Jonathan Richardson, unveiled a novel optical technology poised to significantly enhance gravitational-wave observatories like LIGO. The breakthrough, detailed in a research paper released February 16 [US], addresses a critical limitation: distortions in LIGO's mirrors caused by increased laser power. LIGO, comprised of two 4-kilometer laser interferometers in Washington State and Louisiana, detects gravitational waves – ripples in spacetime caused by accelerating massive objects. These waves offer a new perspective on the universe, complementing electromagnetic observations. To probe further back in cosmic time, projects like Cosmic Explorer, a planned 40-kilometer observatory, require laser power exceeding 1 megawatt. The new technology employs a low-noise, high-resolution adaptive optics approach to correct mirror distortions. By projecting corrective infrared radiation onto the mirrors, the instrument, a prototype using non-imaging optical principles, allows for higher laser power within the interferometers. This advancement is crucial for next-generation detectors and promises to answer fundamental questions about the universe's expansion rate and the nature of black holes. The improved precision in measuring black hole dynamics will enable rigorous tests of general relativity and alternative theories.