High Power Laser, Test Masses, Digital Control System and Vacuum System for High Optical Power Interferometry Experiments

Australian physicists have been commissioned through the LIGO Scientific Collaboration to develop solutions to key technical problems associated with the next generation of gravitational wave detectors. The US LIGO project has committed through a funded 2007 ARC Discovery project to contribute almost $1M to this project (mostly optical and control system equipment, but also including personnel support). The equipment requested here consists of the necessary high power laser system, test masses, digital control system and vacuum system for the three participating universities to support the research of the Discovery project. All of the equipment will be installed at the Australian Consortium’s high optical power facility at Gingin, WA.