International Summer Research Program in Gravitational-Wave Physics:
Research Experiences for Undergraduates around the world



Australian National University, Canberra
  • Squeezed light source for Advanced LIGO:
    Interferometric gravitational wave detectors such as Advanced LIGO are fundamentally limited by the particle-like behaviour (photons) of light. This particle-like behavior creates shot noise and radiation pressure noise which pushes the suspended mirrors backwards. One way to overcome this fundamental limitation is to use non- classical light sources or squeezed light sources. Our group is developing a squeezed light source which will be used later in the LIGO Hanford detector to study the performance of squeezing in a real GW detector. The student would be involved in the characterization of the squeezed light source at ANU.
    Mentors: Tim Lam, David McClelland
    Related Project 2009: "Quantum Noise, Squeezed Light and my adventures at ANU"
  • Suspension point interferometry for lock acquisition in Advanced LIGO:
    During science operation a sophisticated length sensing and control system will control the positions of all mirrors inside the Advanced LIGO interferometer with sub-pm accuracy. Before this system can be activated, a secondary system, the lock acquisition system, has to reduce the speed or amplitude of the longitudinal mirror motion from its pre-lock levels to a range where the final system can handle it. Two different lock acquisition systems are currently under discussion. One uses the second harmonic of the main laser field and the other uses a newly developed interferometer technique commonly known as digital interferometry. The student will be involved in the design and characterization of these lock acquisition systems.
    Mentors: Bram Slagmolen, Daniel Shaddock, David McClelland
  • ANU Project 2007: "Research at the Australian National University"
    2007 Project Publication: "Digitally Enhanced Heterodyne Interferometry"


Past IREU Projects
Other Prior Projects