Improving LIGO calibration accuracy by tracking and compensating for slow temporal variations
Abstract
Calibration of the second-generation LIGO interferometric gravitational-wave detectors employs a method that uses injected periodic modulations to track and compensate for slow temporal variations in the differential length response of the instruments. These detectors utilize feedback control loops to maintain resonance conditions by suppressing differential arm length variations. We describe how the sensing and actuation functions of these servo loops are parameterized and how the slow variations in these parameters are quantified using the injected modulations. We report the results of applying this method to the LIGO detectors and show that it significantly reduces systematic errors in their calibrated outputs.
- Publication:
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Classical and Quantum Gravity
- Pub Date:
- January 2017
- DOI:
- 10.1088/0264-9381/34/1/015002
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1608.05134
- Bibcode:
- 2017CQGra..34a5002T
- Keywords:
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- Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics;
- General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
- E-Print:
- 13 pages, 8 figures. This is an author-created, un-copyedited version of an article published in Classical and Quantum Gravity. IOP Publishing Ltd is not responsible for any errors or omissions in this version of the manuscript or any version derived from it