Accurate measurement of the time delay in the response of the LIGO gravitational wave detectors

作者：Aso Yoichi^*; Goetz Evan; Kalmus Peter; Matone Luca; Marka Szabolcs; Myers Joshua; O'Reilly Brian; Savage Rick; Schwinberg Paul; Siemens Xavier; Sigg Daniel; Smith Nicolas

来源：Classical and Quantum Gravity, 2009, 26(5): 055010.

DOI：10.1088/0264-9381/26/5/055010

We present a method to precisely calibrate the time delay in a long baseline gravitational-wave interferometer. An accurate time stamp is crucial for data analysis of gravitational wave detectors, especially when performing coincidence and correlation analyses between multiple detectors. Our method uses an intensity-modulated radiation pressure force to actuate on the mirrors. The time delay is measured by comparing the phase of the signal at the actuation point with the phase of the recorded signal within the calibrated data stream used for gravitational wave searches. Because the signal-injection path is independent of the interferometer's control system, which is used for the standard calibration, this method can be an independent verification of the timing error in the system. A measurement performed with the 4 km interferometer at the LIGO Hanford Observatory shows a 1 mu s relative accuracy when averaging over 50 min. Our understanding of the systematic time delay in the detector response has reached the level of 10 mu s.

• 出版日期2009-3-7