Mechanical loss in tantala/silica dielectric mirror coatings

doi:10.1088/0264-9381/20/13/334

Mechanical loss in tantala/silica dielectric mirror coatings

Steven D Penn et al 2003 Class. Quantum Grav. 20 2917-2928 doi: 10.1088/0264-9381/20/13/334

PDF (259 KB) | References | Articles citing this article

Steven D Penn^1,6, Peter H Sneddon², Helena Armandula³, Joseph C Betzwieser⁴, Gianpietro Cagnoli², Jordan Camp^3,7, D R M Crooks², Martin M Fejer⁵, Andri M Gretarsson^1,8, Gregory M Harry⁴, Jim Hough², Scott E Kittelberger¹, Michael J Mortonson⁴, Roger Route⁵, Sheila Rowan⁵ and Christophoros C Vassiliou⁴
¹ Department of Physics, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244-1130, USA
² Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
³ LIGO Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91025, USA
⁴ LIGO Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
⁵ Edward L Ginzton Laboratory, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-4085, USA
⁶ Present address: Department of Physics, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Geneva, New York, 14456, USA.
⁷ Present address: Laboratory for High Energy Astrophysics, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, 20771, USA.
⁸ Present address: LIGO Livingston Observatory, Livingston, Louisiana, 70754, USA.

Abstract. Current interferometric gravitational wave detectors use test masses with mirror coatings formed from multiple layers of dielectric materials, most commonly alternating layers of SiO₂ (silica) and Ta₂O₅ (tantala). However, mechanical loss in the Ta₂O₅/SiO₂ coatings may limit the design sensitivity for advanced detectors. We have investigated sources of mechanical loss in the Ta₂O₅/SiO₂ coatings, including loss associated with the coating–substrate interface, with the coating–layer interfaces and with the coating materials. Our results indicate that the loss is associated with the coating materials and that the loss of Ta₂O₅ is substantially larger than that of SiO₂.

PACS numbers: 04.80.Nn, 95.55.Ym, 62.40.+i, 68.35.Gy

Print publication: Issue 13 (7 July 2003)
Received 24 February 2003
Published 12 June 2003

Post to CiteUlike |

Post to Connotea |

Post to Bibsonomy

Mechanical loss in tantala/silica dielectric mirror coatings

Find related articles

Article options

Authors & Referees