Our research group specialises in precision measurements with laser
interferometers. We have leading roles in the optical design of
large international projects and do tests of new optical technologies
in our own laboratory experiments with small prototype laser
interferometers. Our current experimental work focusses on reducing
measurement noise through coherent detection of multiple optical signals
with a digital system.
Our group has been leading the optical design for a new detector,
the Einstein Telescope (ET).
Future, so-called third-generation, interferometric detectors such
as ET
will be able to produce a constant stream of data for astronomical analysis.
However, with a large number of co-located interferometers, the
technical challenges increase, especially regarding the coupling of
unwanted noise sources; the draft optical
layout of the Einstein Telescope highlights the complexity of
such systems. We will use digital signal processing schemes to
study the feasibility of such systems and to optimise their
performance.
The student joining this project would participate in the
design and setup of a new laser interferometer experiment. In
particular we will stabilise diode lasers to setup several Michelson interferometers
to create a multi-interferometer test system.
The sensing and control of all optical
signals will be performed with a high-speed digital system, controlled
by Labview.
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