“Achieving greater quantum-noise-limited sensitivity to spacetime strain hinges on achieving higher circulating laser power, in excess of 1 MW, in conjunction with highly squeezed quantum states of light,” authors of a study note.
Until now, there has been no way to make this happen, but a new study presents a prototype optical device that promises to boost LIGO’s laser power to levels never achieved before. “We demonstrate the potential of new adaptive optical technology to expand the detection horizon of gravitational-wave observatories,” the researchers said.