LIGO to detect gravitational waves from 13 million light-years further with new device
While LIGO’s laser can currently reach 750 kilowatts, it needs to surpass one megawatt to achieve its full potential.
The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory, or LIGO, is one of the most powerful scientific equipment for detecting gravitational waves. Covering an area of 16 square kilometers, it also happens to be among the world’s largest scientific facilities.
However, there’s something that prevents this giant instrument from realizing its full potential.
Currently, LIGO’s laser power starts at 200 Watts, and with maximum amplification, it can go up to 750 kilowatts — but this is not enough. According to scientists, the LIGO laser must cross the one-megawatt level to accomplish desirable results.
“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.