The newly developed prototype employs non-imaging optical principles that have never been applied to detect gravitational waves.
Non-imaging optical principles are optical techniques that manipulate light without forming a traditional image, unlike lenses or mirrors used in cameras and telescopes. They are often used to control light distribution, beam shape, or energy transfer rather than focusing on visual resolution.
The instrument developed by the researchers uses these techniques to apply precise optical corrections directly to LIGO’s main mirrors. It is positioned just a few centimeters in front of the mirror’s surface, where it projects ultra-low-noise infrared radiation to improve performance.