> When I tried to lock the SRY with initial alignment guardian (actually vertex gurardian), sometimes locked with other state as shown in Fig.1. (around -1m20s and -50s)

This is not a bug of the guardian, but it happens randomly, because the error signal crosses the zero at both the dark (anti-resonant) and the bright (resonant) points. There is nothing we should do, the guardian recognizes which state SRM is and if not on resonance, it tries to lock SRM again. Just wait for a while until SRM is locked on the resonance.

I tested the IRM damper. Fig.1 shows the calculated open-loop gain using the transfer function modeled from the measurement. In the OLDAMP_OFF mode, the fluctuation was not large enough to confirm the damper effect (Fig.2). I excited the TM yaw motion using the IP yaw actuator. The excited lowest mode (60mHz) was reduced by the IRM damper, but the higher mode (160mHz) was excited (Fig.3).

Yokozawa-san,

>When I tried to lock the SRY with initial alignment guardian (actually vertex gurardian), sometimes locked with other state as shown in Fig.1. (around -1m20s and -50s)

Did you mean that there were some bugs in the guardian, or that it was something else?

[Ushiba, Tanaka, Hirose, Fujimoto, Saito]

In the PLL optical path, the beam sampler (R:T = 1:9), where the main-laser and sub-laser beams are combined, was moved to match the waist positions of the two beams. As a result, the mode-matching ratio improved to approximately 85%. After aligning the PLL optical path, a beat signal was successfully observed. In the optical path that injects the sub-laser into the interferometer, a beam profiler was placed at the expected beam-waist location, and the lens positions were adjusted so that the waist occurred at that location. When the beam profile was examined from upstream toward the waist, the beam initially had a reasonably clean shape, but gradually became distorted into a vortex-like pattern. Around the waist position, however, the beam profile became clean again. Although the cause of this behavior remains unclear, the beam shape at the point where it enters the interferometer was clean, so we decided to proceed with alignment. After alignment, we attempted to observe flashes from the SRC, but none were detected. This was likely because the main laser was not properly aligned to the SRC. In the next experiment, we plan to realign the system and attempt to observe the flashes again.
 

• First, the beam profile of the main laser in the PLL optical path was measured and fitted (Fig. 1). The waist positions and waist radii obtained from the fitting are listed below. The coordinate origin is defined at the beam sampler (R:T = 1:9), where the main-laser and sub-laser beams are combined.

  Main laser

  x direction: Waist position = −175.8 ± 2.6 mm, Waist radius = 0.0520 ± 0.0006 mm
  y direction: Waist position = −149.4 ± 2.2 mm, Waist radius = 0.0567 ± 0.0006 mm
  → Average: Waist position = −163 mm, Waist radius = 0.0544 mm

  Comparing these results with the sub-laser waist position measured previously (klog:37086), the waist positions differed by approximately 74 mm. Therefore, the beam sampler (R:T = 1:9) where the main-laser and sub-laser beams are combined was moved approximately 1.5 holes to the right (Fig. 2). The beam profile of the sub-laser was then measured and fitted (Fig. 3). The resulting waist positions and waist radii are listed below. The coordinate origin is defined at the new position of the beam sampler (R:T = 1:9).

  Sub-laser

  x direction: Waist position = −202.2 ± 2.9 mm, Waist radius = 0.0838 ± 0.0010 mm
  y direction: Waist position = −202.3 ± 2.4 mm, Waist radius = 0.0793 ± 0.0008 mm
  → Average: Waist position = −202 mm, Waist radius = 0.082 mm

  To compare the waist positions of the main and sub-laser beams, the main-laser waist position was shifted by the same amount that the beam sampler was moved (approximately 1.5 holes to the right), yielding an adjusted waist position of −200.5 mm. Based on these results, the mode-matching ratio was calculated to be approximately 85%. Next, two irises were installed, and the alignments of the main and sub-laser beams were adjusted so that both beams passed through them. The RFPD position was then adjusted while only the sub-laser beam was incident on the RFPD, and the mirror immediately before the RFPD was used to maximize the DC signal. When the main-laser beam was also directed onto the RFPD, a beat signal was observed. The alignment of the main laser was then optimized to maximize the beat-signal amplitude.
   

• Next, in the optical path that injects the sub-laser into the interferometer, a beam profiler was placed at the expected waist location, and the lens positions were adjusted so that the beam waist occurred there. However, the beam profile appeared distorted (Fig. 4). We first considered the possibility that the beam was being clipped somewhere in the optical path. However, no significant power loss was observed between the FI output and the beam waist. All mirrors and lenses downstream of the FI were inspected and adjusted to ensure that no clipping was occurring, but the beam profile remained distorted. The optical surfaces of the mirrors and lenses were also checked and cleaned, but no improvement was observed. Furthermore, the beam profiler was positioned near the waist, and the mirror angles were adjusted while observing the beam profile. The distorted beam shape persisted and merely shifted laterally, suggesting that the distortion was not caused by clipping. When the beam profile was observed while moving from upstream toward the waist, the beam initially appeared reasonably clean, then gradually developed a vortex-like distortion, and finally became clean again around the waist position. Although the cause of this behavior remains unknown, the beam shape at the point where it enters the interferometer was clean, so we decided to proceed with alignment. Regarding mode matching, since the beam waist was adjusted to occur at the intended waist location, the mode matching is expected to be reasonably good. The beam-waist radii were approximately 0.076 mm in the x direction and 0.074 mm in the y direction, corresponding to an average waist radius of approximately 0.075 mm. If the waist positions are matched, the mode-matching ratio is expected to be approximately 90%. Finally, alignment was performed using the two irises, and the main-laser beam was blocked so that only the sub-laser remained in the SRC. We then attempted to observe SRC flashes, but none were detected. However, because the main laser was not aligned to the SRC, the alignment of the sub-laser, which had been adjusted to match the main laser, was likely also incorrect. This is considered the most probable reason why no flashes were observed. In the next experiment, we plan to realign the system and continue searching for SRC flashes.

[Takahashi, Ushiba]

We measured the transfer function from the H2+H3 actuator for the IRM damper to the Oplev yaw "IRM_OLDAMP_Y" in OLDAMP_OFF mode with "TM_OLDAMP_P&Y" on.  The fundamental mode at 59mHz  was visible, and the higher modes were damped by IM and TM servos.

[Smith, Tanaka, Hirose, Fujimoto, Saito]

The mount of a mirror located near the BS was found to be malfunctioning, so it was replaced. As a result, this mirror can now be used for alignment. The power of the main laser incident on the PLL RFPD was measured and found to have increased from approximately 19 μW (klog:37020) before the BS was replaced with a mirror in klog:37058 to approximately 69 μW. Mirrors and lenses were then installed according to the redesigned optical layout. In the PLL path, the mode-matching ratio between the main laser and the sub-laser was found to be approximately 33%. This is due to a mismatch in the waist positions. If the waist positions are matched, the mode-matching ratio is expected to improve to approximately 94%. Therefore, we plan to modify the sub-laser optical path length after the 50 mm focal-length lens. The mode-matching ratio for the optical path that injects the sub-laser into the interferometer will be evaluated in the next measurement.

• The mirror located near the BS, which is the last mirror encountered by the sub-laser before entering the interferometer, had a faulty mount, making alignment using this mirror impossible. Therefore, the mount was replaced. Before the replacement, the alignment of the PLL optical path was adjusted so that the DC signal at the RFPD was maximized. After replacing the mount, alignment was performed using only this mirror, again maximizing the DC signal at the RFPD.
   
• The power of the main laser incident on the RFPD was then measured. Before the BS was replaced with a mirror in klog:37058, the power was approximately 19 μW (klog:37020), whereas it is now approximately 69 μW.
   

• Next, the mirrors and lenses used in the PLL optical path were reinstalled according to the redesigned optical layout (Fig. 1). The beam profile was measured after the 50 mm focal-length lens and fitted (Fig. 2). The waist positions and waist radii obtained from the fitting are listed below. The coordinate origin is defined at the beam sampler (R:T = 1:9) where the main-laser and sub-laser beams are combined.

  Sub-laser

  x direction: Waist position= −236.3 ± 3.0 mm, Waist radius= 0.0835 ± 0.0011 mm
  y direction: Waist position= −237.6 ± 2.3 mm, Waist radius= 0.0786 ± 0.0008 mm
  →Average: Waist position= −237 mm, Waist radius= 0.081 mm

  For comparison, the beam-profile results of the main laser from klog:37020 were used:

  Main laser

  x direction: Waist position= −220.1 ± 3.7 mm, Waist radius= 0.0577 ± 0.0006 mm
  y direction: Waist position= −170.7 ± 7.6 mm, Waist radius= 0.0674 ± 0.0014 mm
  →Average: Waist position= −195.4 mm, Waist radius= 0.0626 mm

  Using these results, the mode-matching ratio was calculated to be approximately 33%. Since the waist positions differ by 41.5 mm, the beam sampler (R:T = 1:9), where the main and sub-laser beams are combined, needs to be moved 20.8 mm to the right in Fig. 1. If the waist positions are perfectly matched, the mode-matching ratio is expected to improve to approximately 94%. In addition, one of the mirrors in the main-laser optical path was moved slightly relative to its position in klog:37020. Therefore, before moving the beam sampler (R:T = 1:9), we plan to remeasure the beam profile of the main laser and determine the required adjustment based on the new measurement results. Once the mode-matching ratio has been improved, the beat signal will be investigated again.
   

• Finally, based on the optical layout shown in Fig. 1, four additional mirrors were installed to increase the optical path length of the sub-laser beam directed toward the interferometer. As a result, the 200 mm and 150 mm focal-length lenses require little or no repositioning. In the next measurement, beam profiles will be measured both before and after the waist to confirm whether the waist position is correct. If satisfactory mode matching is achieved, alignment of the sub-laser beam into the interferometer will then be performed.

[Smith, Hirose, Saito]

A 100 mm focal-length lens was placed before the FI to reduce the beam diameter, and the beam profile remained clean after passing through the FI. This indicates that the large beam diameter of the sub-laser was likely the cause of the distortion. Another 100 mm focal-length lens was then placed after the FI, and the beam profile after this lens was measured. Based on the results, the optical layout will be modified.
 

• First, a beam profiler was placed after the reflection from the beam sampler (R:T = 9:1), and the angle and height of the FI were adjusted to determine whether the beam shape could be improved. However, no improvement was observed. Next, the aperture of the FI was inspected and appeared clean. Then, with the beam profiler still positioned after the reflection from the beam sampler (R:T = 9:1), a 100 mm focal-length lens was placed before the FI. In this configuration, the beam profile remained clean (Fig. 1). Therefore, the large beam diameter of the sub-laser appears to have been the cause of the distorted beam profile.
   

• Next, another 100 mm focal-length lens was placed after the FI so that the beam divergence would be similar to that before the first lens was inserted. The beam profile after this second lens was then measured and fitted (Fig. 2). The waist positions and waist radii obtained from the fitting are as follows:

  x direction: Waist position= 952.2 ± 2.2 mm, Waist radius= 0.1782 ± 0.0014 mm
  y direction: Waist position= 960.8 ± 1.8 mm, Waist radius= 0.1790 ± 0.0012 mm
  →Average: Waist position= 957 mm, Waist radius= 0.179 mm
   

• In the next experiment, the optical layout will be modified based on these waist parameters. Specifically, we plan either to move the 200 mm focal-length lens by +270 mm and the 150 mm focal-length lens by +296 mm, or to increase the optical path length by 1600 mm.

[Saito, Hirose, Tanaka, Ushiba, Fujimoto]

Abstract

We built and tested a transimpedance circuit for an AC-coupled PD to be used for the SRCL and PRCL length measurements.
The designed parameters are a high-pass cutoff of 0.5 Hz, a low-pass cutoff of 100 kHz, and a transimpedance of 10 kOhm.
In the test using voltage injection from Moku:Lab, we obtained results consistent with the LTspice simulation.
Next, we plan to attach a photodiode to the board and build a mount to fix the board on the optical table.

Details

Background
For the SRCL and PRCL length measurements, the main laser is locked to the interferometer, and an auxiliary laser phase-locked to the main laser is scanned to measure the flashes.
During this measurement, the transmitted light of the main laser is also incident on the PD and disturbs the measurement. Therefore, the DC component and low-frequency fluctuations of this light need to be removed. For this purpose, an AC-coupled PD is required, and we built a transimpedance circuit for it.

Design of the transimpedance circuit
Fig. 1 shows the circuit diagram of the designed transimpedance circuit. The important parameters are as follows:

• High-pass cutoff: 0.5 Hz
• Low-pass cutoff: 100 kHz
• Transimpedance in the flat region: 10 kOhm

Fig. 2 shows the simulated frequency response of the transimpedance.

Assembly of the transimpedance circuit
Fig. 3 shows a photo of the transimpedance circuit built on a universal board.

Test of the transimpedance circuit
We tested the circuit by connecting Moku:Lab and measuring the transfer function from the input voltage to the output voltage.
Since Moku:Lab has a 50 Ohm output impedance, the circuit diagram when it is connected to the transimpedance circuit is as shown in Fig. 4.
The simulated gain expected in this configuration is shown in Fig. 5, where the gain in the flat region is expected to be 46 dB.

Fig. 6 shows the measurement result. The measured result agrees well with the simulation, indicating that the circuit is working properly.

Plan for tomorrow

Tomorrow, we plan to attach a photodetector (FGA21, Thorlabs) to the board we built. We also plan to make a mount so that the board can be fixed on the optical table.

I offloaded the F1 GAS with the FR.

I offloaded the BF GAS with the FR.

[Kimura and Yasui]
 On JUne 15, we had a final vacuum leak test for SRM.
Then we  detected a vacuum leak in the range of 1×10^-10 Pa·m³/s at the side flange on the +X side. 
We confirmed that there were no other leaking flanges besides this one.

[Ushiba, Smith, Saito]

We measured the upstream laser power, which had not been measured previously, and found that the transmission of the FI was approximately 86%, indicating that there was no unexplained laser power loss. The beam profile of the sub-laser itself was also measured and found to be clean. However, when the beam profile was measured after reflection from the beam sampler (R:T = 9:1), the beam shape became distorted. This suggests that the FI was causing the problem. Since the sub-laser beam diameter may be too large relative to the maximum allowable beam diameter of the FI, we plan to place a lens before the FI in the next measurement to reduce the beam diameter and investigate whether the beam profile improves after transmission through the FI.
 

• First, we measured the upstream laser power, which had not been measured previously. The measurements were performed using a power meter with an OD = 2.0 ND filter. The results were as follows:

  Immediately after the sub-laser output: 24 mW
  Reflected by the PBS: 3 mW
  Transmitted through the PBS: 21 mW
  Before the FI: 21 mW
  After the FI: 18 mW
  After reflection from the beam sampler (R:T = 9:1): 16.6 mW
  Before the BS: 16.5 mW

  Therefore, the transmission of the FI was approximately 86%, and there appears to be no significant laser power loss elsewhere in the optical path. In other words, clipping does not seem to be occurring.
   

• Next, we measured the beam profile near the beam waist using a beam profiler and observed a beam profile similar to that reported previously (klog:37065). To identify the source of the distortion, we first removed the HWP closest to the sub-laser and replaced it with a mirror, then measured the beam profile of the sub-laser itself (Fig. 1). The beam shape of the sub-laser appeared clean. Next, the mirror was replaced with the original HWP, and the beam profiler was placed after the reflection from the beam sampler (R:T = 9:1) to measure the beam profile (Fig. 2). In this case, the beam shape became distorted. We then removed the FI and measured the beam profile again, finding that the beam shape returned to a clean profile (Fig. 3). This indicates that the FI is likely responsible for the distortion. To investigate further, we measured the beam diameter at the FI input and output locations. The results were:

  At the FI input:

  x: 1.869 mm
  y: 1.687 mm

  At the FI output:

  x: 2.075 mm
  y: 2.121 mm

  The maximum beam diameter specified for the FI (IO-3-1064-HP) is 2.7 mm, suggesting that the beam diameter may be too large for proper operation. In the next measurement, we plan to install a lens before the FI to reduce the beam diameter and determine whether the beam profile becomes cleaner after passing through the FI.

• The front-end computer was moved from U32-33 to U20-21 of EY1 rack.
• Equipment in U34-40 (Timing Fanout, Timing IRIG-B, Network switches for DGS and DAQ networks, RFM switch, and a rack rail) was shifted to U33-39.
• U40 is now blank and assigned for the new MTP splice box.