[Saito, Hirose, Tanaka, Fujimoto]
Abstract
We found that the intensity noise observed with the OMC REFL PD, which will be used for the SRCL/PRCL measurement, can be improved by aligning SRY.
This result suggests that we may be able to lower the cut-off frequency of the SR560 (high-pass) connected to the OMC REFL PD output from the current value of 300 Hz.
This may allow us to reduce the scan speed of the auxiliary laser.
Details
Improvement of the OMC REFL intensity noise by SRY alignment
In the evening, we measured the intensity fluctuation of the OMC REFL PD while the main laser was locked to SRY.
We found that the spectrum had become worse than the one measured yesterday.
In Fig. 1, the blue trace shows the spectrum measured in the evening, and the green trace shows the spectrum measured yesterday.
In particular, the 60 Hz line noise became prominent.
When we lowered the cutoff frequency of the SR560 (high-pass) attached to the OMC REFL PD from 300 Hz to 100 Hz today, a noise comparable in size to the auxiliary laser flashes appeared.
This noise was likely coming from the 60 Hz line noise, since its frequency was roughly around 70 Hz when we checked on the oscilloscope.
We then realigned SRY so as to maximize the AS DC power with ADS and manual alignment of ITMY.
As a result, the OMC REFL spectrum was reduced, as shown by the brown trace in Fig. 1, and became quieter than yesterday’s measurement.
In addition, the 60 Hz power-line noise was significantly reduced, and the noise appears to have moved to harmonics such as 120 Hz.
Fig. 2 shows the evolution of the OMC REFL spectrum during the process of improving the alignment. It can be seen that the intensity noise was gradually reduced.
Investigation of the origin of the 60 Hz power-line noise
Since the 60 Hz power-line noise was improved by the SRY alignment, mainly in the pitch direction, and the component moved to harmonics, it is suspected that one of the suspensions related to SRY is moving at 60 Hz in pitch.
Therefore, I measured the pitch and yaw spectra of the related suspensions and looked for suspensions showing a 60 Hz line.
The result is shown in Fig. 3. A 60 Hz component can be seen in the pitch spectrum of SR3. Since this component became invisible in the OMC REFL signal after improving the SRY pitch alignment, SR3 pitch motion is likely the cause of the 60 Hz noise seen in OMC REFL.
Plans for tomorrow
We plan to reduce the high-pass cutoff frequency of the SR560 attached to the OMC REFL PD as much as possible while keeping the OMC REFL intensity noise low by using the improved SRY alignment. This is expected to allow us to reduce the scan speed of the auxiliary laser.
And the current UGF of the PLL is about 20 Hz. We will try to increase the control bandwidth, for example by removing the 20 dB attenuator placed after the PFD, so that the auxiliary laser can follow a faster LO scan.