[Ushiba, Michimura (and comments from Enomoto)]
To investigate the reason why Green X got suddenly noisier, we have done various swapping tests.
VCO, Summing Node, Gr PDH Common Mode Boards for both X and Y, arm length stability for both X and Y seem fine and not the cause.
Something real in green laser frequency ?? (PLL, AOM, ... ???)
Background:
- ALS_DARM could not be engaged since around October 26 (Sun) 3-4 am JST (klog 35413).
- Green X noise as measured at K1:ALS-{X,Y}_PDH_SLOW_DAQ_OUT_DQ is noisier than Y when Gr PDH loops are engaged, but not when arms are misaligned (klog 35416).
What we did:
- Following klog 35416, we swapped VCO for green X and Y by swapping the input and output (see Fig. 2). No change in the spectra observed (see magenta in Fig. 1), suggesting that the noise is not from the VCO.
- Measured the spectra of analog slow out for Gr PDH Common Mode Servo Board with doubt that the noise might be from SLOW_DAQ and analog slow out (which cannot be seen from the CDS). Fig. 3 shows the spectra when green shutters are closed (reference) and Gr PDH loops are engaged. 入力1 is X and 入力2 is Y. X clearly is noisier when the loops are engaged. X is also noisier when the shutters are closed, but this is from the gain difference in K1:ALS-{X|Y}_PDH_IN1GAIN (12 dB for X and -9 dB for Y). We confirmed this by increasing the gain for Y to 12 dB. These suggest that the noise is not from the analog slow out.
- Swapped Gr PDH Common Mode Servo Board Chassis by swapping all the cables for X and Y, except for the power cables. No change in the spectra observed (see cyan in Fig. 1), suggesting that the noise is not from the Gr PDH CMB. When measuring the cyan spectra, we also engaged the fiber noise cancellation loops. There was a slight improvement for Y observed, but not for X, suggesting that the noise is not from the fiber noise nor the PZTs for the fiber noise cancellation.
- Put them back, and measured the spectra when bypassing the summing node (see Fig. 4 for how we did), with doubt that something that follows the summing node is doing something bad. No change in the spectra observed (see yellow in Fig. 1), suggesting that this is not the case. We observed a factor of ~3 improvement above ~ 1 kHz in analog slow out as seen in Fig. 5, but not in X.
- Finally, we put everything back and measured the spectra again (see black in Fig. 1).
- To see if X green laser frequency is really noisier, we checked the error signal and the feedback signal for the PLL loops again (see Fig. 6). Actually, X is noisier above ~60 Hz by a factor of ~2. Actually, X was noisier than what we measured this morning (klog 35416). This PLL noise difference and time variation could be some hint, but not two orders of magnitude noisier as we see in K1:ALS-{X,Y}_PDH_SLOW_DAQ_OUT_DQ.
- To check if arm lengh stability for X and Y are the same, we locked CARM with a sigle arm and measured the feedback signal at K1:LSC-CARM_SERVO_SLOW_DAQ_OUT_DQ. No difference in X and Y, suggesting that the arms have the same length noise level.
Other notes:
- We also swapped X and Y in the Summing Node (X going from Input 1 to Out 2, Y going from Input 2 to Fast Out is the default but swapped), and measured the spectra, but no change was observed, suggesting that the noise is not from the Summing Node. Data was lost due to accidental logout from the machine (someone logged into our machine?).
- We also checked if there are some secret RF amps or something between the VCO and the AOM by following the cables to AOM in the PSL room by our eyeballs. No secrets found.
- Open loop transfer functions for Gr PDH loops seem normal, suggesting that something that changes the overall gain dramatically are unlikely (EOM modulation depth, AOM died, RF PD died, optical mis-alignment etc.).
Next:
- There is some difference in the PLL noise. Investigate further. Maybe first by blocking the beams into the beat PDs and compare the spectra.
- See if RF PDs and demods for Gr PDH are working fine when some RF signal are present.
- See if Gr PDH signal is noisy by locking the arm with IR, bring green on resonance with a fixed offset to VCO, and see Gr PDH signal
- See if SHG in PROMETHEUS is OK or not (EDITED to take note of klog 35420)
- Any other ideas ???