Norikatsu Mio

Thermal effects in high-power CW second harmonic generation in Mg-doped stoichiometric lithium tantalate.

We investigated thermal behaviors of single-pass second-harmonic generation of continuous wave green radiation with high efficiency by quasi-phase matching in periodically poled Mg-doped stoichiometric lithium tantalate (PPMgSLT). Heat generation turned out to be directly related to the green light absorption in the material. Strong relation between an upper limit of the second harmonic power and confocal parameter was found. Single-pass second-harmonic generation of 16.1 W green power was achieved with 17.6% efficiency in Mg:SLT at room temperature.

Thermal performance in high power SHG characterized by phase-matched calorimetry

We proposed a method to determine device quality in heat removal. Temperature change depending on SH power was analyzed by fitting with a new model to characterize heat removal performance of SHG modules, named as phase-matched calorimetry (PMC). The thermal disposal performance of SHG devices was improved by combination of metal housing and reduced crystal aperture. With a tight aperture, we demonstrated a 19 W single-pass 532-nm SHG at a conversion efficiency of 26.5% in a 10-mm-long PPMgSLT crystal without saturation.

Present status of large-scale cryogenic gravitational wave telescope

The large-scale cryogenic gravitational wave telescope (LCGT) is the future project of the Japanese gravitational wave group. Two sets of 3 km arm length laser interferometric gravitational wave detectors will be built in a tunnel of Kamioka mine in Japan. LCGT will detect chirp waves from binary neutron star coalescence at 240 Mpc away with a S/N of 10. The expected number of detectable events in a year is two or three. To achieve the required sensitivity, several advanced techniques will be employed such as a low-frequency vibration-isolation system, a suspension point interferometer, cryogenic mirrors, a resonant side band extraction method, a high-power laser system and so on. We hope that the beginning of the project will be in 2005 and the observations will start in 2009.

100 W, single-frequency operation of an injection-locked Nd:YAG laser

We have built a single-frequency Nd:YAG laser capable of producing an output power of 101 W by injection locking a slave laser that can emit an output power of 121 W in the free-running state to a 2-W master laser. We confirmed that the output mode was diffraction limited and linearly polarized.

Highly sensitive wideband seismometer using a laser interferometer

A wideband (dc to 2 kHz) highly sensitive seismometer using a Michelson laser interferometer has been developed. The horizontal acceleration of the ground is sensed by a suspended mirror; its position is then detected as the fringe signal of the light in the interferometer. The minimum measurable displacement with this seismometer is 3×10−11 m/√Hz at 1 Hz (limited by the thermal fluctuation of air and the frequency noise of the laser) and 2×10−15 m/√Hz above 2 kHz (limited by the shot noise of the light). One application of this seismometer is to use it for very sensitive vibration measurements, such as in seismic noise investigations of possible sites for a large‐scale laser‐interferometric gravitational wave detector.

Absolute-length determination of a long-baseline Fabry-Perot cavity by means of resonating modulation sidebands.

A new method has been demonstrated for absolute-length measurements of a long-baseline Fabry-Perot cavity by use of phase-modulated light. This method is based on determination of a free spectral range (FSR) of the cavity from the frequency difference between a carrier and phase-modulation sidebands, both of which resonate in the cavity. Sensitive response of the Fabry-Perot cavity near resonant frequencies ensures accurate determination of the FSR and thus of the absolute length of the cavity. This method was applied to a 300-m Fabry-Perot cavity of the TAMA gravitational wave detector that is being developed at the National Astronomical Observatory, Tokyo. With a modulation frequency of approximately 12 MHz, we successfully determined the absolute cavity length with resolution of 1 microm (3 x 10(-9) in strain) and observed local ground strain variations of 6 x 10(-8).

Japanese large-scale interferometers

The objective of the TAMA 300 interferometer was to develop advanced technologies for kilometre scale interferometers and to observe gravitational wave events in nearby galaxies. It was designed as a power-recycled Fabry–Perot–Michelson interferometer and was intended as a step towards a final interferometer in Japan. The present successful status of TAMA is presented. TAMA forms a basis for LCGT (large-scale cryogenic gravitational wave telescope), a 3 km scale cryogenic interferometer to be built in the Kamioka mine in Japan, implementing cryogenic mirror techniques. The plan of LCGT is schematically described along with its associated R&D.

Iodine-stabilized Nd:YAG laser applied to a long-baseline interferometer for wideband earth strain observations

We stabilized a frequency-doubled Nd:YAG laser (λ=532 nm) with reference to an iodine absorption line, and applied it to a long-baseline interferometer for earth strain observations. To obtain unmodulated light, saturated absorption signals of an external iodine cell were detected by the modulation transfer technique using an acousto-optic modulator working as both amplitude and frequency modulators. Two feedback loops, which could control the laser frequency by a piezo-electric actuator and a thermal actuator, realized fast and wide-range frequency stabilization, and ensured long-term stable operation. From a beat-note measurement between two identical systems, we obtained a frequency stability (in Allan variance) of ≲2×10−13 for time intervals of 10 to 1000 s. By applying the stabilized Nd:YAG laser to a light source of a 10 m interferometer, we successfully observed earth tides and earthquakes in strain variations. Other geophysical signals, detectable by this strainmeter, are also discussed.

Optical mode cleaner with suspended mirrors

We report on the development of a new type of mode cleaner that reduces any geometric noise of the laser beam in an interferometric gravitational-wave detector. The mode cleaner is a Fabry-Perot cavity that comprises independently suspended mirrors and works as a frequency-stabilization reference as well as a mode selector; the length of the cavity is 1 m. Stand-alone tests have shown at least a 30-dB reduction in the geometric fluctuation of the beam and a 60-dB reduction of the frequency noise of the laser. We have also succeeded in operating a 20-m Fabry-Perot prototype detector (at the National Astronomical Observatory, Tokyo, Japan) by using this mode cleaner.

Triple‐pendulum vibration isolation system for a laser interferometer

We have developed a triple‐pendulum vibration isolation system for suspended mirrors used in a laser interferometer for gravitational wave detection. Owing to the passive damping method using high‐performance permanent magnets, the system has a very simple, compact structure. We measured the isolation ratio for vibration below 40 Hz and confirmed that the observed and calculated values are in good agreement. The stability of the system has been demonstrated by operating a Michelson laser interferometer incorporated with a mirror mounted on the vibration isolation system.