The VIRGO Collaboration et al 2004 Class. Quantum Grav. 21 S935 doi:10.1088/0264-9381/21/5/083
The VIRGO Collaboration, F Beauville1, D Buskulic1, R Flaminio1, F Marion1, A Masserot1, L Massonnet1, B Mours1, F Moreau1, J Ramonet1, E Tournefier1, D Verkindt1, O Veziant1, M Yvert1, R Barillé2, V Dattilo2, D Enard2, F Frasconi2,17,18, A Gennai2, P La Penna2, M Loupias2, F Paoletti2,17,18, L Bracci3,4,5,6, G Calamai3,4,5,6, E Campagna3,4,5,6, G Conforto3,4,5,6, E Cuoco3,4,5,6, I Fiori3,4,5,6, G Guidi3,4,5,6, G Losurdo3,4,5,6, F Martelli3,4,5,6, M Mazzoni3,4,5,6, B Perniola3,4,5,6, R Stanga3,4,5,6, F Vetrano3,4,5,6, A Viceré3,4,5,6, D Babusci7, G Giordano7, J-M Mackowski8, N Morgado8, L Pinard8, A Remillieux8, F Acernese9,10,11, F Barone9,10,11, E Calloni9,10,11, R De Rosa9,10,11, L Di Fiore9,10,11, A Eleuteri9,10,11, L Milano9,10,11, K Qipiani9,10,11, I Ricciardi9,10,11, G Russo9,10,11, S Solimeno9,10,11, M Varvella9,10,11, F Bondu12, A Brillet12, E Chassande-Mottin12, F Cleva12, T Cokelaer12, J-P Coulon12, B Dujardin12, J-D Fournier12, H Heitmann12, C N Man12, F Mornet12, J Pacheco12, A Pai12, H Trinquet12, J-Y Vinet12, N Arnaud13, M Barsuglia13, M A Bizouard13, V Brisson13, F Cavalier13, M Davier13, P Hello13, P Heusse13, S Kreckelberg13, C Boccara14, V Loriette14, J Moreau14, V Reita14, P Amico15,16, L Bosi15,16, L Gammaitoni15,16, M Punturo15,16, F Travasso15,16, H Vocca15,16, L Barsotti17,18, S Braccini17,18, C Bradaschia17,18, G Cella17,18, C Corda17,18, A Di Virgilio17,18, I Ferrante17,18, F Fidecaro17,18, A Giazotto17,18, E Majorana17,18, L Holloway17,18, R Passaquieti17,18, D Passuello17,18, R Poggiani17,18, A Toncelli17,18, M Tonelli17,18, L Brocco19,20, S Frasca19,20, C Palomba19,20, P Puppo19,20, P Rapagnani19,20 and F Ricci19,20
Show affiliationsLarge optical components (diameter 350 mm), having extremely low loss at 1064 nm, are needed for the large-scale Michelson-type interferometer VIRGO. Today, ion beam sputtering is the only deposition technique able to produce optical components having such performances. Consequently, a large ion beam sputtering deposition system was built to coat large optics up to 700 mm in diameter: two large substrates may also be coated at the same time for interferometer arm symmetry problem. The performances of this coater are described in terms of layer uniformity on a large scale (wavefront) and optical losses (absorption and scattering). The VIRGO interferometer needs six main mirrors. The first set was ready in June 2002 and they have been installed on the VIRGO site (Italy). The optical performances of this first set are discussed. The requirements at 1064 nm are all satisfied. Indeed, the absorption level is close to 1 ppm (part per million), the scattering is lower than 5 ppm and the RMS wavefront of these optics is lower than 8 nm on 150 mm in diameter. Finally, some solutions are proposed to further improve these performances, especially the absorption level and the mechanical quality factor Q of the mirrors and the substrate wavefront before coating.
04.80.Nn Gravitational wave detectors and experiments
42.79.Bh Lenses, prisms and mirrors
78A60 Lasers, masers, optical bistability, nonlinear optics (See also 81V80)
Instrumentation and measurement
Surfaces, interfaces and thin films
Issue 5 (7 March 2004)
Received 22 July 2003
Published 11 February 2004
The VIRGO Collaboration et al 2004 Class. Quantum Grav. 21 S935
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