Abstract
We present measurements of the frequency dependence of thermal noise in aluminum and niobium flexures. Our measurements cover the audio-frequency band from 10 Hz to 10 kHz, which is of particular relevance to ground-based interferometric gravitational wave detectors, and span up to an order of magnitude above and below the fundamental flexure resonances. Results from two flexures are well explained by a simple model in which both structural and thermoelastic loss play a role. The ability of such a model to explain this interplay is important for investigations of quantum-radiation-pressure noise and the standard quantum limit. Furthermore, measurements on a third flexure provide evidence that surface damage can affect the frequency dependence of thermal noise in addition to reducing the quality factor, a result which will aid the understanding of how aging effects impact on thermal noise behavior.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Article number | 112004 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Physical Review D |
Volume | 92 |
Issue number | 11 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Dec 2015 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Nuclear and High Energy Physics