Prototype michelson interferometer with Fabry-Perot cavities

David Shoemaker, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Peter Fritschel, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Joseph Giaime, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Nelson Christensen, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Rainer Weiss, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Abstract

We describe a rigid, internally modulated Michelson interferometer with Fabry-Perot cavities in the interferometer arms. The high contrast (0.986) and the small cavity losses (2.7%) permit efficient use of the light power available. The measured shot-noise-limited displacement sensitivity for 35 mW of light power is 2.5 X 10-17 m√Hz, in good agreement with the calculated signal-to-noise ratio. © 1991 Optical Society of America.