high-precision thermal wavefront system tagged posts

Surprising optics breakthrough could transform our view of the Universe

A Powerful Leap in Gravitational-Wave Tech
A high-precision thermal wavefront system called FROSTI allows LIGO and future detectors to operate at megawatt-scale laser power without degrading signal quality. This breakthrough will greatly expand our ability to detect black hole and neutron star mergers across the universe. Credit: Shutterstock

FROSTI revolutionizes mirror control in gravitational-wave detectors, opening the door to a far deeper view of the cosmos. FROSTI is a new adaptive optics system that precisely corrects distortions in LIGO’s mirrors caused by extreme laser power. By using custom thermal patterns, it preserves mirror shape without introducing noise, allowing detectors to operate at higher sensitivities. This leap enables future observatories like Cosmic Explorer to see deeper into the cosmos...

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