arXiv subjects

Takafumi Ushiba

Publications and source records attributed to Takafumi Ushiba.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

A Polarization-Decomposed Method for Simulating Inhomogeneous Birefringence in Laser-Interferometric Gravitational-Wave Detectors

Birefringence in test mass substrates is an emerging limitation for current and future laser-interferometric gravitational-wave detectors, particularly as detectors move toward higher circulating power, cryogenic operation, and crystalline optical materials. Spatially varying birefringence alters both the polarization state and spatial mode content of the intracavity field, reducing interference contrast and coupling into length and alignment control signals. Accurate modeling of these effects is complicated by the fact that most frequency-domain simulation tools employ scalar modal propagation and lack native support for polarization and two-dimensional substrate maps. In this work, we present a practical and general method for simulating inhomogeneous birefringence without modifying existing simulation frameworks. The approach represents the two polarization components as independent scalar fields and introduces their coupling through an equivalent triple-Mach-Zehnder construction that reproduces the Jones matrix of a birefringent medium. We demonstrate the method using realistic birefringence maps of the KAGRA sapphire input test masses. The technique is compatible with any frequency-domain interferometer model and enables efficient birefringence studies for next-generation gravitational-wave detectors.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2025

Wave Front Sensing demodulated at the difference frequency between two phase-modulation sidebands in a compound interferometer configuration for a gravitational-wave detector

Precise alignment sensing and control are essential for maintaining the stability of laser interferometric gravitational-wave detectors. Conventional Wave Front Sensing technique (WFS), which relies on the beat between the carrier and phase-modulated (PM) sidebands, is dominated by arm-axis signals when the carrier resonates in the full interferometer. This dominance limits the detection of other optical axes, such as the Power Recycling Cavity (PRC) and incident beam axes. To address this problem, we propose a novel sensing technique, "Phase-Modulated-sideband $\times$ Phase-Modulated-sideband Wave Front Sensing" (PMPMWFS), which demodulates the beat signal at the difference frequency between two anti-resonant PM sidebands. We derived the theoretical response of PMPMWFS and experimentally demonstrated it using the Power-Recycled X-arm (PRXARM) configuration of KAGRA. The results show that PMPMWFS effectively decouples angular fluctuation signals of the PRC and incident beam from those of the arm cavity and provides orthogonal signal components for the end mirror of the arm cavity. Furthermore, feedback control using PMPMWFS achieved stable interferometer locking for over one hour. These results demonstrate that PMPMWFS offers an effective sensing method for decoupling multiple alignment degrees of freedom in future gravitational-wave detectors.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2025

Optimizing Active Seismic Isolation Systems in Gravitational-Wave Detectors

Gravitational wave detectors such as KAGRA, a 3-km long underground laser interferometer in Japan, require elaborate passive and active seismic isolation of their mirrors. With the aim of detecting passing gravitational waves that create a relative mirror displacement of less than $10^{-22}\ \mathrm{m}$ at frequencies of tens to hundreds of Hz, all environmental couplings must be stringently suppressed. This paper presents the result of applying the H-infinity optimization method to the active seismic isolation of a gravitational-wave detector for the first time. The so-called \textit{sensor correction} and \textit{sensor fusion} schemes of the seismic attenuation system of KAGRA's signal recycling mirror are used as a test bed. We designed and implemented optimal sensor correction and sensor fusion filters, resulting in a sevenfold attenuation of seismic noise coupling to the signal recycling mirror in the 0.1-0.5 Hz band, with the downstream effect of an 88.2% noise performance improvement in the same frequency band. When combined with other hardware upgrades, the implementation of sensor correction and sensor fusion contributed to an increase in KAGRA's duty cycle from 53% in the O3GK observation run to 80% in O4a, demonstrating the effectiveness of the H-infinity optimization approach.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2024

Characterisation of birefringence inhomogeneity of KAGRA sapphire mirrors from transmitted wavefront error measurements

Cooling down test masses to cryogenic temperatures is a way to reduce the thermal noise of gravitational wave detectors. Crystalline materials are considered the most promising materials for fabricating cryogenic test masses and their coatings because of their excellent thermal and optical properties at low temperatures. However, birefringence owing to local impurities and inhomogeneities in the crystal can degrade the performance of the detector. The birefringence measurement or mapping over a two-dimensional area is thus important. This study describes a method for fast birefringence measurements of a large sample by simply combining a series of transmission wavefront error measurements using linearly polarised light with Fizeau interferometers. Using this method, the birefringence inhomogeneity information of KAGRA's two input test masses with a diameter of 22 cm was fully reconstructed. The birefringence information was then used to calculate the transverse beam shapes of the light fields in orthogonal polarisation directions when passing through the substrate. It was possible to find a calculated beam shape consistent with in-situ measurements using the KAGRA interferometer. This technique is crucial for birefringence characterisation of test masses in future detectors, where even larger sizes are used.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2023

TiO2 doping effect on reflective coating mechanical loss for gravitational wave detection at low temperature

We measured the mechanical loss of a dielectric multilayer reflective coating (ion-beam-sputtered SiO2 and Ta2O5) with and without TiO2 on sapphire disks between 6 and 77 K. The measured loss angle exhibited a temperature dependence, and the local maximum was found at approximately 20 K. This maximum was 7.0*10^(-4) (with TiO2) and 7.7*10^(-4) (without TiO2), although the previous measurement for the coating on sapphire disks showed almost no temperature dependence (Phys. Rev. D 74 022002 (2006)). We evaluated the coating thermal noise in KAGRA and discussed future investigation strategies.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2022

Estimation of Newtonian noise from KAGRA cooling system

KAGRA is the first km-scale gravitational wave detector to be constructed underground and employ cryogenics to cool down its test masses. While the underground location provides a quiet site with low seismic noise, the cooling infrastructure is known to generate large mechanical vibrations due to cryocooler operation and structural resonances of the cryostat. As cooling system components are relatively heavy and in close proximity to the test masses, oscillation of gravity force induced by their vibration, so-called Newtonian noise, could contaminate the detector sensitivity. In this paper, we use the results from vibration analysis of the KAGRA cryostat to estimate cooling system Newtonian noise in the 1-100 Hz frequency band. Our calculations show that, while this noise does not limit the current detector sensitivity or inspiral range, it will be an issue in the future when KAGRA improves its sensitivity. We conclude that KAGRA may need to implement Wiener filters to subtract this noise in the future.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2022

A laser interferometer accelerometer for vibration sensitive cryogenic experiments

Monitoring motion originating from ultra low-temperature cooling systems like cryocoolers is important for vibration sensitive cryogenic experiments like KAGRA. Since no commercial cryogenic accelerometers are available, we developed a compact self-calibrating accelerometer with a Michelson interferometer readout for cryogenic use. Change in calibration factor and drop in interferometer output originating from temperature drop were the main concerns which were tackled. Sensitivity of $3.38\times10^{-11}$ m/$\sqrt{\mathrm{Hz}}$ at 1 Hz was achieved at 300 K. The accelerometer was tested inside the KAGRA cryostat; showed stable operation down to 12 K in 0.1-100 Hz band with only 1% visibility drop. Our accelerometer can be employed in low vibration cryogenic environment for a multitude of applications.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2022

Vibration Analysis of KAGRA Cryostat at Cryogenic Temperature

KAGRA uses cryogenics to cool its sapphire test masses down to 20 K to reduce the thermal noise. However, cryocooler vibration and structural resonances of the cryostat couple to test mass and can contaminate the detector sensitivity. We performed vibration analysis of the cooling system at cryogenic temperature to study its impact on detector sensitivity. Our measurement show shield vibration below 1 Hz is not impacted by cryocooler operation or structural resonances and follows ground motion. The noise floor of the shield in 1-100 Hz was observed to be 2-3 order of magnitude larger than seismic motion even without cryocooler operation. The operation of cryocoolers does not change the noise floor, but 2.0 Hz peaks and their harmonics were observed over the entire spectrum (1-100 Hz). These results were used to calculate the coupling of cooling system vibration to the test mass. We conclude that vibration from the cooling system does not limit KAGRA design sensitivity.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2021

Cryogenic suspension design for a kilometer-scale gravitational-wave detector

We report the mirror suspension design for Large-scale Cryogenic Gravitational wave Telescope, KAGRA, during bKAGRA Phase 1. Mirror thermal noise is one of the fundamental noises for room-temperature gravitational-wave detectors such as Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo. Thus, reduction of thermal noise is required for further improvement of their sensitivity. One effective approach for reducing thermal noise is to cool the mirrors. There are many technical challenges that must be overcome to cool the mirrors, such as cryocooler induced vibrations, thermal drift in suspensions, and reduction in duty cycling due to the increased number of potential failure mechanisms. Our mirror suspension has a black coating that makes radiative cooling more efficient. For conduction cooling, we developed ultra high purity aluminum heat links, which yield high thermal conductivity while keeping the spring constant sufficiently small. A unique inclination adjustment system, called moving mass, is used for aligning the mirror orientation in pitch. Photo-reflective displacement sensors, which have a large range, are installed for damping control on marionette recoil mass and intermediate recoil mass. Samarium cobalt magnets are used for coil-magnet actuators to prevent significant change of magnetism between room temperature and cryogenic temperature. In this paper, the design of our first cryogenic payload and its performance during bKAGRA Phase 1 are discussed.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2020

Prospects for improving the sensitivity of the cryogenic gravitational wave detector KAGRA

Upgrades to improve the sensitivity of gravitational wave detectors enable more frequent detections and more precise source parameter estimation. Unlike other advanced interferometric detectors such as Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo, KAGRA requires different approach for the upgrade since it is the only detector which employs cryogenic cooling of the test masses. In this paper, we describe possible KAGRA upgrades with technologies focusing on different detector bands, and compare the impacts on the detection of compact binary coalescences. We show that either fivefold improvement in the $100 M_{\odot}$--$100 M_{\odot}$ binary black hole range, a factor of 1.3 improvement in the binary neutron star range, or a factor of 1.7 improvement in the sky localization of binary neutron stars is well feasible with upgrades that do not require changes in the existing cryogenic or vacuum infrastructure. We also show that twofold broadband sensitivity improvement is possible by applying multiple upgrades to the detector.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2020

High Performance Heat Conductor with Small Spring Constant for Cryogenic Applications

We developed a soft and high thermal conductive heat link for cryogenic applications. The measured maximum thermal conductivity was approximately 18500 W/m/K at 10 K. This spring constant was 1/43 of that of a single thick wire with the same cross-sectional area at room temperature. We realized these performances by utilizing high purity aluminum (99.9999 %, 6N) and by stranding many thin wires that are 0.15 mm in diameter. The electrical Residual Resistivity Ratio (RRR) was also measured and used to estimate the thermal conductivity by Wiedemann-Franz law. We observed the size effect on the electrical conductivity, and evaluated the effect of mechanical deformation to the RRR. These evaluations allow us to design a pragmatic heat link for cryogenic application.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2019

Mirror actuation design for the interferometer control of the KAGRA gravitational wave telescope

KAGRA is a 3-km cryogenic interferometric gravitational wave telescope located at an underground site in Japan. In order to achieve its target sensitivity, the relative positions of the mirrors of the interferometer must be finely adjusted with attached actuators. We have developed a model to simulate the length control loops of the KAGRA interferometer with realistic suspension responses and various noises for mirror actuation. Using our model, we have designed the actuation parameters to have sufficient force range to acquire lock as well as to control all the length degrees of freedom without introducing excess noise.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2017

Optical Levitation of a Mirror for Reaching the Standard Quantum Limit

We propose a new method to optically levitate a macroscopic mirror with two vertical Fabry-P{é}rot cavities linearly aligned. This configuration gives the simplest possible optical levitation in which the number of laser beams used is the minimum of two. We demonstrate that reaching the standard quantum limit (SQL) of a displacement measurement with our system is feasible with current technology. The cavity geometry and the levitated mirror parameters are designed to ensure that the Brownian vibration of the mirror surface is smaller than the SQL. Our scheme provides a promising tool for testing macroscopic quantum mechanics.

quant-ph↗