Stabilized high-power laser for gravitational wave detection

The first generation of interferometric gravitational wave detectors performed one of the most precise differential length measurements ever. However, to measure the tiny length changes caused by a gravitational wave their sensitivity has to be increased even further. The technical upgrade of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational wave Observatory (LIGO) to a second generation detector, called Advanced LIGO, is currently under way. It will presumably reach a tenfold improved stram sensitivity between 10 -24 Hz -1/2 and 10 -23 Hz -1/2 . One of the key technologies necessary to reach this precision is an ultra-stable high-power laser system.