A matter of perspective: How nanoscale optical defects limit cosmic-scale gravitational wave observations

Anna C. Green; Antonella Bianchi; Daniel D. Brown; Félice Feldmann; Jeremie Gobeil; Miron Van Der Kolk; Riccardo Maggiore; Jonathan W. Perry; Emma Prins; Mischa Salle; Alina Soflau; Enzo Tapia; Andreas Freise

doi:10.1117/12.3062573

A matter of perspective: How nanoscale optical defects limit cosmic-scale gravitational wave observations

Anna C. Green^*
, Antonella Bianchi
, Daniel D. Brown
, Félice Feldmann
, Jeremie Gobeil
, Miron Van Der Kolk
, Riccardo Maggiore
, Jonathan W. Perry
, Emma Prins
, Mischa Salle
, Alina Soflau
, Enzo Tapia
, Andreas Freise

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference article in proceeding › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

Ground-based gravitational-wave (GW) detectors, such as LIGO, Virgo, and KAGRA, have revolutionised astronomy. Now, future detectors like the Einstein Telescope and Cosmic Explorer aim to achieve even greater sensitivity. Advanced optical simulations are crucial to overcoming the challenges faced by these complex interferometers. Finesse, the leading interferometer simulation tool in the GW community, supports the design and commissioning of these detectors by modeling optical, quantum, and mechanical effects. A key focus is understanding optical defects that distort the shape of the laser light and limit detector performance. This work explores how nanoscale defects affect GW observations and presents recent advancements in modeling their effects to guide the development of next-generation detector optics.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Modeling Aspects in Optical Metrology X
Editors	Bernd Bodermann, Karsten Frenner
Publisher	SPIE
Volume	13568
ISBN (Electronic)	9781510690448
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3062573
Publication status	Published - 8 Aug 2025
Event	10th Modeling Aspects in Optical Metrology. SPIE Optical Metrology 2025 - Munich, Germany Duration: 23 Jun 2025 → 25 Jun 2025 https://spie.org/conferences-and-exhibitions/optical-metrology/programme/conferences

Publication series

Series	Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Number	135680R
Volume	13568
ISSN	0277-786X

Conference

Conference	10th Modeling Aspects in Optical Metrology. SPIE Optical Metrology 2025
Country/Territory	Germany
City	Munich
Period	23/06/25 → 25/06/25
Internet address	https://spie.org/conferences-and-exhibitions/optical-metrology/programme/conferences

Keywords

Gravitational Waves
Interferometry
Metrology
Numerical Simulations

Access to Document

10.1117/12.3062573

Cite this

Green, A. C., Bianchi, A., Brown, D. D., Feldmann, F., Gobeil, J., Van Der Kolk, M., Maggiore, R., Perry, J. W., Prins, E., Salle, M., Soflau, A., Tapia, E., & Freise, A. (2025). A matter of perspective: How nanoscale optical defects limit cosmic-scale gravitational wave observations. In B. Bodermann, & K. Frenner (Eds.), Modeling Aspects in Optical Metrology X (Vol. 13568). Article 135680R SPIE. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3062573

Green, Anna C. ; Bianchi, Antonella ; Brown, Daniel D. et al. / A matter of perspective : How nanoscale optical defects limit cosmic-scale gravitational wave observations. Modeling Aspects in Optical Metrology X. editor / Bernd Bodermann ; Karsten Frenner. Vol. 13568 SPIE, 2025. (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering; No. 135680R, Vol. 13568).

@inproceedings{87cb476832214a2aa7139a493f8b723f,

title = "A matter of perspective: How nanoscale optical defects limit cosmic-scale gravitational wave observations",

abstract = "Ground-based gravitational-wave (GW) detectors, such as LIGO, Virgo, and KAGRA, have revolutionised astronomy. Now, future detectors like the Einstein Telescope and Cosmic Explorer aim to achieve even greater sensitivity. Advanced optical simulations are crucial to overcoming the challenges faced by these complex interferometers. Finesse, the leading interferometer simulation tool in the GW community, supports the design and commissioning of these detectors by modeling optical, quantum, and mechanical effects. A key focus is understanding optical defects that distort the shape of the laser light and limit detector performance. This work explores how nanoscale defects affect GW observations and presents recent advancements in modeling their effects to guide the development of next-generation detector optics.",

keywords = "Gravitational Waves, Interferometry, Metrology, Numerical Simulations",

author = "Green, \{Anna C.\} and Antonella Bianchi and Brown, \{Daniel D.\} and F{\'e}lice Feldmann and Jeremie Gobeil and \{Van Der Kolk\}, Miron and Riccardo Maggiore and Perry, \{Jonathan W.\} and Emma Prins and Mischa Salle and Alina Soflau and Enzo Tapia and Andreas Freise",

note = "Funding Information: We thank J. Degallaix for useful discussions. This publication is part of the project \textbackslash{}{"}Smoothing the Opti cal Bumps in the Road for Future Gravitational-Wave Detectors\textbackslash{}{"}, led by A. C. Green, with project number VI.Veni.212.047, which is financed by the Dutch Research Council (NWO). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} COPYRIGHT SPIE. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.; 10th Modeling Aspects in Optical Metrology. SPIE Optical Metrology 2025 ; Conference date: 23-06-2025 Through 25-06-2025",

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doi = "10.1117/12.3062573",

language = "English",

volume = "13568",

series = "Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering",

publisher = "SPIE",

number = "135680R",

editor = "Bernd Bodermann and Karsten Frenner",

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Green, AC, Bianchi, A, Brown, DD, Feldmann, F, Gobeil, J, Van Der Kolk, M, Maggiore, R, Perry, JW, Prins, E, Salle, M, Soflau, A, Tapia, E & Freise, A 2025, A matter of perspective: How nanoscale optical defects limit cosmic-scale gravitational wave observations. in B Bodermann & K Frenner (eds), Modeling Aspects in Optical Metrology X. vol. 13568, 135680R, SPIE, Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering, no. 135680R, vol. 13568, 10th Modeling Aspects in Optical Metrology. SPIE Optical Metrology 2025, Munich, Bavaria, Germany, 23/06/25. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3062573

A matter of perspective: How nanoscale optical defects limit cosmic-scale gravitational wave observations. / Green, Anna C.; Bianchi, Antonella; Brown, Daniel D. et al.
Modeling Aspects in Optical Metrology X. ed. / Bernd Bodermann; Karsten Frenner. Vol. 13568 SPIE, 2025. 135680R (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering; No. 135680R, Vol. 13568).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference article in proceeding › Academic › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - A matter of perspective

T2 - 10th Modeling Aspects in Optical Metrology. SPIE Optical Metrology 2025

AU - Green, Anna C.

AU - Bianchi, Antonella

AU - Brown, Daniel D.

AU - Feldmann, Félice

AU - Gobeil, Jeremie

AU - Van Der Kolk, Miron

AU - Maggiore, Riccardo

AU - Perry, Jonathan W.

AU - Prins, Emma

AU - Salle, Mischa

AU - Soflau, Alina

AU - Tapia, Enzo

AU - Freise, Andreas

N1 - Funding Information: We thank J. Degallaix for useful discussions. This publication is part of the project \"Smoothing the Opti cal Bumps in the Road for Future Gravitational-Wave Detectors\", led by A. C. Green, with project number VI.Veni.212.047, which is financed by the Dutch Research Council (NWO). Publisher Copyright: © COPYRIGHT SPIE. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

PY - 2025/8/8

Y1 - 2025/8/8

N2 - Ground-based gravitational-wave (GW) detectors, such as LIGO, Virgo, and KAGRA, have revolutionised astronomy. Now, future detectors like the Einstein Telescope and Cosmic Explorer aim to achieve even greater sensitivity. Advanced optical simulations are crucial to overcoming the challenges faced by these complex interferometers. Finesse, the leading interferometer simulation tool in the GW community, supports the design and commissioning of these detectors by modeling optical, quantum, and mechanical effects. A key focus is understanding optical defects that distort the shape of the laser light and limit detector performance. This work explores how nanoscale defects affect GW observations and presents recent advancements in modeling their effects to guide the development of next-generation detector optics.

AB - Ground-based gravitational-wave (GW) detectors, such as LIGO, Virgo, and KAGRA, have revolutionised astronomy. Now, future detectors like the Einstein Telescope and Cosmic Explorer aim to achieve even greater sensitivity. Advanced optical simulations are crucial to overcoming the challenges faced by these complex interferometers. Finesse, the leading interferometer simulation tool in the GW community, supports the design and commissioning of these detectors by modeling optical, quantum, and mechanical effects. A key focus is understanding optical defects that distort the shape of the laser light and limit detector performance. This work explores how nanoscale defects affect GW observations and presents recent advancements in modeling their effects to guide the development of next-generation detector optics.

KW - Gravitational Waves

KW - Interferometry

KW - Metrology

KW - Numerical Simulations

U2 - 10.1117/12.3062573

DO - 10.1117/12.3062573

M3 - Conference article in proceeding

VL - 13568

T3 - Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering

BT - Modeling Aspects in Optical Metrology X

A2 - Bodermann, Bernd

A2 - Frenner, Karsten

PB - SPIE

Y2 - 23 June 2025 through 25 June 2025

ER -

Green AC, Bianchi A, Brown DD, Feldmann F, Gobeil J, Van Der Kolk M et al. A matter of perspective: How nanoscale optical defects limit cosmic-scale gravitational wave observations. In Bodermann B, Frenner K, editors, Modeling Aspects in Optical Metrology X. Vol. 13568. SPIE. 2025. 135680R. (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering; No. 135680R, Vol. 13568). doi: 10.1117/12.3062573

A matter of perspective: How nanoscale optical defects limit cosmic-scale gravitational wave observations

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