The creep problem in the VIRGO suspensions: A possible solution using Maraging steel

Beccaria, M.; Bernardini, M.; Braccini, S.; Bradaschia, C.; Cagnoli, G.; Casciano, C.; Cella, G.; Cuoco, E.; Dattilo, V.; De Carolis, G.

doi:10.1016/S0168-9002(97)01123-6

The creep problem in the VIRGO suspensions: A possible solution using Maraging steel

M. Beccaria
(
- INFN, Pisa and
- Pisa U.
)
,
M. Bernardini
(
- INFN, Pisa
)
,
S. Braccini
(
- INFN, Pisa
)
,
C. Bradaschia
(
- INFN, Pisa
)
,
G. Cagnoli
(
- Illinois U., Urbana and
- Perugia U.
)

1998

15 pages

Published in:

Nucl.Instrum.Meth.A 404 (1998) 455-469

DOI:

10.1016/S0168-9002(97)01123-6

Experiments:

VIRGO

reference search22 citations

Citations per year

Abstract: (Elsevier)

Each optical component of the interferometric gravitational wave detector VIRGO is suspended from a cascade of mechanical filters designed to suppress the transmission of seismic vibrations. Each mechanical filter supports the weight of the filters below it by means of a set of steel cantilever blade springs. The stress from the load acting on the blades was found to induce a drooping of the blade tips of several microns per day due to a series of microscopic yielding events (micro-creep). This process induces a mechanical displacement shot-noise on the optical component which can dominate the small displacements produced by gravitational waves. The use of a special precipitation hardened steel (Maraging C250), instead of common spring steel, allows the construction of blades that show an acceptable stability under stress.

Gravitational wave detection
Microcreep
Suspension of interferometer mirrors
gravitational radiation: counters and detectors
optics: interference
background: oscillation
iron
perturbation

References(20)

Figures(0)

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