Predicting the motion of a high-Q pendulum subject to seismic perturbations using machine learning

Abstract

The seismically excited motion of high-Q pendula in gravitational-wave observatories sets a sensitivity limit to sub-audio gravitational-wave frequencies. Here, we report on the use of machine learning to predict the motion of a high-Q pendulum with a resonance frequency of 1.4Hz that is driven by natural seismic activity. We achieve a reduction of the displacement power spectral density of 40dB at the resonant frequency 1.4Hz and 6dB at 11Hz. Our result suggests that machine learning is able to significantly reduce seismically induced test mass motion in gravitational-wave detectors in combination with corrective feed-forward techniques.