High-Frequency Thermal Noise in Michelson Interferometers

Abstract

New experiments are being developed without the background of quantum shot noise to look for weak, high-frequency signals using Michelson interferometers. Since shot noise is no longer the dominant noise source with these readout schemes, it is important to accurately model thermal noise to characterize signals and design more sensitive experiments. However, previous modeling uses approximations that are no longer valid in these frequency regimes. In the MHz band, the quasistatic approximation no longer applies. We therefore develop more general models of substrate and coating mechanical (Brownian) noise, substrate and coating thermoelastic noise, and coating thermorefractive noise. We validate the models with comparisons to previous low-frequency modeling and high-frequency spectra from an experiment that has already taken data, the Holometer. We then apply the new models to GQuEST, an experiment under construction.