Analysis and development of a three-mode gravitational radiation detector

Thesis/Dissertation · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:7149782

Folkner, W M

This work describes the design and construction of a two-mode transducer for use on a cryogenic three-mode gravitational radiation detector. The three-mode system design by Richard has the potential for greater bandwidth than other resonant-mass detectors. A complete noise analysis for the detector is presented and shows that the sensitivity and bandwidth are limited by the noise of the preamplifier. Measurements of the properties of the transducer, including the maximum electrical coupling and the electrical quality factor, on a small-scale system are described. A positive feedback problem in using experimental thin-film Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID), used as the preamplifier, was discovered. A possible solution to the SQUID problem is presented. The two-mode transducer was mounted on a 1200 kg aluminum bar cooled to 4.6 K to form the three-mode system. It has the potential of achieving a noise temperature of 5 mK when a commercial SQUID is used, corresponding to a sensitivity to gravitational radiation pulses of amplitude h approx. 5 x 10/sup -18/. The first experiment with the three-mode system at 4.6 K is described.

• Research Organization: Maryland Univ., College Park (USA)
• OSTI ID: 7149782
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

420201 -- Engineering-- Cryogenic Equipment & Devices
640106* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Cosmology
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
AMPLIFIERS
DESIGN
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
FLUXMETERS
IN CORE INSTRUMENTS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MICROWAVE EQUIPMENT
NOISE
NOISE THERMOMETERS
PREAMPLIFIERS
RADIATION DETECTORS
REACTOR INSTRUMENTATION
SQUID DEVICES
SUPERCONDUCTING DEVICES
THERMOMETERS
TRANSDUCERS