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Updated: May 26, 2026

The Generation of Higher-order Laguerre-Gauss Optical Beams for High-precision Interferometry
Published on: August 12, 2013
Tip-tilt mirror suspension: beam steering for advanced laser interferometer gravitational wave observatory sensing
Bram J J Slagmolen1, Adam J Mullavey, John Miller
1Department of Quantum Science, College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, The Australian National University, Physics Building 38a, Science Road, Acton 0200, Australia. bram.slagmolen@anu.edu.au
Abstract:
We describe the design of a small optic suspension system, referred to as the tip-tilt mirror suspension, used to isolate selected small optics for the interferometer sensing and control beams in the advanced LIGO gravitational wave detectors. The suspended optics are isolated in all 6 degrees of freedom, with eigenmode frequencies between 1.3 Hz and 10 Hz. The suspended optic has voice-coil actuators which provide an angular range of ±4 mrad in the pitch and yaw degrees of freedom.

