TEST OF AN 18-M-LONG SUSPENDED MODECLEANER CAVITY

Fluctuations in laser beam geometry such as lateral beam movement and beam width variation can produce perturbations in the output signal of a laser interferometer through various coupling mechanisms. In order to avoid this type of laser noise from degrading the sensitivity of in terferometers designed to detect gravitational radiation, currently pl anned long-base-line detectors will employ resonant optical filters ca lled modecleaners to suppress beam geometry noise. Here we describe a prototype modecleaner cavity constructed at Glasgow having an optical path length of 18 m and containing four suspended mirrors. We present results detailing various aspects of its performance. (C) 1996 America n Institute of Physics.