Calibration and sensitivity of resonant-mass gravitational wave detectors - art. no. 062002

Every gravitational wave detector needs reliable methods for quantitative t ests of its performance. We have tested the ALLEGRO gravitational wave ante nna with a capacitive transducer which can apply a force to the antenna. A model that incorporates mistuning of the two normal modes of the antenna is needed to properly understand its operation and to explain previous discre pancies in calibration responses. We write the transfer functions for drivi ng point response, signal response, and noise response in terms of a parame ter theta which includes all of the mistuning. Using the ''reciprocity meth od," we determine theta and the force-voltage constant of the force generat or. Using diagnostic criteria developed from a full multimode description, we are able to identify the location of an additional parasitic resonance a nd determine its quantitative effect on the results. Experimental results a re presented. [S0556-2821(99)02606-5].