All-polarisation beamsplitters for interferometer applications

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Kranzhoff, S. L., Van Ranst, Z., De Bolle, J., Coessens, S., Danilishin, S. L., Detavernier, C., Smet, P. F., Spencer, A. P., Steinlechner, J., Steinlechner, S., Vardaro, M., Hild, S.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Kranzhoff, S. L.
Van Ranst, Z.
De Bolle, J.
Coessens, S.
Danilishin, S. L.
Detavernier, C.
Smet, P. F.
Spencer, A. P.
Steinlechner, J.
Steinlechner, S.
Vardaro, M.
Hild, S.
author_facet Kranzhoff, S. L.
Van Ranst, Z.
De Bolle, J.
Coessens, S.
Danilishin, S. L.
Detavernier, C.
Smet, P. F.
Spencer, A. P.
Steinlechner, J.
Steinlechner, S.
Vardaro, M.
Hild, S.
contents Optical beamsplitters with similar properties for orthogonal, linear polarisation modes are required for realising polarisation-based speedmeter schemes to reduce back-action noise in gravitational-wave interferometers. In this paper, we investigate two beamsplitter coatings obtained from Laseroptik GmbH and Optoman on a best-effort basis that aim for a 50/50 power splitting ratio and equal overall phase shift for two orthogonal, linear polarisation modes interacting with the optic. We show that while Laseroptik GmbH opted for coating stack with 22 alternating layers of Ta2O5 and SiO2, Optoman produced a much thinner coating made of 5 SiO2 and SiOx (0 < x < 2) layers. With these strategies, the Laseroptik coating achieves an equal power reflectivity of 51% at 46 deg angle of incidence, and zero phase shift between both polarisations at 44.25 deg angle of incidence. The Optoman coating achieves power reflectivities of 49% for s-polarisation and 51% for p-polarisation with a differential phase shift around 5 deg largely independent of the angle of incidence.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2507_22866
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle All-polarisation beamsplitters for interferometer applications
Kranzhoff, S. L.
Van Ranst, Z.
De Bolle, J.
Coessens, S.
Danilishin, S. L.
Detavernier, C.
Smet, P. F.
Spencer, A. P.
Steinlechner, J.
Steinlechner, S.
Vardaro, M.
Hild, S.
Optics
Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
Optical beamsplitters with similar properties for orthogonal, linear polarisation modes are required for realising polarisation-based speedmeter schemes to reduce back-action noise in gravitational-wave interferometers. In this paper, we investigate two beamsplitter coatings obtained from Laseroptik GmbH and Optoman on a best-effort basis that aim for a 50/50 power splitting ratio and equal overall phase shift for two orthogonal, linear polarisation modes interacting with the optic. We show that while Laseroptik GmbH opted for coating stack with 22 alternating layers of Ta2O5 and SiO2, Optoman produced a much thinner coating made of 5 SiO2 and SiOx (0 < x < 2) layers. With these strategies, the Laseroptik coating achieves an equal power reflectivity of 51% at 46 deg angle of incidence, and zero phase shift between both polarisations at 44.25 deg angle of incidence. The Optoman coating achieves power reflectivities of 49% for s-polarisation and 51% for p-polarisation with a differential phase shift around 5 deg largely independent of the angle of incidence.
title All-polarisation beamsplitters for interferometer applications
topic Optics
Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.22866