Comparative Analysis of Thermal Models for Test Masses in Next-Generation Gravitational Wave Interferometers
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arXiv
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| Format: | Preprint |
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2025
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| author | Pierro, Vincenzo Fiumara, Vincenzo Avallone, Guerino Carapella, Giovanni Chiadini, Francesco De Simone, Roberta Fittipaldi, Rosalba Iannone, Gerardo Magalotti, Alessandro Silva, Enrico Granata, Veronica |
| author_facet | Pierro, Vincenzo Fiumara, Vincenzo Avallone, Guerino Carapella, Giovanni Chiadini, Francesco De Simone, Roberta Fittipaldi, Rosalba Iannone, Gerardo Magalotti, Alessandro Silva, Enrico Granata, Veronica |
| contents | Accurate thermal modeling of Terminal Test Masses (TTMs) is crucial for optimizing the sensitivity of gravitational wave interferometers like Virgo. In fact, in such gravitational wave detectors even minimal laser power absorption can induce performance-limiting thermal effects. This paper presents a detailed investigation into the steady-state thermal behavior of TTMs. In particular, future scenarios of increased intracavity laser beam power and optical coating absorption are considered. We develop and compare two numerical models: a comprehensive model incorporating volumetric heat absorption in both the multilayer coating and the bulk substrate, and a simplified reduced model where the coating's thermal impact is represented as an effective surface boundary condition on the substrate. Our simulations were focused on a ternary coating design, which is a candidate for use in next-generation detectors. Results reveal that higher coating absorption localizes peak temperatures near the coating--vacuum interface. Importantly, the comparative analysis demonstrates that temperature predictions from the reduced model differ from the detailed model by only milli-Kelvins, a discrepancy often within the experimental uncertainties of the system's thermo-physical parameters. This finding suggests that computationally efficient reduced models can provide sufficiently accurate results for thermal management and first-order distortion analyses. Moreover, the critical role of accurately characterizing the total power absorbed by the coating is emphasized. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2510_20338 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Comparative Analysis of Thermal Models for Test Masses in Next-Generation Gravitational Wave Interferometers Pierro, Vincenzo Fiumara, Vincenzo Avallone, Guerino Carapella, Giovanni Chiadini, Francesco De Simone, Roberta Fittipaldi, Rosalba Iannone, Gerardo Magalotti, Alessandro Silva, Enrico Granata, Veronica Applied Physics Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology Optics Accurate thermal modeling of Terminal Test Masses (TTMs) is crucial for optimizing the sensitivity of gravitational wave interferometers like Virgo. In fact, in such gravitational wave detectors even minimal laser power absorption can induce performance-limiting thermal effects. This paper presents a detailed investigation into the steady-state thermal behavior of TTMs. In particular, future scenarios of increased intracavity laser beam power and optical coating absorption are considered. We develop and compare two numerical models: a comprehensive model incorporating volumetric heat absorption in both the multilayer coating and the bulk substrate, and a simplified reduced model where the coating's thermal impact is represented as an effective surface boundary condition on the substrate. Our simulations were focused on a ternary coating design, which is a candidate for use in next-generation detectors. Results reveal that higher coating absorption localizes peak temperatures near the coating--vacuum interface. Importantly, the comparative analysis demonstrates that temperature predictions from the reduced model differ from the detailed model by only milli-Kelvins, a discrepancy often within the experimental uncertainties of the system's thermo-physical parameters. This finding suggests that computationally efficient reduced models can provide sufficiently accurate results for thermal management and first-order distortion analyses. Moreover, the critical role of accurately characterizing the total power absorbed by the coating is emphasized. |
| title | Comparative Analysis of Thermal Models for Test Masses in Next-Generation Gravitational Wave Interferometers |
| topic | Applied Physics Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology Optics |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.20338 |