Abstract

Gravitational wave detection is one of the most exciting challenges for the fundamental physics and astronomy. We are developing a large scale interferometer in Japan. At the first stage we stabilized a LD-pumped YAG laser commercially available for a 20-m interferometer under construction.¹ The frequency stability of 8v/v = 1.5 x 10~19 Hz- '1'2 has been achieved.2 However, much higher power lasers have to be developed for the future plan, because the frequency stability is limited by the laser power. The final goal of stabilization is the quantum limit of a 100-W to 1-kW laser in future.

© 1994 Optical Society of America