High Q factor bonding using natural resin for reduced thermal noise of test masses

Abstract

We show that a low acoustic loss resin enables composite mechanical structures to be bonded with minimal Q degradation. The resin is excreted from the Australian native grass tree Xanthorrhoea. This resin has traditionally been used as an adhesive by the Australian Aborigines. It is shown that the Q factor of the resin is greater than 300 for the 5180Hz resonance, which allows a high Q factor niobium resonator to be constructed with bonded mirrors while maintaining a Q of ∼106.