Optical loss study of molecular layer for a cryogenic interferometric gravitational-wave detector

Abstract

The detection of gravitational-waves provides us with a deep insight into the universe. In order to increase the number of detectable gravitational-wave sources, several future gravitational-wave detectors will operate with cryogenic mirrors. Recent studies, however, showed residual gas molecules inside the vacuum chamber adhere to the cryogenic mirror surface and form a molecular layer which grows with time. The growing molecular layer introduces an additional optical loss in the mirror which can decrease the detector's performance. We theoretically estimate the optical loss by the molecular layer in a cryogenically operated gravitational-wave detector. The impacts on a cryogenic gravitational-wave detector is discussed based on the results of optical loss estimation.