PG&O Tapped for Gravitational Wave Project

Precision Glass & Optics has been selected to manufacture four sets of 26 black glass optics panels for the Laser Interferometric Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO).

LIGO consists of two large interferometers, one in Hanford, Wash., and the other in Livingston, La., dedicated to the detection and measurement of cosmic gravitational waves for scientific research.

The glass plates will be used in LIGO's output mode cleaner system to reduce noise and unwanted electronic signals in the observatory detectors.

Each piece was scribed then machined on a waterjet to a tolerance of ±0.010. Each part was subsequently laser engraved with the part number and serial number. The panels were thoroughly inspected for both visual and dimensional specifications before being cleaned. To filter out excess noise, the parts were coated with a broadband antireflection thin film (reflectance <0.5 percent at 1064 nm, with an angle of incidence at 0°).