New laser makes waves in Japan

Physics

The University of Adelaide's Discipline of Physics is making its mark on the world stage by designing, building and exporting a high-tech laser to Japan.

After several years of development, students and staff have this month installed a super-stable laser on the Japanese TAMA-300 Gravitational Wave Interferometer, located at the National Astronomical Observatory on the western outskirts of Tokyo.

The laser is a 10 watt, single frequency, single mode, ultra-stable laser developed at the University of Adelaide, with a purely South Australian heritage linking it back to a pulsed laser range finder originally developed by the DSTO.

"The collaboration with Japan was developed through workshops with the Australian Consortium for Interferometric Gravitational Astronomy, of which the University is a founding member along with Australian National University and the University of Western Australia," said Professor Jesper Munch, Professor of Physics in the School of Chemistry and Physics.

"Our laser was chosen because of its superior performance and design, and will replace a laser manufactured by a large Japanese company."

Professor Munch said the scientific collaboration is expected to continue once the laser is incorporated into the interferometer.

"At that time the laser will have to work continuously, 24 hours per day, seven days a week, often completely unattended.

"It is required to emit 10 watts continuously, and be locked to the interferometer to result in an ultra-stable laser beam with extremely tight specifications for amplitude and frequency noise.

"Our laser is one of a very few in the world that can comfortably meet these requirements."

The development and fabrication was carried out in the Physics Department, primarily by PhD student, David Hosken, and post-doctoral research fellow, Dr Damien Mudge.

They received expert technical assistance from technical officers, Blair Middlemiss, Trevor Waterhouse, Neville Wild and Bob Nation, and guidance from Dr Peter Veitch and Professor Munch.

"The complex hardware and electronic control system were all designed and built in the Physics Department, which for the past 15 years has established itself as a leader in laser and photonics research, including worldwide recognition as a leader in stable lasers for remote sensing," Professor Munch said.