is the study of light interaction with mechanical systems. Huge optical power in gravitational wave detectors changes the mechanics in ways that can make detectors more sensitive or unstable. We offer projects from theoretical physics development of this field, the experimental physics to control system engineering projects.

Allow exotic properties simply by structuring the material. We offer project designing, building and characterising metamaterials with the aim of making more sensitive gravitational wave detectors and accessing the quantum ground state of mechanical resonators.

Are the core workhorses of gravitational wave detectors. These cavities enhance gravitational wave signals and supress unwanted disturbances. We offer projects optimising the control of suspended optical cavities. That is control of laser beam shape, frequency and alignment and vibration isolation control.

We offer projects at the Gingin high optical power facility where we accumulate vast optical power in suspended optical cavities, demonstrating the optical intensities required for the next generation of gravitational wave detectors..

Seismic noise must be supressed by 9 orders of magnitude to detect gravitational waves. A good understanding of the seismic field is required to ensure this can be accomplished. We offer projects in 6 degree of freedom seismic imaging from rotation sensor development, to AI aided methods for seismic noise reduction in gravitational wave detectors.

The Optical Parametric Amplifier (OPA) is widely used for generating squeezed vacuum state to be injected into the gravitational wave detector for improving the quantum noise limited sensitivity. In this project, we will integrate the OPA with an optomechanical cavity to enhance the optomechanical coupling strength while squeezing the noise simultaneously. The device has the potential to enable the GW detector to break the sensitivity barrier of the free-mass standard quantum limit

Current gravitational wave detectors use fused silica glass as the test masses in the optical cavities. The proposed future gravitational wave detectors will use silicon as test masses which can be operated in cryogenic conditions. Very pure silicon is required to meet the strict conditions for low loss, and low scattering. This project will investigate various aspects of silicon test masses, including mechanical loss and birefringence. For the first time, this project will investigate the performance of crystalline coating on a large silicon test mass.