What LIGO is made of
A laser interferometer that detects gravitational waves.
- Interferometer arm vacuum tubes — has part. Two 4 km vacuum tubes.
- Laser — has part. A laser.
- Suspended test mass mirror — has part. Suspended mirrors.
- Base isolation — has part. The suspension damps ground vibrations.
- Photodiode — has part. A photodetector of the interference.
- Laser — uses. A laser.
- Vacuum — uses. 4 km vacuum tubes.
- Silica (sand) — is made of. The mirrors are fused silica.
- Steel — is made of. The vacuum tubes are stainless steel.