Terminology
This page lists commonly used terms and acronyms in the LCGT project. If you encounter unknown acronyms in the LCGT documents, come back to this page to find a meaning. If you don't find a description here, send an email to the author of the document and poke him/her to add a description here.
It is desirable to order the table in alphabetical order.
Contents
Interferometer Related
Word/Acronym |
Meaning/Description |
Synonyms |
BS |
Beam Splitter |
|
Center |
The central part of the IFO, where PRC, SRC and BS are located. |
Vertex, Central Part |
ETM |
End Test Mass. The mirrors suspended at the far ends of the long arm cavities. |
End Mirror. |
ETMX |
End Test Mass of X arm. |
|
ETMY |
End Test Mass of Y arm. |
|
ITM |
Input Test Mass. The mirrors forming the arm cavities suspended close to the vertex. |
Front Mirror. Near Mirror. |
ITMX |
Input Test Mass of X arm |
|
ITMY |
Input Test Mass of Y arm |
|
IFO |
I guess IFO actually means InterFerometer Observatory. But it is used to mean just interferometer, the core part of an interferometric gravitational wave detector. |
|
PRC |
Power Recycling Cavity |
|
PRM |
Power Recycling Mirror |
|
PR2 |
Name of the folding mirror in the PRC, which is closer to the PRM. |
|
PR3 |
Name of the folding mirror in the PRC, which is closer to the BS. |
|
SRC |
Signal Recycling Cavity. There is a philosophical dispute going on whether to call it SRC or SEC. SEC means Signal Extraction Cavity. Since we are going to operate the LCGT in RSE configuration, probably SEC is a better name.|SEC| |
|
SRM |
Signal Recycling Mirror. The main argument against the use of SEC/SEM is to use the same terminology as LIGO. Since we will collaborate with LIGO a lot, regardless of we like it or not, it is just easier to use the same words. |
SEM |
SR2 |
Name of the folding mirror in the SRC, which is closer to the SRM. |
|
SR3 |
Name of the folding mirror in the SRC, which is closer to the BS. |
|
Vertex |
The central part of the IFO, where PRC, SRC and BS are located. |
Center, Central Part |
X-arm |
The Fabry-Perot arm on the transmission side of the BS. The use of the words listed in the synonyms column is prohibited as it creates great confusion. If we use the name X-arm persistently, people from Kamioka-Kogyo will follow the convention eventually. |
In-line arm, 2nd tunnel, Sako-tunnel |
Y-arm |
The Fabry-Perot arm on the reflection side of the BS. The use of the words listed in the synonyms column is prohibited as it creates great confusion. If we use the name Y-arm persistently, people from Kamioka-Kogyo will follow the convention eventually. |
Perpendicular arm, 1st tunnel, Mozumi-tunnel |
Vacuum Related
Word/Acronym |
Meaning/Description |
Synonyms |
Tank |
A heavy military vehicle that has a large gun and runs on two metal belts fitted over its wheels. |
Cryogenic Related
Word/Acronym |
Meaning/Description |
Synonyms |
Cold |
A slight illness that makes it difficult to breathe through your nose and makes your throat hurt. |
Vibration Isolation Related
Word/Acronym |
Meaning/Description |
Synonyms |
Damp |
A word describing the very humid and wet environment of Kamioka mine. |