Implications of thermal aberrations on the LIGO instrument
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The LIGO detectors are the most sensitive instruments built, with the goal of detecting Gravitational waves originating from the mergers of Neutron Stars and Black Holes. I explore the consequences of uncompensated thermal aberrations on optics and their impact on the operation, and even the calibration, of the instrument. These aberrations have an impact on the performance of the resonant sideband extraction cavity, optomechanical interactions within the main arms of the interferometer, as well as the overall performance of the instrument as a result of creating mode matching challenges. I look to illustrate the requirement of well thought out wavefront control systems as well as re-iterate how important it is to have core optics free of point absorbers, in order to optimally commission an instrument such as LIGO.