In order to use the 0th-order deflection beam from the AOM for cavity mode scans, I've coaligned this beam to the existing mode-matching/launch optics set up for the 1st-order beam.
Instead of being dumped, the 0th-order beam is now steered by two 45-degree mirrors into the existing beam path. The second mirror is on a flip mount so that we can quickly switch between 0th-order/1st-order injections. None of the existing optics were touched, so the 1st-order beam alignment should still be undisturbed.
Currently the 0th-order beam is being injected into the IFO. After attenuating so as to not exceed 100 mW incident on the fiber, approximately 50 mW of power reaches the AS table. That coupling efficiency is similar to what we have with the 1st-order beam. With the Y-arm cavity locked and the AUX PLL locked at RF offset = 47.60 MHz (an Y-arm FSR), I observed a -50 dBm beat note at Y-end transmission. |