While discussing the suspension hysteresis measurements, Koji, Kiwamu, and I realized that the suspension wire standoff is aluminum, whereas the standoff for the LIGO LOS are using quartz.

Using a soft aluminum standoff is bad. The movement of the suspension will slowly wear the groove and produce opportunities for mechanical upconversion and hysteresis.

In fact, the wire standoff as well as the clamping block on the top should be made of sapphire or ruby to prevent any such wearing issues. Steve is hot on the case.