[Nichin, Jenne]

The martian lookup tables are located at /etc/bind/zones/martian.db  and etc/bind/zones/rev.113.168.192.in-addr.arpa

Jenne updated these to include santuzza.martian  192.168.113.109

The method to restart named server given at  https://wiki-40m.ligo.caltech.edu/Martian_Host_Table  also does not work.

I restarted it using  >sudo /etc/init.d/bind9 restart

The named server is now updated and works fine. :)  I will update the 40m wiki now.

A

 Successfully completed the rudimentary GUI for PDFR system. (users/nichin/PDFR)

Pressing any of the buttons above runs the script that does the following:

1) Change RF mux channel to the required one.

2) Frequency sweep on the network analyzer. The common sweep parameters are in a file named param_NWAG4395A.yml . PD specific parameters are in param_[PD name].yml in their respective folders

3) The transimpedance is calculated and the plot is saved as PDF in the respective folder for the PD. Each set of measurement data and plot is in a timestamped subfolder.

Further work:

To take transimpedance readings for each PD and create a canonical set of data that can be used to compare with data obtained for every measurement run.

I'm starting to lock for the night, and I noticed that PRM is very, very pitched.  Why?  The PRM pitch slider is 5 full integer units higher than the backup (and the backup value is about where I like it, around -0.2).

I am not aware of any scripts that touch the PRM slider values.  The PRM ASS (which I haven't used in ages) offloads the biases to the SUS screen fast channels, so even if someone turned that on and then saved the values, it wouldn't leave the PRM so very, very misaligned.

I have restored it, and relocked the PRMI, so all is well, but it's very weird to have found it so misaligned.

I took some data tonight for a quick look at what combinations of DC signals might be good to use for DARM, as an alternative to ALS before we're ready for RF.

I had the arms locked with ALS, PRMI with REFL33, and tried to move the CARM offset between plus and minus 1.  The PRMI wasn't holding lock closer than about -0.3 or +0.6, so that is also a problem.  Also, I realized just now that I have left the beam dumps in front of the transmission QPDs, so I had prevented any switching of the trans PD source.  This means that all of my data for C1:LSC-TR[x,y]_OUT_DQ is taken with the Thorlabs PDs, which is fine, although they saturate around arm powers of 4 ever since my analog gain increase on the whitening board.  Anyhow, the IFO didn't hold lock for much beyond then anyway, so I didn't miss out on much.  I need to remember to remove the dumps though!!

Self:  Good stuff should be between 12:50am - 1:09am.  One set of data was ./getdata -s 1089445700 -d 30 -c C1:LSC-TRX_OUT_DQ C1:LSC-TRY_OUT_DQ C1:LSC-CARM_IN1_DQ C1:LSC-PRCL_IN1_DQ

This is the third safety glasses that I found laying around in the IFO lab lately. Safety glasses must be worn ALL times in the IFO room!

This rule is essential for your protection! Please do not enter if you can not put up with this regulation!

 I went into the lab and connected the RF cables to the Mux. Will take measurements for each PD henceforth.

I am going to tweak the alignment of the beam into the AOM (before the PMC) tomorrow morning. If anybody has any objections to this, please raise a red flag.

Proposed alignment procedure:

1. Reduce PSL power to say 10% 

2.  Since the AOM is not on any sort of a mechanical stage, I will have to just play around carefully until I see a maximum power rejection into first order.

I am assuming that moving the AOM is not going to affect the input pointing because all these activities are happening before the PMC. So as long as I have the output beam from the AOM aligned to the PMC at the end, everyone should be happy.

 Goal

To design an optical setup (telescope / lens) to couple 1064nm NPRO light into PANDA PM980 fibers in order to characterize the fibers for further use in the frequency offset locking setup.

Design

Calculations

 The beam waist of the NPRO was determined as 233um 6cm in front of the NPRO. This was used as the seed waist in ALM.

The numerical aperture of the fiber was given as 0.12, which allowed me to calculate the maximum angle of light it would accept, with respect to the optical axis, as NA = sin(theta) where theta is that angle.

Given that the coupler has a focal length of 2mm, I used the formula r = f * tan(theta), to yield a "target waist" for efficient coupling into the fiber. This ended up being 241.7um.

Since there was not a huge difference between the natural beam width of the NPRO and our target waist, I had no need for multiple lenses.

I used 230um as a target waist for a la mode, to leave myself some room for error while coupling. This process gave me a beam profile with a lens (f=0.25m), and a target waist of 231um, located 38.60cm from the coupling lens

I have attached ALM code, as well as the beam profile image. Note that the profile takes zero to be the location of the NPRO waist.

Next Steps

After this setup is assembled, and light is coupled into the fibers, we will use it to run various tests to the fiber, for further use in FOL. First of all, we wish to measure the coupling efficiency, which is the purpose of the powermeter in the above schematic. We will measure optical power before and after the fibers, hoping for at least ~%60 coupling. Next is the polarization extinction ratio measurement, for which we will control the input polarization to the fibers, and then measure what proportion of that polarization remains at the output of the fiber. 

 The Past Week

Attempted to design coupling telescope, turned out waist measurement was still off. Took another waist measurement, this time more reasonable.

Used recent waist measurement to actually design a coupling system to couple NPRO light into Panda PM980 fibers (see recent elog)

The Next Week

Assemble fiber coupling system

Measure coupling efficiency, ensure it's at least 60%

Begin measuring Polarization Extinction ratio

Materials

PLCX lens with f = 0.25m ------> status: here

Fiber Coupled Powermeter//PD ------> status: unknown (have any laying around?)

Quarter Wave Plate, Polarizing Beamsplitter, Photodiodes ------> status: here

other components from original razorblade measurement  setup

I removed the dumps in front of the trans QPDs.  The Yend QPD needed re-normalization, so I did that.

 Nick and I with the help of Jenne scan the green light when the cavity is unlocked. Nick placed a Beam dump on the IR so that we can just scan the green, but it was removed as soon as we finished with the measurement. I'm working on the calculation, and i'll be posted solution tonight.

I realized while I was looking at last night's data that I had been doing CARM sweeps, when really I wanted to be doing DARM sweeps.  I took a few sets of data of DARM sweeps while locked on ALSdiff.  However, Rana pointed out that comparing ALSdiff to TRX-TRY isn't exactly a fair comparison while I'm locked on ALSdiff, since it's an in-loop signal, so it looks artificially quiet. 

Anyhow, I may consider transitioning DARM over to AS55 temporarily so that I can look at both as out-of-loop sensors. 

Also, so that I can try locking DARM on DC transmission, I have added 2 more columns to the LSC input matrix (now we're at 32!), for TRX and TRY.  We already had sqrt inverse versions of these signals, but the plain TRX and TRY were only available as normalization signals before.  Since Koji put in the facility to sqrt or not the normalization signals, I can now try:

Option 1:  ( TRX - TRY ) / (TRX + TRY)

Option 2:  ( TRX - TRY ) / sqrt( TRX + TRY )

DARM does not yet have the facility to normalize one signal (DC transmission) and not another (ALS diff), so I may need to include that soon.  For tonight, I'm going to try just changing matrix elements with ezcastep.

Since I changed the c1lsc.mdl model, I compiled it, restarted the model, and checked the model in.  I have also added these 2 columns to the AUX_ERR sub-screen for the LSC input matrix.  I have not changed the LSC overview screen.

A test run was conducted on the PDFR system last afternoon and transimpedance plots were generated for 6 of the PDs. The laser was shut down after the test run.

I have not verified (yet) if the transimpedance values indicated by the plots are correct or not. The values mostly look INCORRECT. But the peaks are exactly where they need to be. *phew!*

Reasons: Incorrect calibration, Light other than from the PDFR system fibers on the PDs

Will have to work on debugging all this.

1) Debugging transimpedance calculations in the PDFR

Requires presence of an expert whenever I get inside the lab to take DC measurements or check the illuminating fibers.

2) Creating and incorporating canonical data plots with every measurement of PDFR.

3) Transfer function fitting for transimpedance

4) Improve the Spectrum analyzer scan scripts as mentioned in my elog.

Log-log ... 

Work Done:

• Solved all the timing issues pertaining to the R Pi and the FC.
• Took all the measurements for complete characterization of the frequency counter(Phase Plots to follow shortly).
• Finished  installation of the FC on the martian and created a channel  for the FC frequencies(will be tested in this week).

Plans for this Week:

• Testing of the EPICS soft IOC created for the FC as a channel access server and hence completing the installation of the FC.
• Placing the FC inside the lab( plan discussed in this elog: http://nodus.ligo.caltech.edu:8080/40m/10163) with proper supervision.
• Characterization of the temperature actuator.

Inside the 40m Lab:        

I will need to be inside the lab to place the FC . This will be done in the morning session (on thursday) with supervision of Manasa and Steve(if required).

 The fan is dying. It is changing speed erratically and stops for short time periods. It is very likely to stop rotating soon. It will halt all operations in the lab. We can not see the PMC-T power because Manasa is working on

 AOM alignment.

Updated script does the following:

1) Gets the highest 2 peaks

2) Puts a marker on the peaks. Now it looks very similar to the spectrum analyzer display.

3) The refresh rate is still 3 seconds. It might become better if the analyzer was hooked up to a wired martian LAN port rather than the wireless module I am using now.

PFA a sample pdf

 Purpose

To couple the spare NPRO into our Panda PM980 fibers, in order to carry out tests to characterize the fibers, in order to use them in FOL.

Design

 Manasa and I spent this morning building the setup to couple NPRO light into the fibers. We used two steering mirrors to precisely guide the beam into the coupler (collimator).

We also attached the lens to a moveable stage (in the z axis), so the setup could be fine tuned to put the beam waist precisely at the photodiode.

The fiber was attached to a fiber-coupled powermeter, so I would be able to tell the coupling efficiency.

Methods 

During alignment, the NPRO was operating at 1.0 amps, roughly half of nominal current (2.1A).

I first placed the coupler at the distance that I believed the target waist of 231um to be.

Using the steering mirrors and the stage that holds the couple, I aligned the axes of the coupler and the beam.

Finally, I used the variable stage that the lens is attached to to fine tune the location of the target waist.

Results

Once I was getting readings on the powermeter (~0.5nW), the laser was turned up to nominal current of 2.1A.

At this point, I and getting 120nW through the fiber.

While far from "good" coupling, it is enough to start measuring some fiber characteristics.

Moving Forward

Tomorrow, I hope to borrow the beam profiler once again so as to measure the fiber mode.

Beyond this, I will be taking further measurements of the Polarization Extinction Ratio, the Frequency Noise within the fiber, and the effects of a temperature gradient upon the fiber.

Once these measurements are completed, the fiber will have been characterized, and will be ready for implementation in FOL.

[Koji, Manasa]

The air flow from the dying fan was kinda weak and we decided to give a help with an external fan.

Koji brought a fan taken from a junk found at EE shop in W.Bridge.
The fan has been tied to the cage of the existing fan using cable ties to provide air circulation.
So even if the existing one dies anytime, we still don't super-heat anything.
The power supply for the fan rests next to the controller. 

The air from the fan ventilation was hot, and now with the additional fan this hot air is actually sucked
out with stronger flow. So this is relieving for now.

I found the VCO driver, that Rana asked me to locate, inside the 40m. I already have one VCO from PSL lab. Now, I have kept both of them inside the 40m lab(one on the cart in the side of the Y-arm and the other near the X-arm electronics table).

[Rana, Jenne]

We had a look at the RIN of the transmission signals TRX and TRY, when the arms were individually locked on IR.  If the intensity noise is very bad, then the transmission signals aren't really a good option to use for locking.  So, if the RIN is bad, we need to work on our intensity stabilization. 

We need to understand what the situation is with the AOM, and why it isn't working as expected, so that we can reinstall it.  We also need to decide if we're going to use the SR560 setup, or if the Chas ISS is sufficiently characterized for us to use. 

The RIN is certainly bad.  Also, I don't know why the Xarm's RIN is worse between 10 Hz and a few hundred Hz than the Yarm.

MC loop is near unstable. Common gain reduced. Needs more loop tuning.

We've often seen that the MC gets into a state where it keeps losing lock and the EOM drive shows a large RMS. We've usually been looking at the noise spectrum to diagnose this.

Tonight we finally just measured the OLG. The attached plot shows the loop gain measured with the 4395 on the MC servo board

Although the phase margin is a healthy 45 degrees, its close to instability at 1 MHz. For this plot, I reduced the gain by 3 dB and now the margin is ~7 dB. So usually its pretty close to unstable and at least its always making a noise peak.

That whole TF above a few hundred kHz is weird. We should tune out whatever makes it so flat and also remove the resonance that makes the 1 MHz peak; maybe its from some post mixer low pass?

Anyone interested in helping in the investigation ought to measure the TF of the MC demod board, the MC servo board, and the FSS box.

Silver lining: if we fix this loop shape, we might be able to have a much more stable IMC and IFO.

Data and Calculation for the Xarm Current Mode Matching

Two days ago, Nick, Jenne, and I took a measurement for the Green Transmission for the X-arm. I took the data and I analyzed it. The first figure attached below is the raw data plotted. I used the function findpeaks in Matlab, and I found all the peaks. Then, by taking close look at the plot, I chose two peaks as shown in the second figure attached below. I took the ratio of the TEM00 and the High order mode, and I average them. This gave me a Mode Matching of 0.9215, which this value is pretty close to the value that I predicted by using a la Mode in http://nodus.ligo.caltech.edu:8080/40m/10191, which is 0.9343. Nick and I measured the reflected power when the cavity is unlocked and when the cavity is locked, so we measured the P_reflUnLocked=52+1µW and P_reflOnLocked=16+2µW and the backgroundNoise=0.761µW. Using this information we calculated  P_refl/P_in=0.297. Now, since P_refl/P_in=|E_ref/E_in|², we looked at the electric fields component by using the reflectivity of the mirror we calculated 0.67. The number doesn't agree, but this is because we didn't take into account the losses when making this calculation. I'm working in the calculation that will include the losses.

Today, Nick and I ordered the lenses and the mirrors. I'm working in putting together a representation of how much improvement the new design will give us in comparison to the current setup.

I took back he VCO driver that Reetika brought over to the 40m from the PSL lab.  

In a attempt to debug the values of transimpedance generated by the PDFR system, I did a manual measurement for REFL11 PD.

• Took the tops off AS and POY tables. (REFL11 and REF PD) Under the supervising eye of Manasa
• Verify that no extra light is falling on REFL11.
• Retake DC voltage readings, power readings.
• Manually set the sweep parameters and record readings from network analyzer.
• Put the tops back on the tables
• Calculate transimpedance 

Results:

REF PD(1611):

Pinc = 1.12 mW                 T_dc = 10000 V/A (datasheet)

Vdc = 7.68 V                      T_rf = 700 V/A (datasheet)

Calculated Responsivity = 0.68 A/W (Which matches perfectly with the datasheet value of 0.68 A/W) 

REFL11:

Pinc = 0.87 mV             T_dc = 66.2 V/A (schematic)

Vdc = 32.5 mV      

Calculated Responsivity = 0.56 A/W

Network analyzer reading at 11 MHz : 0.42

Calculated RF Transimpedance = 460 V/A

40m Wiki : RF Transimpedance = 4 kV/A

I ran the same measurement using PDFR system and got the same results.

Attached: the automatic data and plot obtained.

Conclusion:  The PDFR system and manual measurements agree with each other. However the values do not match with 40m Wiki. I have no clue about which measurement is correct or any mistakes I might be making in the calculations. 

 Purpose

Steve and I moved some things around in the 1X2 rack in order to make room (roughly 6") for the electronics box that will contain rf frequency counters, ADC, and Raspberry Pi's for use in the Frequency Offset Locking apparatus

Picture

Occurrences

First, we killed power by removing the fuse that the boxes we were moving were running through.

Then, we moved the boxes. I dropped//lost a washer. It didn't seem to cause any problems, so no further attempts to locate it were made.

The fuse was reinstalled, and everything was reconnected.

Moving Forward

We are now working on putting together the electronics box, which will contain ADC, and raspberry pi's. The frequency counters will be mounted on the front of the box.

Once complete, it will be installed for use in FOL.

     PMC transmission as an indicator of laser controller with extra fan solution: 8 and 1day plot

What is the coupling factor between the RF in and the RF mon of the demodulator?
I don't assume you have the same amount RF power at those two points unless you have an RF amplifier in the mon path.

Additional comments:

This was done based on the earlier proposed setup plan for the frequency counters that will be used to measure the beat note frequencies [Akhil's elog]

I switched off the power supply to the green PDs so that we don't cause any damage while moving the amplifier panel for the beat signals and beatbox. 

It sounds like the work was done carefully. Even so, Jenne or Manasa have to run the ALS (X and Y) to check if they are still functional.

[Rana, Evan]

This morning we took several TFs of the MC servo board using the HP4395A.

The 4395 source was teed, with one output of the tee going to 4395 R and the other output going to the board's IN1. We then took TFs of (4395 A) / (4395 R), where 4395 A was one of the following four points on the servo board:

• OUT2
• A TEST1
• B TEST1
• SERVO

For each of these points, we took a TF at two gain settings: IN1 and VCO gains both at 0 dB, and then IN1 and VCO gains both at 20 dB.

Before doing these measurements, we calibrated out the cable delay. Additionally, SERVO was always loaded with 50 Ω—either from the 4395 or from a terminator.

The attached png shows the servo board settings when these TFs were taken with the 0 dB gain settings. The settings for the 20 dB measurements are identical, except for the higher IN1 and VCO gains.

 I had some syntax errors in the script that prevented the script from doing the right thing. The backup is now up to date, and the cronjob should work. 

We want to be able to graphically see how much better it is the new optical table setup in comparison to the current optical table setup. In other words, we want to be able to see how displacement of the beam and how much angle change can be obtained at the ETM from changing the mirrors angles independently. Depending on the spread of the mirrors' vectors we can observe whether the Gouy phase is good. In the plot below, the dotted lines correspond to the current set up, and we can see that the lines are not spread from each other, which essentially mean that changing the angles of the two mirrors just contribute to small change in angle and in the displacement of the beam at the ETM, and therefore the Gouy phase is not good. Now on the other hand. The other solid lines correspond to the new setup mirrors. We can observe that the spread of the line of mirror 1 and mirror 4 is almost 90 degrees, which just implies that there is a good Gouy phase different between these two mirrors. For the angles chosen in the plot, I looked at how much the PZT yaw the mirrors from the elog http://nodus.ligo.caltech.edu:8080/40m/8912. In this elog, they give a plot in mrad/v for the pitch and yaw, so I took the range that the PZT can yaw the mirrors, and I converted into mdegrees/v and then I plotted as shown below. I plot for the current setup and for the new setup in the same plot. The matlab code is also attached below.

Purpose 

We wanted to measure the mode coming out of the fibers, so we can later couple it to experimental setups for measuring different noise sources within the fiber. i.e. Polarization Extinction Ratio, Frequency Noise, Temperature Effects.

Methods

I used the beamscan mounted on a micrometer stage in order to measure the spot sizes of the fiber coupled light at different points along the optical axis, in much the same way as in the razorblade setup I used earlier in the summer.

Analysis

I entered my data (z coordinates, spot size in x, spot size in y) into a la mode to obtain the beam  profile (waist size, location)

Code is attached in .zip file.

Moving Forward

After I took these measurements, Manasa pointed out that I need points over a longer distance. (These were taken over the range of the micrometer stage, which is 0.5 inches.)

I will be coming in to the 40m early on Monday to make these measurements, since precious beamscan time is so elusive.

Eventually, we will use this measurement to design optical setups to characterize Polarization Extinction Ratio, Frequency Noise, and temperature effects of the fibers, for further use in FOL.

I looked at what the RIN contribution of the sqrtInv sensor is by locking the arms individually on IR using POX and POY.  I then took spectra of the sqrtInv channels.  For the Xarm, I had forced the triggering so that the QPD was being used as the transmission PD, while the Yarm was using the regular Thorlabs PD.  I also had the green lasers locked to the arms, and took beatnote spectra to see what the sensing noise of the beatnotes is, all at the same time.

For the sqrtInv channels, I used the Optickle calibration from elog 10187. For today's plot, I am using the calibration at about 1nm, since that is about where we are when we transition to the sqrtInv Thorlabs signal usually.

For the ALS channel, I was using the _FINE_PHASE_OUT signal, which is in units of degrees of phase for a single green wavelength.  So, since k * x = phi, I want the phase data to be converted to radians (2*pi/360), and use k = 2*pi / lambda_green.  So, doing some algebra, this gives me x = phi_degrees * lambda / 360 for my calibration. 

What I see in the plot is that the ALS sensing noise is pretty bad compared to the sqrtInv channels, so maybe we don't have to work so hard on the ISS this next week.  Also, the Thorlabs PD is much better than the QPDs, which maybe isn't so surprising since we have them set so that they have good SNR at higher power.

Anyhow, here's the plot:

Also, here is the Thorlabs PD only, with single arm locked on RF, with the noise calibrated to different CARM offsets:

Your calibration of the ALS signal should be revised.

The phase for the ALS is not an optical phase of the green but the phase of the phase tracker servo output.

The calibration of the phase tracker depends on the cable length of the delay line in the beat box.
It seems that we are based on this calibration. Which gives up ~19kHz/deg.

Or, equivalently, use C1:.....PHASE_OUT_HZ instead.

Patient One for this new system will be the MC servo card. The DCC number is D1400242. Currently, v1 is just the original drawing with no modifications. I've updated the DCC document tree at E1400326 accordingly.

It looks like we can use Jenne's information in 40m:9892 to deduce the modifications that have been made (alternatively, someone can just pull the board and examine it on the bench).

 Purpose

The idea was to measure the profile of the light coming out of the fiber, so we could have knowledge of it for further design of measurement apparatuses, for characterization of the fibers' properties.

Methods

The method was the same as the last time I tried to measure the fiber mode.

This time I moved the beam profiler in a wider range along the z-axis.

Additionally, I adjusted the coupling until it gave ~1mW through the fiber, so the signal was high enough to be reliably detectable.

Measurements were taken in both X and Y transections of the beam.

The range of movement was limited by the aperture of the beam profiler, which cuts off at 9mm. My measurements stop at 8.3mm, as the next possible measurement was beyond the beam profiler's range.

Analysis

I entered my data into A La Mode, which gave me a waist of 5um, at a location of z = -0.0071 m, that is to say, 7.1mm inside the fiber.

Note that in the plot, data points and fits overlap, and so are sometimes hard to distinguish from each other.

Code is attached.

Moving Forward

Using this data, I will begin designing setups to measure fiber characteristics, the first of which being Polarization Extinction Ratio.

Eventually, the data collected from these measurements will be put to use in the frequency offset locking setup.

Interlock closed valve V1, V4, V5 and VM1 when the nitrogen supply run out. The IFO pressure rose to P1 1 mTorr

In order to recover Vacuum Normal valve configuration I did the following:

Replaced both nitrogen cylinders. Confirmed pneumatic nitrogen pressure 70 PSI.   Opened valves V4 and V5

At P2 < 1 mTorr, Maglev rotation 560 Hz , V1 was opened.

VM1 was opened when CC1 pressure dropped below < 1e-5 torr

Please  take a look at the N2 cylinders pressure on Friday to insure that there is enough for the week end.

The daily consumption is 600-700 PSI

The autolocker claimed it was running and blinking, but not doing anything (i.e. lock bit was not updating and no switches or sliders being touched)

After stopping and starting it a number of times, it began working again, through no real changes of my own. I'm a little mystified as to what the problem was... keep an eye out.

 Edit

The previous data were flawed, in that they were taken in groups of three, as I had to move the micrometer stage which held the beamscan between holes in the optical table.

In order to correct for this, I clamped a straightedge (ruler) to the table, so I could more consistently align the profiler with the beam axis.

These data gave a waist w_o = 4um, located 6mm inside the fiber. While these figures are very close to what I would expect (3.3um at the end of the fiber) the fitting still isn't as good as I would like.

The fit given by ALM is below.

Moving Forward

I would like to get a stage//rail so I can align the axes of the beam and profiler more consistently.

I would also like to use an aperture the more precisely align the profiler aperture with the beam axis.

Once these measurements have been made, I can begin assembling the setup to measure the Polarization Extinction Ratio of the fiber.

The attached zip file has a modified schematic of the MC servo card (011/MC), as deduced from Jenne's photos. Someone should go through and verify that the schematic is correct. Then it can go on the DCC as D1400242-v2.

To modify the schematic, I used Inkscape (the svg files for each sheet are included in the zip file). Then to generate the pdf, I ran

for i in sheet*.svg; do inkscape -A "${i/svg/pdf}" "$i"; done

pdftk sheet*.pdf cat output D1400242

Using the modified schematic (40m:10250), I've made a plot of the TFs I expect for G_IN1 = G_VCO = 0 dB, taking into account our 50 Ω loading of the board.

Evidently I'm somehow missing a factor of 2 in the gain of the overall TF, but the shapes of the expected vs. measured magnitudes agree quite well.

At 1 MHz, I expect we should have accumulated about 80 degrees of phase going through the servo board. In reality, we appear to have lost more like 105 degrees.

 ITMY oplev was nearly clipping in yaw, causing wonky behavior (POY lock popping in and out frequently). I recentered it and the arm is locking fine now. 

I repeated this process once more, this time using the computer controlled stage that the beam profiler is designed to be mounted to.

These data//fitting appears to be within error bars. The range of my measurements was limited when the beam width was near the effective aperture of the profiler.

This latest trial yielded a waist of 4um, located 2.9 mm inside the fiber for the X profile, and 3.0mm inside the fiber for the Y profile.

Code is attached in fiberModeMeasurement4.zip. Note that the z=0 point is defined as the end of the fiber.

 The Past Week

I spent the past week coupling NPRO light into the fibers, and subsequently measuring the fiber mode profile using the beam profiler.

The Next Week

In the next week, I plan to at least do measurements of the Polarization Extinction Ratio of the fibers.

Materials

My current optical setup, plus an additional polarizing beam splitter (have it).

 Work Done:

• Created a Channel Access Server on the Raspberry Pi  to write data from the FC into EPICS Channel.
• Completed characterization and noise estimation of the FC counter with improved timing.
• Started installation of FC inside the 40m.

Plans for this Week:

• Testing how well the FC can replace the spectrum analyzer which is in the control room. For this I have asked Steve to order  an RF adder/combiner to see how frequency counter responds to two RF signals at different frequencies(much like the RF signal fed to the spectrum analyzer) .
• Complete the installation of FC insode the 40m and start initial testing.
• Characterization of the Temperature Actuator and initial PID loop design.

Inside the 40m Lab:

• I will have to go inside the 40m lab this week for routing the RF mon cables to the FC box(in detail:http://nodus.ligo.caltech.edu:8080/40m/10163) .
• Also to setup for characterization of the temperature actuator, I will be required to go inside the lab in this week.

As Koji pointed out, I messed up the calibration.  However, fixing it doesn't change things that much.

From this calibration by Yuta, the Xarm ALS calibration is 54 deg / MHz, or 19.17 kHz / deg.  So, I multiply my data which is in these degree units by 19.17e3 to get Hz.  Then I use delta_f / f = delta_L / L to convert to meters.  f = c / lambda_green, and L = 37.5 meters. 

This only changes the calibration by about 10-15%.  It still looks like the ALS noise is well above the RIN level of the sqrtInv signal.

Quad processor 2 & 3 were replaced.