TAMA ground-based interferometer for the detection of gravitational waves Original Research Article

The Japanese project of constructing an intermediate scale gravitational wave detector (TAMA) started in the April of 1995. It adopts a Fabry-Perot Michelson interferometer with pre-modulation and will be completed with standard power recycling by March, 2000. The aim of the project is to develop techniques which are required for an advanced large scale interferometer and to catch a gravitational wave that may occur by chance within our local group of galaxies. The facility building, the vacuum system and the seismic isolation system have been prepared. Installation of the subsystems such as the laser, the mode cleaner and the one-arm cavity have been finished. Our schedule is to construct the body of interferometer without implementing the recycling technique by the end of 1998 and to operate it with a reasonable sensitivity for a month in the spring of 1999. After that, the recycling mirror will be installed and the power recycled interferometer will be put into operation. This paper will report the current status of the project and some experimental outcomes of the subsystems.