Cryogenic radiative cooling of a large payload for gravitational wave detector

Abstract

Third-generation gravitational wave detectors will use large mirrors isolated from seismic motion at low frequency, and also cooled down to cryogenic temperatures. To fulfil these two specifications, the E-TEST project explores the possibility of using a purely non-contact radiative cooling strategy. Based on cooling predictions, the paper includes a detailed design of the cryostat and the assembly procedure. A test campaign demonstrated that the proposed strategy succeeded in bringing the temperature of a Image 1 dummy mirror down to Image 2 in 19 days. These encouraging results are paving the way toward a fully radiative approach for cooling the mirrors of the future Einstein Telescope.