Cavity optomechanics with micromirrors: Measuring and reducing radiation pressure noise with bright squeezed light

On September 14, 2015, LIGO made the first direct detection of gravitational waves. Advanced LIGO is predicted to be limited by quantum noise at intermediate and high frequencies when it reaches design sensitivity in the next couple years. The quantum noise, including radiation pressure noise at intermediate frequencies, will need to be reduced in order to increase the sensitivity of future gravitational wave interferometers. We report recent progress towards measuring quantum radiation pressure noise in an optomechanical cavity and the reduction of radiation pressure noise using bright squeezed light. The low noise, microfabricated mechanical oscillator also allows for direct broadband thermal noise measurements which test thermal noise models and damping mechanisms and serves as a test bed for the application of crystalline coatings in future gravitational wave detectors. These techniques may be applicable to an upgrade of Advanced LIGO or the next generation of gravitational wave detectors.