Loss in long-storage-time optical cavities

Long-storage-time Fabry-Perot cavities are a core component of many precision measurement experiments. Optical loss in such cavities is a critical parameter in determining their performance; however, it is very difficult to determine a priori from independent characterisation of the individual cavity mirrors. Here, we summarise three techniques for directly measuring this loss in situ and apply them to a high-finesse, near-concentric, 2 m system. Through small modifications of the cavity's length, we explore optical loss as a function of beam spot size over the 1-3 mm range. In this regime we find that optical loss is relatively constant at around 5 ppm per mirror and shows greater dependence on the positions of the beam spots on the cavity optics than on their size. These results have immediate consequences for the application of squeezed light to advanced gravitational-wave interferometers. (C) 2013 Optical Society of America