What is FROSTI and how does it help LIGO?

FROSTI is a precision wavefront control system that uses thermal projection to correct distortions in LIGO's mirrors caused by high-powered lasers, significantly improving sensitivity to gravitational waves.

How will Jonathan Richardson's new technology impact gravitational-wave astronomy?

Richardson's technology is expected to expand the observable gravitational-wave universe by tenfold, enabling the detection and study of more distant cosmic events.

What are the next steps for LIGO and gravitational-wave detection?

FROSTI is a key component for future upgrades like LIGO A# and observatories like Cosmic Explorer, designed to further push the boundaries of gravitational-wave astronomy.

Home / Science / LIGO's Laser Precision Unlocks Deeper Universe

LIGO's Laser Precision Unlocks Deeper Universe

4 Dec, 2025

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Summary

New instrumentation controls laser wavefronts at high power.
FROSTI prototype enhances LIGO's sensitivity to gravitational waves.
Technology promises to expand observable universe by tenfold.

LIGO's Laser Precision Unlocks Deeper Universe

A significant advancement in gravitational-wave detection has emerged from the University of California, Riverside. Physicist Jonathan Richardson and his team have successfully tested FROSTI, a full-scale prototype designed to control laser wavefronts with unprecedented precision within the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO).

FROSTI, an adaptive optics device, operates by precisely reshaping LIGO's primary mirrors using controlled thermal radiation. This innovation manages distortions caused by megawatt-level laser powers, a critical need for future detectors like Cosmic Explorer, which aim to observe more distant cosmic events with greater clarity.

This development is poised to revolutionize gravitational-wave astronomy, potentially increasing the observable universe by tenfold. It paves the way for detecting millions more black hole and neutron star mergers and studying them in unprecedented detail, marking a pivotal moment for astronomical research.