Experimental measurement of the dynamic photothermal effect in Fabry-Perot cavities for gravitational wave detectors

We report the experimental observation of the frequency dependence of the photothermal effect. The measurements are performed by modulating the laser power absorbed by the mirrors of two high-finesse Fabry-Perot cavities. The results are very well described by a recently proposed theoretical model [M. Cerdonio, L. Conti, A. Heidmann, and M. Pinard, Phys. Rev. D 63, 082003 (2001)], confirming the correctness of such calculations. Our observations and quantitative characterization of the dynamic photothermal effect demonstrate its critical importance for interferometric displacement measurements towards the quantum limit, as those necessary for gravitational wave detection.