Firoz Khan

My research focuses on mitigating scattered-light noise in ground-based gravitational-wave detectors, with particular emphasis on the AEI 10 m prototype facility. I work at the interface of experimental characterization, optical simulation, and analytical noise modeling to understand and suppress parasitic backscattering that limits detector sensitivity.

My work combines material characterization (including BRDF measurements, vacuum compatibility studies, and laser-induced damage threshold testing), optical ray-tracing simulations, and analytical noise budgeting to quantify scattering coupling paths and assess their impact relative to the Standard Quantum Limit. I design and optimize baffle geometries and stray-light mitigation strategies for arm cavities and auxiliary optics, and validate these approaches experimentally. Through this work, I aim to ensure that the 10 m prototype operates in a regime where classical noise sources, particularly scattered light, are sufficiently suppressed to enable studies of quantum-limited interferometry.