Optimization of long-baseline optical interferometers for gravitational-wave detection

The goal of this paper is to analyze and to evaluate the different configurations currently considered for the interferometric detectors of gravitational waves. We first study the properties of elementary gravito-optic transducers (i.e., delay lines or Fabry-Perot resonators) using an original formalism which allows one to understand and to compare easily the properties of complex interferometers involving these elements, such as recycling or synchronous recycling interferometers. We also describe the new idea of using detuned Fabry-Perot resonators, and we show that, in some cases, it may represent the best compromise between bandwidth and peak sensitivity.