Intro; Supervisor's Foreword; Abstract; Acknowledgements; Contents; Abbreviations; 1 Introduction; 1.1 Introduction; References; 2 Gravitational Waves; 2.1 Gravitational Waves; 2.2 Sources of Gravitational Waves; 2.2.1 Neutron Stars; 2.2.2 Compact Binary Coalescence; 2.2.3 Bursts; 2.2.4 Stochastic Background; 2.3 GW150914: First Detection; References; 3 Ground Based Gravitational Wave Detectors; 3.1 Detection Principle; 3.2 Interferometer Sensitivity; 3.2.1 Shot Noise; 3.2.2 Improving the Sensitivity; 3.2.3 Limiting Noises; 3.2.4 Homodyne Detection Versus Frontal Modulation; References

4 Advanced Virgo4.1 OSD: Optical Simulation and Design; 4.2 TCS: Thermal Compensation System; 4.3 SUSP: Suspensions; 4.4 INJ: Injection; 4.5 DET: Detection; 4.6 ISC: Interferometer Sensing and Control; 4.7 DAQ: Data Acquisition; References; 5 Fabry-Perot Cavities in Advanced Virgo; 5.1 Basic Properties; 5.1.1 Types of Cavity; 5.2 Dynamical Effects; 5.3 Gaussian Optics; 5.3.1 Generalities and Definitions; 5.3.2 Higher Order Modes; 5.3.3 Stability of a Resonator; 5.4 Longitudinal Motion Control; 5.4.1 Feedback Control Loops; 5.4.2 Length Sensing: PDH Technique

5.4.3 Lock Acquisition: Guided Lock5.5 Angular Motion Control; 5.5.1 Alignment Coordinates; 5.5.2 Automatic Alignment; 5.6 Summary; References; 6 Power Recycled Interferometer; 6.1 PRITF Optical Configuration; 6.1.1 Electric Field Equations in Dark Fringe: Carrier; 6.1.2 Sidebands Behaviour: Schnupp Asymmetry and PRC Length; 6.1.3 Summary: Working Point; 6.2 Longitudinal Control; 6.2.1 Final State: Sensing and Driving; 6.2.2 PRC Stability Versus Alignment: 131 MHz; 6.2.3 Lock Acquisition Strategy: Variable Finesse; 6.2.4 Step 3: Recombined Configuration; 6.2.5 Step 4: PR Alignment

6.2.6 Towards Dark Fringe: MICH Offset Reduction6.2.7 Summary: Longitudinal Control Sensing; 6.3 SSFS: Second Stage of Frequency Stabilization; 6.3.1 SSFS Architecture; 6.3.2 SSFS Commissioning: CARM to MC; 6.3.3 Impact of HOMs on the Optical TF; 6.4 Angular Control; 6.4.1 Sensing and Driving; 6.5 Summary; References; 7 Advanced Virgo Commissioning; 7.1 Commissioning Timeline; 7.2 Steps 1 and 2: Arm Cavities Control; 7.2.1 Velocity and Finesse Measurements; 7.2.2 Guided Lock Implementation; 7.2.3 Error Signal Calibration; 7.2.4 Angular Control; 7.3 Step 3: Recombined; 7.3.1 MICH Loop

7.3.2 CARM/DARM Loops7.3.3 Second Stage of Frequency Stabilization; 7.4 Step 4: PR Alignment; 7.4.1 PRCL Loop; 7.4.2 MICH Driving Matrix; 7.4.3 Longitudinal Loops After the PR Alignment; 7.4.4 Alignment Using Quadrant Photodiodes; 7.5 Towards Dark Fringe; 7.5.1 Optical Gain Evolution; 7.5.2 Recycling Gain; 7.5.3 Alignment; 7.6 Dark Fringe; References; 8 Conclusion; Reference