Vermeer Bonhomme

Vermeer Bonhomme is a graduate student in mechanical engineering, designing the next generation of ultra-low-noise suspensions for gravitational-wave detectors. His research supports the Cosmic Explorer observatory, which will extend the arm length of existing interferometers from 4 km to 40 km and increase suspended mass from 120 kg to over 2000 kg. Vermeer’s work focuses on modeling, optimizing, and prototyping precision suspension systems that isolate test masses from seismic and control noise while accounting for optomechanical coupling and scale-induced dynamic effects. As a MathWorks Fellow, he will develop a control-driven design framework for this system, supported by advanced modeling and optimization in MATLAB. He uses Simscape and Simulink to simulate multi-mass pendulum dynamics, test controller architectures, and visualize coupling effects across large-scale optical cavities. Live Scripts and custom modeling tools help his collaborators assess performance under design tolerances. Vermeer’s work could enable earlier, more sensitive detection of gravitational waves, opening new observational windows into the early universe.