Vibration isolation of distributed mechanical oscillators by mechanical suspensions with application to resonant-mass gravitational radiation antennae

The use of mechanical suspensions to isolate resonant-mass gravitational radiation antennae from external vibrations is discussed. We investigate the optimization of several types of suspensions and illustrate the importance of ensuring that the internal resonances of both the flexible and massive components in the suspension occur at frequencies much higher than the antenna frequency. We present new techniques for estimating the Q limits imposed on the antenna by the suspension, and for determining the excitation of the antenna by ambient noise.