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Abstract We prove a nonpolarised analogue of the asymptotic characterisation of $$T^2$$ T 2 -symmetric Einstein flow solutions completed recently by LeFloch and Smulevici. In this work, we impose a condition weaker than polarisation and so our result applies to a larger class. We obtain similar rates of decay for the normalised energy and associated quantities for this class. We describe numerical simulations which indicate that there is a locally attractive set for $$T^2$$ T 2 -symmetric solutions not covered by our main theorem. This local attractor is distinct from the local attractor in our main theorem, thereby indicating that the polarised asymptotics are unstable. 

Small, highly absorbing points are randomly present on the surfaces of the main interferometer optics in Advanced LIGO. The resulting nanometer scale thermo-elastic deformations and substrate lenses from these micron-scale absorbers significantly reduce the sensitivity of the interferometer directly though a reduction in the power-recycling gain and indirect interactions with the feedback control system. We review the expected surface deformation from point absorbers and provide a pedagogical description of the impact on power buildup in second generation gravitational wave detectors (dual-recycled Fabry–Perot Michelson interferometers). This analysis predicts that the power-dependent reduction in interferometer performance will significantly degrade maximum stored power by up to 50% and, hence, limit GW sensitivity, but it suggests system wide corrections that can be implemented in current and future GW detectors. This is particularly pressing given that future GW detectors call for an order of magnitude more stored power than currently used in Advanced LIGO in Observing Run 3. We briefly review strategies to mitigate the effects of point absorbers in current and future GW wave detectors to maximize the success of these enterprises.