Abstract
The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA), with its extreme distance measurement requirements (pm over arm lengths of 2.5 Mio km), imposes many stringent requirements on the laser sources used for interferometry. Frequency and power stability, as well as the side band phase noise represent considerable technological challenges, that must be maintained over the full 12.5 years mission duration. These constraints demand a streamlined laser design and a particular attention to reliability and procurement strategy, which poses a significant challenge. The main requirements for the laser critical sub-system have been analyzed. The Centre Suisse d’Electronique et de Microtechnique (CSEM), in the frame of a European Space Agency activity, was mandated to demonstrate a laser head for the LISA mission based on an alternative laser oscillator approach that does not rely on the LISA-baseline technology (i.e. Nd:YAG NPRO laser). The activity was named MONALISA. After a presentation of the key laser head requirements, the laser head design is described. A comprehensive test campaign was performed, and test results are presented.
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