Abstract
We report on the first subpicometer interferometer flown in space. It was part of ESA's Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) Pathfinder mission and performed the fundamental measurement of the positional and angular motion of two free-falling test masses. The interferometer worked immediately, stably, and reliably from switch on until the end of the mission with exceptionally low residual noise of 32.0_{-1.7}^{+2.4} fm/sqrt[Hz], significantly better than required. We present an upper limit for the sensor performance at millihertz frequencies and a model for the measured sensitivity above 200mHz.
Highlights
We report on the first subpicometer interferometer flown in space
Introduction.—ESA’s LISA Pathfinder (LPF) mission was designed to prove that the technology needed for a spacebased gravitational wave detector like LISA [1] is feasible, in particular that test masses (TMs) could be placed in free fall with sufficiently low residual acceleration noise [2,3]
The optical metrology system (OMS) is directly comparable to the local interferometry required for LISA where a similar low-noise, multidegree-of-freedom readout is key to reaching the desired sensitivity
Summary
We report on the first subpicometer interferometer flown in space. It was part of ESA’s Laser. Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) Pathfinder mission and performed the fundamental measurement of the positional and angular motion of two free-falling test masses. The OMS is directly comparable to the local interferometry required for LISA where a similar low-noise, multidegree-of-freedom readout is key to reaching the desired sensitivity It can be considered as a significant step in the development of optical interferometers in space, which could improve the accelerometer sensitivity in future geodesy missions, for example, [4,5]. LISA Pathfinder: Optical metrology in space.—The LPF mission consisted of a single spacecraft on a Lissajous orbit around the Earth-Sun Lagrangian point L1. It contained two free-falling TMs, each inside an electrode housing located in a small vacuum chamber. The beam paths were split into four different
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
