Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 075005 |
| Number of pages | 16 |
| Journal | Classical and quantum gravity |
| Volume | 41 |
| Issue number | 7 |
| Publication status | Published - 5 Mar 2024 |
Abstract
Torsion balances (TBs) are versatile instruments known for their ability to measure tiny forces and accelerations with high precision. We are currently commissioning a new TB facility to support the development and testing of novel optical inertial sensor units for future gravity-related space missions. Here, we report on the status of our apparatus and present first sensitivity curves that demonstrate acceleration and torque sensitivities of 5 ⋅ 10 − 11 m s − 2 and 1 ⋅ 10 − 12 N m H z − 1 at frequencies around 4 m H z , respectively. Capacitive sensors and optical levers measure the dynamics of the system with a displacement sensitivity of down to 9 ⋅ 10 − 10 m H z − 1 for the former and 2 ⋅ 10 − 11 m H z − 1 for the latter. Combining the readout of the suspended inertial member (IM) with environmental sensor signals, the system is characterized, and limiting noise sources are identified. We find that, in particular, the coupling of ambient seismic motion is limiting over a broad frequency range and show that due to its high susceptibility to ground motion, our TB is also a promising platform for exploring ground motion sensing in multiple degrees of freedom. Future upgrades will focus on mitigating seismic noise by controlling the torsion fiber suspension point using piezoelectric actuators and the integration of precision interferometric readout of the IM. These improvements will further increase the sensitivity towards the thermal noise limit which constrains the performance to 1 ⋅ 10 − 13 m s − 2 H z − 1 at 4 m H z .
Keywords
- capacitive readout, inertial sensing, optical lever, seismic sensing, torsion balance
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physics and Astronomy(all)
- Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous)
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In: Classical and quantum gravity, Vol. 41, No. 7, 075005, 05.03.2024.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - A torsion balance as a weak-force testbed for novel optical inertial sensors
AU - Bergmann, Gerald
AU - Cordes, Carolin
AU - Gentemann, Christoph
AU - Händchen, Vitus
AU - Qinglan, Wang
AU - Yan, Hao
AU - Danzmann, Karsten
AU - Heinzel, Gerhard
AU - Mehmet, Moritz
N1 - Funding Information: The authors acknowledge funding and support by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) - Project-ID 434617780 - SFB 1464, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) - Project-ID 239994235 - SFB 1128, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) under Germany’s Excellence Strategy—EXC-2123 QuantumFrontiers - 390837967, and the Max Planck Society (MPG) in the framework of the LEGACY cooperation on low-frequency gravitational wave astronomy (M.IF.A.QOP18098).
PY - 2024/3/5
Y1 - 2024/3/5
N2 - Torsion balances (TBs) are versatile instruments known for their ability to measure tiny forces and accelerations with high precision. We are currently commissioning a new TB facility to support the development and testing of novel optical inertial sensor units for future gravity-related space missions. Here, we report on the status of our apparatus and present first sensitivity curves that demonstrate acceleration and torque sensitivities of 5 ⋅ 10 − 11 m s − 2 and 1 ⋅ 10 − 12 N m H z − 1 at frequencies around 4 m H z , respectively. Capacitive sensors and optical levers measure the dynamics of the system with a displacement sensitivity of down to 9 ⋅ 10 − 10 m H z − 1 for the former and 2 ⋅ 10 − 11 m H z − 1 for the latter. Combining the readout of the suspended inertial member (IM) with environmental sensor signals, the system is characterized, and limiting noise sources are identified. We find that, in particular, the coupling of ambient seismic motion is limiting over a broad frequency range and show that due to its high susceptibility to ground motion, our TB is also a promising platform for exploring ground motion sensing in multiple degrees of freedom. Future upgrades will focus on mitigating seismic noise by controlling the torsion fiber suspension point using piezoelectric actuators and the integration of precision interferometric readout of the IM. These improvements will further increase the sensitivity towards the thermal noise limit which constrains the performance to 1 ⋅ 10 − 13 m s − 2 H z − 1 at 4 m H z .
AB - Torsion balances (TBs) are versatile instruments known for their ability to measure tiny forces and accelerations with high precision. We are currently commissioning a new TB facility to support the development and testing of novel optical inertial sensor units for future gravity-related space missions. Here, we report on the status of our apparatus and present first sensitivity curves that demonstrate acceleration and torque sensitivities of 5 ⋅ 10 − 11 m s − 2 and 1 ⋅ 10 − 12 N m H z − 1 at frequencies around 4 m H z , respectively. Capacitive sensors and optical levers measure the dynamics of the system with a displacement sensitivity of down to 9 ⋅ 10 − 10 m H z − 1 for the former and 2 ⋅ 10 − 11 m H z − 1 for the latter. Combining the readout of the suspended inertial member (IM) with environmental sensor signals, the system is characterized, and limiting noise sources are identified. We find that, in particular, the coupling of ambient seismic motion is limiting over a broad frequency range and show that due to its high susceptibility to ground motion, our TB is also a promising platform for exploring ground motion sensing in multiple degrees of freedom. Future upgrades will focus on mitigating seismic noise by controlling the torsion fiber suspension point using piezoelectric actuators and the integration of precision interferometric readout of the IM. These improvements will further increase the sensitivity towards the thermal noise limit which constrains the performance to 1 ⋅ 10 − 13 m s − 2 H z − 1 at 4 m H z .
KW - capacitive readout
KW - inertial sensing
KW - optical lever
KW - seismic sensing
KW - torsion balance
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85187490520&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1088/1361-6382/ad29e8
DO - 10.1088/1361-6382/ad29e8
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85187490520
VL - 41
JO - Classical and quantum gravity
JF - Classical and quantum gravity
SN - 0264-9381
IS - 7
M1 - 075005
ER -