Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 171101 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Physical review letters |
| Volume | 118 |
| Issue number | 17 |
| Publication status | Published - 26 Apr 2017 |
Abstract
We report on electrostatic measurements made on board the European Space Agency mission LISA Pathfinder. Detailed measurements of the charge-induced electrostatic forces exerted on free-falling test masses (TMs) inside the capacitive gravitational reference sensor are the first made in a relevant environment for a space-based gravitational wave detector. Employing a combination of charge control and electric-field compensation, we show that the level of charge-induced acceleration noise on a single TM can be maintained at a level close to 1.0 fm s-2 Hz-1/2 across the 0.1-100 mHz frequency band that is crucial to an observatory such as the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA). Using dedicated measurements that detect these effects in the differential acceleration between the two test masses, we resolve the stochastic nature of the TM charge buildup due to interplanetary cosmic rays and the TM charge-to-force coupling through stray electric fields in the sensor. All our measurements are in good agreement with predictions based on a relatively simple electrostatic model of the LISA Pathfinder instrument.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physics and Astronomy(all)
- General Physics and Astronomy
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In: Physical review letters, Vol. 118, No. 17, 171101, 26.04.2017.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Charge-Induced Force Noise on Free-Falling Test Masses: Results from LISA Pathfinder
AU - LISA Pathfinder Collaboration
AU - Armano, M.
AU - Audley, H.
AU - Auger, G.
AU - Baird, J. T.
AU - Binetruy, P.
AU - Born, M.
AU - Bortoluzzi, D.
AU - Brandt, N.
AU - Bursi, A.
AU - Caleno, M.
AU - Cavalleri, A.
AU - Cesarini, A.
AU - Cruise, M.
AU - Danzmann, K.
AU - De Deus Silva, M.
AU - Diepholz, I.
AU - Dolesi, R.
AU - Dunbar, N.
AU - Ferraioli, L.
AU - Ferroni, V.
AU - Fitzsimons, E. D.
AU - Flatscher, R.
AU - Freschi, M.
AU - Gallegos, J.
AU - García Marirrodriga, C.
AU - Gerndt, R.
AU - Gesa, L.
AU - Gibert, F.
AU - Giardini, D.
AU - Giusteri, R.
AU - Grimani, C.
AU - Grzymisch, J.
AU - Harrison, I.
AU - Heinzel, G.
AU - Hewitson, M.
AU - Hollington, D.
AU - Hueller, M.
AU - Huesler, J.
AU - Inchauspé, H.
AU - Jennrich, O.
AU - Jetzer, P.
AU - Johlander, B.
AU - Karnesis, N.
AU - Kaune, B.
AU - Killow, C. J.
AU - Korsakova, N.
AU - Lloro, I.
AU - Liu, L.
AU - López-zaragoza, J. P.
AU - Maarschalkerweerd, R.
AU - Paczkowski, S.
AU - Wanner, Gudrun
AU - Wittchen, A.
AU - Zweifel, Philipp
AU - Reiche, Jens
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2017 American Physical Society.
PY - 2017/4/26
Y1 - 2017/4/26
N2 - We report on electrostatic measurements made on board the European Space Agency mission LISA Pathfinder. Detailed measurements of the charge-induced electrostatic forces exerted on free-falling test masses (TMs) inside the capacitive gravitational reference sensor are the first made in a relevant environment for a space-based gravitational wave detector. Employing a combination of charge control and electric-field compensation, we show that the level of charge-induced acceleration noise on a single TM can be maintained at a level close to 1.0 fm s-2 Hz-1/2 across the 0.1-100 mHz frequency band that is crucial to an observatory such as the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA). Using dedicated measurements that detect these effects in the differential acceleration between the two test masses, we resolve the stochastic nature of the TM charge buildup due to interplanetary cosmic rays and the TM charge-to-force coupling through stray electric fields in the sensor. All our measurements are in good agreement with predictions based on a relatively simple electrostatic model of the LISA Pathfinder instrument.
AB - We report on electrostatic measurements made on board the European Space Agency mission LISA Pathfinder. Detailed measurements of the charge-induced electrostatic forces exerted on free-falling test masses (TMs) inside the capacitive gravitational reference sensor are the first made in a relevant environment for a space-based gravitational wave detector. Employing a combination of charge control and electric-field compensation, we show that the level of charge-induced acceleration noise on a single TM can be maintained at a level close to 1.0 fm s-2 Hz-1/2 across the 0.1-100 mHz frequency band that is crucial to an observatory such as the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA). Using dedicated measurements that detect these effects in the differential acceleration between the two test masses, we resolve the stochastic nature of the TM charge buildup due to interplanetary cosmic rays and the TM charge-to-force coupling through stray electric fields in the sensor. All our measurements are in good agreement with predictions based on a relatively simple electrostatic model of the LISA Pathfinder instrument.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85018281156&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1103/PhysRevLett.118.171101
DO - 10.1103/PhysRevLett.118.171101
M3 - Article
VL - 118
JO - Physical review letters
JF - Physical review letters
SN - 0031-9007
IS - 17
M1 - 171101
ER -