Sensor noise in LISA Pathfinder: in-flight performance of the optical test mass readout

Armano, M. et al. (2021) Sensor noise in LISA Pathfinder: in-flight performance of the optical test mass readout. Physical Review Letters, 126(13), 131103. (doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.126.131103)

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 + 2.4 − 1.7     fm / √ 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 200 mHz.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Perreur-Lloyd, Mr Michael and Killow, Dr Christian and Ward, Professor Henry and Robertson, Dr David
• Authors: Armano, M., Audley, H., Baird, J., Binetruy, P., Born, M., Bortoluzzi, D., Brandt, N., Castelli, E., Cavalleri, A., Cesarini, A., Cruise, A. M., Danzmann, K., de Deus Silva, M., Diepholz, I., Dixon, G., Dolesi, R., Ferraioli, L., Ferroni, V., Fitzsimons, E. D., Flatscher, R., Freschi, M., García, A., Gerndt, R., Gesa, L., Giardini, D., Gibert, F., Giusteri, R., Grimani, C., Grzymisch, J., Guzman, F., Harrison, I., Hartig, M.-S., Heinzel, G., Hewitson, M., Hollington, D., Hoyland, D., Hueller, M., Inchauspé, H., Jennrich, O., Jetzer, P., Johann, U., Johlander, B., Karnesis, N., Kaune, B., Killow, C.J., Korsakova, N., Lobo, J. A., Liu, L., López-Zaragoza, J. P., Maarschalkerweerd, R., Mance, D., Martín, V., Martin-Polo, L., Martin-Porqueras, F., Martino, J., McNamara, P. W., Mendes, J., Mendes, L., Meshksar, N., Monsky, A., Nofrarias, M., Paczkowski, S., Perreur-Lloyd, M., Petiteau, A., Pivato, P., Plagnol, E., Ramos-Castro, J., Reiche, J., Rivas, F., Robertson, D.I., Russano, G., Sanjuan, J., Slutsky, J., Sopuerta, C. F., Steier, F., Sumner, T., Texier, D., Thorpe, J. I., Vetrugno, D., Vitale, S., Wand, V., Wanner, G., Ward, H., Wass, P. J., Weber, W. J., Wissel, L., Wittchen, A., and Zweifel, P.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy
• Research Centre: College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy > Institute for Gravitational Research
• Journal Name: Physical Review Letters
• Publisher: American Physical Society
• ISSN: 0031-9007
• ISSN (Online): 1079-7114
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2021 The American Physical Society
• First Published: First published in Physical Review Letters 126(13): 131103
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License