Stable mounting of beamsplitters for an interferometer

van Veggel, A.-M. and Nijmeijer, H. (2009) Stable mounting of beamsplitters for an interferometer. Precision Engineering, 33(1), pp. 7-17. (doi: 10.1016/j.precisioneng.2008.03.002)

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Publisher's URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.precisioneng.2008.03.002

Abstract

The Basic Angle Monitoring (BAM) system for satellite GAIA (2012-2018) will measure variation on the angle between the lines-of-sight between two telescopes with 2.5 prad uncertainty. It is a laser-interferometer system consisting of two optical benches with a number of mirrors and beamsplitters. The optical components need to be stable with respect to each other within 0.17 pm in position and 60 nrad in angle during measurements over a period of 6 h with 0.1 mK thermal stability. This paper aims at finding the most suitable mounting plane of the fused silica beamsplitters mounted onto the silicon carbide optical bench in the BAM system. These beamsplitters must be clamped mechanically. Based on a force stability analysis, mounting in the plane of light is a more stable solution than mounting on the reflective surface. However, when making a conceptual design the difficulty is making a design which has sufficient alignment stability to survive launch vibrations and a cool-down trajectory is more difficult

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:van Veggel, Dr Marielle
Authors: van Veggel, A.-M., and Nijmeijer, H.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy
Journal Name:Precision Engineering
Publisher:Elsevier
ISSN:0141-6359

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Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
459312Investigations in Gravitational Radiation.Sheila RowanScience & Technologies Facilities Council (STFC)ST/I001085/1Physics and Astronomy