Analysis of the accuracy of actuation electronics in the laser interferometer space antenna pathfinder

Armano, M. et al. (2020) Analysis of the accuracy of actuation electronics in the laser interferometer space antenna pathfinder. Review of Scientific Instruments, 91(4), 045003. (doi: 10.1063/1.5140406)

Abstract

The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna Pathfinder (LPF) main observable, labeled Δg, is the differential force per unit mass acting on the two test masses under free fall conditions after the contribution of all non-gravitational forces has been compensated. At low frequencies, the differential force is compensated by an applied electrostatic actuation force, which then must be subtracted from the measured acceleration to obtain Δg. Any inaccuracy in the actuation force contaminates the residual acceleration. This study investigates the accuracy of the electrostatic actuation system and its impact on the LPF main observable. It is shown that the inaccuracy is mainly caused by the rounding errors in the waveform processing and also by the random error caused by the analog to digital converter random noise in the control loop. Both errors are one order of magnitude smaller than the resolution of the commanded voltages. We developed a simulator based on the LPF design to compute the close-to-reality actuation voltages and, consequently, the resulting actuation forces. The simulator is applied during post-processing the LPF data.

• 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., Born, M., Bortoluzzi, D., Cardines, N., Castelli, E., Cavalleri, A., Cesarini, A., Cruise, A. M., Danzmann, K., de Deus Silva, M., Dixon, G., Dolesi, R., Ferraioli, L., Ferroni, V., Fitzsimons, E. D., Freschi, M., Gesa, L., Giardini, D., Gibert, F., Giusteri, R., Grimani, C., Grzymisch, J., Harrison, I., Hartig, M.-S., Heinzel, G., Hewitson, M., Hollington, D., Hoyland, D., Hueller, M., Inchauspé, H., Jennrich, O., Jetzer, P., Karnesis, N., Kaune, B., Killow, C. J., Korsakova, N., López-Zaragoza, J. P., Maarschalkerweerd, R., Mance, D., Martín, V., Martin-Polo, L., Martino, J., Martin-Porqueras, F., Mateos, I., McNamara, P. W., Mendes, J., Mendes, L., Meshksar, N., 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., Slutsky, J., Sopuerta, C. F., Sumner, T., Texier, D., ten Pierick, J., Thorpe, J. I., Vetrugno, D., Vitale, S., 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: Review of Scientific Instruments
• Publisher: AIP Publishing
• ISSN: 0034-6748
• ISSN (Online): 1089-7623
• Published Online: 09 April 2020
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2020 AIP Publishing
• First Published: First published in Review of Scientific Instruments 91(4): 045003
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy