A measurement of noise created by fluctuating electrostatic charges on dielectric surfaces using a torsion balance

Campsie, P., Hough, J. , Rowan, S. and Hammond, G. (2014) A measurement of noise created by fluctuating electrostatic charges on dielectric surfaces using a torsion balance. Classical and Quantum Gravity, 31(17), 175007. (doi: 10.1088/0264-9381/31/17/175007)

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Abstract

Future gravitational wave detectors could have their sensitivity significantly limited, at frequencies below 10 Hz, by the presence of fluctuating electrostatic charges on the dielectric surfaces of the detector optics. A confirmed observation of the effect of fluctuating charges, or charging noise, in a gravitational wave detector has still to be made and it has never been experimentally verified by any other means. This paper presents a direct measurement of the fluctuating force noise created by moving charges on a dielectric surface using a servo controlled torsion balance. The results confirm that the fluctuating force noise caused by excess charges can be best described by a Markov process with a single correlation time and has a frequency dependence of f<sup>-1</sup>

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Hammond, Professor Giles and Rowan, Professor Sheila and Hough, Professor James and Campsie, Mr Paul
Authors: Campsie, P., Hough, J., Rowan, S., and Hammond, G.
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:Classical and Quantum Gravity
Publisher:IOP Publishing
ISSN:0264-9381
ISSN (Online):1361-6382
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2014 IOP Publishing Ltd
First Published:First published in Classical and Quantum Gravity 31(17):175007
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher.

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