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Sensor Noise in LISA Pathfinder: In-Flight Performance of the Optical Test Mass Readout
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.
Discriminating a gravitational wave background from instrumental noise using time-delay interferometry
The first in-flight Doppler tracking measurements performed by LISA will be used to asess its detector performance.
Comparing Laser Interferometry and Atom Interferometry Approaches to Space-Based Gravitational-Wave Measurement
Thoroughly studied classic space-based gravitational-wave missions concepts such as the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) are based on laser-interferometry techniques. Ongoing developments in atom-interferometry techniques have spurred recently proposed alternative mission concepts. These different approaches can be understood on a common footing. We present an comparative analysis of how each type of instrument responds to some of the noise sources which may limiting gravitational-wave mission concepts. Sensitivity to laser frequency instability is essentially the same for either approach. Spacecraft acceleration reference stability sensitivities are different, allowing smaller spacecraft separations in the atom interferometry approach, but acceleration noise requirements are nonetheless similar. Each approach has distinct additional measurement noise issues.
Interspacecraft Laser Interferometry on the Path to a Gravitational Wave Observatory in Space: The LISA and GRACE Follow-On Missions
No abstract available
Nano-Newton Electrostatic Force Actuators for Femto-Newton-Sensitive Measurements: System Performance Test in the LISA Pathfinder Mission
Electrostatic force actuation is a key component of the system of geodesic reference test masses (TM) for the LISA orbiting gravitational wave observatory and in particular for performance at low frequencies, below 1 mHz, where the observatory sensitivity is limited by stray force noise. The system needs to apply forces of order 10 −9 N while limiting fluctuations in the measurement band to levels approaching 10 −15 N=Hz 1/2 . We present here the LISA actuation system design, based on audio-frequency voltage carrier signals, and results of its in-flight performance test with the LISA Pathfinder test mission. In LISA, TM force actuation is used to align the otherwise free-falling TM to the spacecraft-mounted optical metrology system, without any forcing along the critical gravitational wave-sensitive interferometry axes. In LISA Pathfinder, on the other hand, the actuation was used also to stabilize the TM along the critical x axis joining the two TM, with the commanded actuation force entering directly into the mission’s main differential acceleration science observable. The mission allowed demonstration of the full compatibility of the electrostatic actuation system with the LISA observatory requirements, including dedicated measurement campaigns to amplify, isolate, and quantify the two main force noise contributions from the actuation system, from actuator gain noise and from low frequency “in band” voltage fluctuations. These campaigns have shown actuation force noise to be a relevant, but not dominant, noise source in LISA Pathfinder and have allowed performance projections for the conditions expected in the LISA mission.
Four lunar astronomical observatories - Concepts developed in the NASA 90-day study for the Human Exploration Initiative
A number of astrophysical observatory concepts were studied under the overall direction of the NASA Astrophysics Division in support of NASA's 90-day study of the Human Exploration Initiative. The four observatory concepts described here were investigated at JPL. In three of them, interferometric techniques would be used to acquire high resolution synthetic aperture images in several different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum: in the UV/visible near infrared; the submillimeter; and the very low frequency (1 to 30 MHz region). The fourth is a gravitational wave detector which uses laser optical interferometry to measure the strains induced by the passage of a gravitational wave. The observatory concepts reflect the constraints on lunar surface science deployment anticipated for the Human Exploration Initiative in the period 2002 through 2015.
Discriminating a gravitational-wave background from intrumental noise using time-delay interferometry
The first in-flight Doppler tracking measurements performed by LISA will be used to assess its detector performance.
Solar gravitational deflection of radio waves measured by very-long-baseline interferometry
Utilizing a four-antenna technique, simultaneous observations were made, at each end of an 845-km baseline, of the radio sources 3C279 and 3C273B, which are 10 deg apart in the sky. Differences in interferometric phases at 3.7-cm wavelength monitored near the time of the 1972 occultation of 3C279 by the sun, yielded a gravitational deflection of 0.99 plus or minus 0.03 times the value predicted by general relativity, corresponding to gamma = 0.98 plus or minus 0.06 (standard error).
Unequal-Arm Interferometry and Ranging in Space
Space-borne interferometric gravitational wave detectors, sensitive in the low-frequency (millihertz) band, will fly in the next decade. In these detectors the spacecraft-to-spacecraft light-traveltimes will necessarily be unequal, time-varying, and (due to aberration) have different time delays on up- and down-links. By using knowledge of the inter-spacecraft light-travel-times and their time evolution it is possible to cancel in post-processing the otherwise dominant laser phase noise and obtain a variety of interferometric data combinations sensitive to gravitational radiation. This technique, which has been named Time-Delay Interferometry (TDI), can be implemented with constellations of three or more formation-flying spacecraft that coherently track each other. As an example application we consider the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) mission and show that TDI combinations can be synthesized by properly time-shifting and linearly combining the phase measurements performed on board the three spacecraft. Since TDI exactly suppresses the laser noises when the delays coincide with the light-travel-times, we then show that TDI can also be used for estimating the time-delays needed for its implementation. This is done by performing a post-processing non-linear minimization procedure, which provides an effective, powerful, and simple way for making measurements of the inter-spacecraft light-travel-times. This processing technique, named Time-Delay Interferometric Ranging (TDIR), is highly accurate in estimating the time-delays and allows TDI to be successfully implemented without the need of a dedicated ranging subsystem.
Nominal frequency allocation plan for LISA
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The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna Mission
The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) mission is designed to detect and study low-frequency gravitational radiation.
A LISA Interferometry Primer
A key challenge for all gravitational wave detectors in the detection of changes in the fractional difference between pairs of test masses with sufficient precision to measure astrophysical strains with amplitudes on the order of approx.10(exp -21). ln the case of the five million km arms of LISA, this equates to distance measurements on the ten picometer level. LISA interferometry utilizes a decentralized topology, in which each of the sciencecraft houses its own light sources, detectors, and electronics. The measurements made at each of the sciencecraft are then telemetered to ground and combined to extract the strain experienced by the constellation as a whole. I will present an overview of LISA interferometry and highlight some of the key components and technologies that make it possible.
Analysis of the Capability and Limitations of Relativistic Gravity Measurements Using Radio Astronomy Methods
The uses of radar observations of planets and very-long-baseline radio interferometric observations of extragalactic objects to test theories of gravitation are described in detail with special emphasis on sources of error. The accuracy achievable in these tests with data already obtained, can be summarized in terms of: retardation of signal propagation (radar), deflection of radio waves (interferometry), advance of planetary perihelia (radar), gravitational quadrupole moment of sun (radar), and time variation of gravitational constant (radar). The analyses completed to date have yielded no significant disagreement with the predictions of general relativity.
Collinear Three-Photon Excitation of a Strongly Forbidden Optical Clock Transition
The 1 𝑆 0 − 3 𝑃 0 clock transition in strontium serves as the foundation for the world’s best atomic clocks and for gravitational wave detector concepts in clock atom interferometry. This transition is weakly allowed in the fermionic isotope 87 Sr but strongly forbidden in bosonic isotopes. Here, we demonstrate coherent excitation of the clock transition in bosonic 88 Sr using a novel collinear three-photon process in a weak magnetic field. We observe Rabi oscillations with frequencies of up to 50 kHz using W/cm 2 laser intensities and Gauss-level magnetic field amplitudes. The absence of nuclear spin in bosonic isotopes offers decreased sensitivity to magnetic fields and optical lattice light shifts, enabling atomic clocks with reduced systematic errors. The collinear propagation of the laser fields permits the interrogation of spatially separated atomic ensembles with common laser pulses, a key requirement for dark matter searches and gravitational wave detection with next-generation quantum sensors.
Interferometry for Elite
The purpose of interferometry in the ELITE mission is to measure the differential displacement between the two inertial sensors mounted in the spacecraft.
Sythnetic LISA: simulating time delay inteferometry in a model LISA
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Atom Interferometry for Fundamental Physics and Gravity Measurements in Space
Laser-cooled atoms are used as freefall test masses. The gravitational acceleration on atoms is measured by atom-wave interferometry. The fundamental concept behind atom interferometry is the quantum mechanical particle-wave duality. One can exploit the wave-like nature of atoms to construct an atom interferometer based on matter waves analogous to laser interferometers.