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130 results on '"Maarschalkerweerd, R."'

1. Tilt-to-length coupling in LISA Pathfinder: long-term stability

Author

Armano, M, Audley, H, Baird, J, Binetruy, P, Born, M, Bortoluzzi, D, Castelli, E, Cavalleri, A, Cesarini, A, Cruise, A M, Danzmann, K, Silva, M de Deus, Diepholz, I, 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, Johann, U, Johlander, B, Karnesis, N, Kaune, B, Killow, C J, Korsakova, N, Lobo, J A, 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, Nofrarias, M, Paczkowski, S, Perreur-Lloyd, M, Petiteau, A, Plagnol, E, Ramos-Castro, J, Reiche, J, Rivas, F, Robertson, D I, Russano, G, Sanjuan, J, Slutsky, J, Sopuerta, C F, Sumner, T, Texier, D, Thorpe, J I, Vetrugno, D, Vitale, S, Wanner, G, Ward, H, Wass, P J, Weber, W J, Wissel, L, Wittchen, A, and Zweifel, P

Subjects
Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
Abstract

The tilt-to-length coupling during the LISA Pathfinder mission has been numerically and analytically modeled for particular timespans. In this work, we investigate the long-term stability of the coupling coefficients of this noise. We show that they drifted slowly (by 1\,$\mu$m/rad and 6$\times10^{-6}$ in 100 days) and strongly correlated to temperature changes within the satellite (8\,$\mu$m/rad/K and 30$\times10^{-6}$/K). Based on analytical TTL coupling models, we attribute the temperature-driven coupling changes to rotations of the test masses and small distortions in the optical setup. Particularly, we show that LISA Pathfinder's optical baseplate was bent during the cooldown experiment, which started in late 2016 and lasted several months.

Published
2024
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2. Precision measurements of the magnetic parameters of LISA Pathfinder test masses

Author

Armano, M, Audley, H, Baird, J, Binetruy, P, Born, M, Bortoluzzi, D, Castelli, E, Cavalleri, A, Cesarini, A, Cruise, A M, Danzmann, K, Silva, M De Deus, Diepholz, I, 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, Korsakova, N, Killow, C J, Liu, L, Lobo, J A, López-Zaragoza, J P, Maarschalkerweerd, R, Mance, D, Martín, V, Martino, J, Martin-Polo, L, Martin-Porqueras, F, 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, Serrano, D, Slutsky, J, Sopuerta, C F, Sumner, T, Texier, D, Thorpe, J I, Vetrugno, D, Vitale, S, Wanner, G, Ward, H, Wass, P, Weber, W J, Wissel, L, Wittchen, A, and Zweifel, P

Subjects
Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics, General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
Abstract

A precise characterization of the magnetic properties of LISA Pathfinder free falling test-masses is of special interest for future gravitational wave observatory in space. Magnetic forces have an important impact on the instrument sensitivity in the low frequency regime below the millihertz. In this paper we report on the magnetic injection experiments performed throughout LISA Pathfinder operations. We show how these experiments allowed a high precision estimate of the instrument magnetic parameters. The remanent magnetic moment was found to have a modulus of $(0.245\pm0.081)\,\rm{nAm}^2$, the x-component of the background magnetic field within the test masses position was measured to be $(414 \pm 74)$ nT and its gradient had a value of $(-7.4\pm 2.1)\,\mu$T/m. Finally, we also measured the test mass magnetic susceptibility to be $(-3.35\pm0.15)\times$10$^{-5}$ in the low frequency regime. All results are in agreement with on-ground estimates.

Published
2024

3. Magnetic-induced force noise in LISA Pathfinder free-falling test masses

Author

Armano, M, Audley, H, Baird, J, Binetruy, P, Born, M, Bortoluzzi, D, Castelli, E, Cavalleri, A, Cesarini, A, Cruise, A M, Danzmann, K, Silva, M De Deus, Diepholz, I, 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, Korsakova, N, Killow, C J, Liu, L, Lobo, J A, López-Zaragoza, J P, Maarschalkerweerd, R, Mance, D, Martín, V, Martino, J, Martin-Polo, L, Martin-Porqueras, F, 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, Serrano, D, Slutsky, J, Sopuerta, C F, Sumner, T, Texier, D, Thorpe, J I, Vetrugno, D, Vitale, S, Wanner, G, Ward, H, Wass, P, Weber, W J, Wissel, L, Wittchen, A, and Zweifel, P

Subjects
Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics, General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
Abstract

LISA Pathfinder was a mission designed to test key technologies required for gravitational wave detection in space. Magnetically driven forces play a key role in the instrument sensitivity in the low-frequency regime, which corresponds to the measurement band of interest for future space-borne gravitational wave observatories. Magnetic-induced forces couple to the test mass motion, introducing a contribution to the relative acceleration noise between the free falling test masses. In this Letter we present the first complete estimate of this term of the instrument performance model. Our results set the magnetic-induced acceleration noise during the February 2017 noise run of $\rm 0.25_{-0.08}^{+0.15}\,fm\,s^{-2}/\sqrt{Hz}$ at 1 mHz and $\rm 1.01_{-0.24}^{+0.73}\, fm\,s^{-2}/\sqrt{Hz}$ at 0.1 mHz. We also discuss how the non-stationarities of the interplanetary magnetic field can affect these values during extreme space weather conditions.

Published
2024

4. In-depth analysis of LISA Pathfinder performance results: Time evolution, noise projection, physical models, and implications for LISA

Author

Armano, M., Audley, H., Baird, J., Binetruy, P., Born, M., Bortoluzzi, D., Castelli, E., Cavalleri, A., Cesarini, A., Chiavegato, V., Cruise, A. M., Bosco, D. Dal, Danzmann, K., Silva, M. De Deus, Diepholz, I., 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., Johlander, B., Karnesis, N., Kaune, B., Korsakova, N., Killow, C. J., Lobo, J. A., Lopez-Zaragoza, J. P., Maarschalkerweerd, R., Mance, D., Martın, V., Martin-Polo, L., Martin-Porqueras, F., Martino, J., McNamara, P. W., Mendes, J., Mendes, L., Meshksar, N., Nofrarias, M., Paczkowski, S., Perreur-Lloyd, M., Petiteau, A., Plagnol, E., Ramos-Castro, J., Reiche, J., Rivas, F., Robertson, D. I., Russano, G., Sala, L., Slutsky, J., Sopuerta, C. F., Sumner, T., Texier, D., Thorpe, J. I., Vetrugno, D., Vitale, S., Wanner, G., Ward, H., Wass, P., Weber, W. J., Wissel, L., Wittchen, A., Zanoni, C., and Zweifel, P.

Subjects
Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
Abstract

We present an in-depth analysis of the LISA Pathfinder differential acceleration performance over the entire course of its science operations, spanning approximately 500 days. We find that: 1) the evolution of the Brownian noise that dominates the acceleration amplitude spectral density (ASD), for frequencies $f\gtrsim 1\,\text{mHz}$, is consistent with the decaying pressure due to the outgassing of a single gaseous species. 2) between $f=36\,\mu\text{Hz}$ and $1\,\text{mHz}$, the acceleration ASD shows a $1/f$ tail in excess of the Brownian noise of almost constant amplitude, with $\simeq 20\%$ fluctuations over a period of a few days, with no particular time pattern over the course of the mission; 3) at the lowest considered frequency of $f=18\,\mu\text{Hz}$, the ASD significantly deviates from the $1/f$ behavior, because of temperature fluctuations that appear to modulate a quasi-static pressure gradient, sustained by the asymmetries of the outgassing pattern. We also present the results of a projection of the observed acceleration noise on the potential sources for which we had either a direct correlation measurement, or a quantitative estimate from dedicated experiments. These sources account for approximately $40\%$ of the noise power in the $1/f$ tail. Finally, we analyze the possible sources of the remaining unexplained fraction, and identify the possible measures that may be taken to keep those under control in LISA.

Published
2024
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5. NanoNewton electrostatic force actuators for femtoNewton-sensitive measurements: system performance test in the LISA Pathfinder mission

Author

Armano, M, Audley, H, Baird, J, Bassan, M, Binetruy, P, Born, M, Bortoluzzi, D, Castelli, E, Cavalleri, A, Cesarini, A, Chiavegato, V, Cruise, A M, Bosco, D Dal, Danzmann, K, Silva, M De Deus, De Rosa, R, Di Fiore, L, Diepholz, I, Dixon, G, Dolesi, R, Ferroni, L Ferraioli V, Fitzsimons, E D, Freschi, M, Gesa, L, Giardini, D, Gibert, F, Giusteri, R, Grado, A, 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, Johlander, B, Karnesis, N, Kaune, B, Korsakova, N, Killow, C J, Liu, L, Lobo, J A, 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, Moerschell, J, Nofrarias, M, Paczkowski, S, Perreur-Lloyd, M, Petiteau, A, Plagnol, E, Praplan, C, Ramos-Castro, J, Reiche, J, Rivas, F, Robertson, D I, Russano, G, Sala, L, Sarra, P, Schule-Walewski, S L, Slutsky, J, Sopuerta, C F, Stanga, R, Sumner, T, Pierick, J ten, Texier, D, Thorpe, J I, Vetrugno, D, Vitale, S, Wanner, G, Ward, H, Wass, P, Weber, W J, Wissel, L, Wittchen, A, Zanoni, C, and Zweifel, P

Subjects
Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics, General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
Abstract

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.

Published
2023

6. Tilt-to-length coupling in LISA Pathfinder: a data analysis

Author

Armano, M, Audley, H, Baird, J, Binetruy, P, Born, M, Bortoluzzi, D, Castelli, E, Cavalleri, A, Cesarini, A, Cruise, A M, Danzmann, K, Silva, M de Deus, Diepholz, I, 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, Johann, U, Johlander, B, Karnesis, N, Kaune, B, Killow, C J, Korsakova, N, Lobo, J A, 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, Nofrarias, M, Paczkowski, S, Perreur-Lloyd, M, Petiteau, A, Plagnol, E, Ramos-Castro, J, Reiche, J, Rivas, F, Robertson, D I, Russano, G, Sanjuan, J, Slutsky, J, Sopuerta, C F, Sumner, T, Tevlin, L, Texier, D, Thorpe, J I, Vetrugno, D, Vitale, S, Wanner, G, Ward, H, Wass, P J, Weber, W J, Wissel, L, Wittchen, A, and Zweifel, P

Subjects
Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
Abstract

We present a study of the tilt-to-length coupling noise during the LISA Pathfinder mission and how it depended on the system's alignment. Tilt-to-length coupling noise is the unwanted coupling of angular and lateral spacecraft or test mass motion into the primary interferometric displacement readout. It was one of the major noise sources in the LISA Pathfinder mission and is likewise expected to be a primary noise source in LISA. We demonstrate here that a recently derived and published analytical model describes the dependency of the LISA Pathfinder tilt-to-length coupling noise on the alignment of the two freely falling test masses. This was verified with the data taken before and after the realignments performed in March (engineering days) and June 2016, and during a two-day experiment in February 2017 (long cross-talk experiment). The latter was performed with the explicit goal of testing the tilt-to-length coupling noise dependency on the test mass alignment. Using the analytical model, we show that all realignments performed during the mission were only partially successful and explain the reasons why. In addition to the analytical model, we computed another physical tilt-to-length coupling model via a minimising routine making use of the long cross-talk experiment data. A similar approach could prove useful for the LISA mission.

Published
2023
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7. Charging of free-falling test masses in orbit due to cosmic rays: results from LISA Pathfinder

Author

LISA Pathfinder Collaboration, Armano, M., Audley, H., Baird, J., Binetruy, P., Born, M., Bortoluzzi, D., Castelli, E., Cesarini, A. Cavalleri A., Cruise, A. M, Danzmann, K., Silva, M. de Deus, Diepholz, I., 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., Lobo, J. A., López-Zaragoza, J. P., Maarschalkerweerd, R., Mance, D., Martín, V., Martino, J., Martin-Polo, L., Martin-Porqueras, F., McNamara, P. W., Mendes, J., Mendes, L., Meshksar, N., Nofrarias, M., Paczkowski, S., Perreur-Lloyd, M., Petiteau, A., Plagnol, E., Ramos-Castro, J., Reiche, J., Rivas, F., Robertson, D. I., Russano, G., Slutsky, J., Sopuerta, C. F., Sumner, T. J., Texier, D., Thorpe, J. I., Vetrugno, D., Vitale, S., Wanner, G., Ward, H., Wass, P. J., Weber, W. J., Wissel, L., Wittchen, A., and Zweifel, P.

Subjects
Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
Abstract

A comprehensive summary of the measurements made to characterize test mass charging due to the space environment during the LISA Pathfinder mission is presented. Measurements of the residual charge of the test mass after release by the grabbing and positioning mechanism, show that the initial charge of the test masses was negative after all releases, leaving the test mass with a potential in the range $-12$ mV to $-512$ mV. Variations in the neutral test mass charging rate between $21.7$ e s$^{-1}$ and $30.7$ e s$^{-1}$ were observed over the course of the 17-month science operations produced by cosmic ray flux changes including a Forbush decrease associated with a small solar energetic particle event. A dependence of the cosmic ray charging rate on the test mass potential between $-30.2$ e s$^{-1}$ V$^{-1}$ and $-40.3$ e s$^{-1}$ V$^{-1}$ was observed and this is attributed to a contribution to charging from low-energy electrons emitted from the gold surfaces of the gravitational reference sensor. Data from the on-board particle detector show a reliable correlation with the charging rate and with other environmental monitors of the cosmic ray flux. This correlation is exploited to extrapolate test mass charging rates to a 20-year period giving useful insight into the expected range of charging rate that may be observed in the LISA mission., Comment: 17 pages, 10 figures

Published
2022
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8. Spacecraft and interplanetary contributions to the magnetic environment on-board LISA Pathfinder

Author

Armano, M., Audley, H., Baird, J., Binetruy, P., Born, M., Bortoluzzi, D., Castelli, E., Cavalleri, A., Cesarini, A., Cruise, A. M., Danzmann, K., Silva, M. de Deus, Diepholz, I., Dixon, G., Dolesi, R., Ferraioli, L., Ferroni, V., Fitzsimons, E. D., Freschi, M., Gesa, L., Gibert, F., Giardini, D., 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., Korsakova, N., Killow, C. J., Lobo, J. A., Liu, L., 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., Roma-Dollase, D., Russano, G., Slutsky, J., Sopuerta, C. F., Sumner, T., Telloni, D., Texier, D., Thorpe, J. I., Trenkel, C., Vetrugno, D., Vitale, S., Wanner, G., Ward, H., Wass, P. J., Wealthy, D., Weber, W. J., Wissel, L., Wittchen, A., and Zweifel, P.

Subjects
Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
Abstract

LISA Pathfinder (LPF) has been a space-based mission designed to test new technologies that will be required for a gravitational wave observatory in space. Magnetically driven forces play a key role in the instrument sensitivity in the low-frequency regime (mHz and below), the measurement band of interest for a space-based observatory. The magnetic field can couple to the magnetic susceptibility and remanent magnetic moment from the test masses and disturb them from their geodesic movement. LISA Pathfinder carried on-board a dedicated magnetic measurement subsystem with noise levels of 10 $ \rm nT \ Hz^{-1/2}$ from 1 Hz down to 1 mHz. In this paper we report on the magnetic measurements throughout LISA Pathfinder operations. We characterise the magnetic environment within the spacecraft, study the time evolution of the magnetic field and its stability down to 20 $\mu$Hz, where we measure values around 200 $ \rm nT \ Hz^{-1/2}$ and identify two different frequency regimes, one related to the interplanetary magnetic field and the other to the magnetic field originating inside the spacecraft. Finally, we characterise the non-stationary component of the fluctuations of the magnetic field below the mHz and relate them to the dynamics of the solar wind., Comment: 16 pages, 17 figures. MNRAS LaTeX style file version 3.0

Published
2020
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9. LISA Pathfinder Performance Confirmed in an Open-Loop Configuration: Results from the Free-Fall Actuation Mode

Author

Armano, M., Audley, H., Baird, J., Binetruy, P., Born, M., Bortoluzzi, D., Castelli, E., Cavalleri, A., Cesarini, A., Cruise, A. M., Danzmann, K., Silva, M. de Deus, Diepholz, I., Dixon, G., Dolesi, R., Ferraioli, L., Ferroni, V., Fitzsimons, E. D., Freschi, M., Gesa, L., Gibert, F., Giardini, D., 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., Korsakova, N., Killow, C. J., Lobo, J. A., Liu, L., Llopez-Zaragoza, J. P., Maarschalkerweerd, R., Mance, D., Meshksar, N., Martìn, V., Martin-Polo, L., Martino, J., Martin-Porqueras, F., Mateos, I., McNamara, P. W., Mendes, J., Mendes, L., Nofrarias, M., Paczkowski, S., Perreur-Lloyd, M., Petiteau, A., Pivato, P., Plagnol, E., Ramos-Castro, J., Reiche, J., Robertson, D. I., Rivas, F., Russano, G., Slutsky, J., Sopuerta, C. F., Sumner, T., Texier, D., Thorpe, J. I., Vetrugno, D., Vitale, S., Wanner, G., Ward, H., Wass, P. J., Weber, W. J., Wissel, L., Wittchen, A., and Zweifel, P.

Subjects
Physics - Space Physics, Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
Abstract

We report on the results of the LISA Pathfinder (LPF) free-fall mode experiment, in which the control force needed to compensate the quasistatic differential force acting on two test masses is applied intermittently as a series of "impulse" forces lasting a few seconds and separated by roughly 350 s periods of true free fall. This represents an alternative to the normal LPF mode of operation in which this balancing force is applied continuously, with the advantage that the acceleration noise during free fall is measured in the absence of the actuation force, thus eliminating associated noise and force calibration errors. The differential acceleration noise measurement presented here with the free-fall mode agrees with noise measured with the continuous actuation scheme, representing an important and independent confirmation of the LPF result. An additional measurement with larger actuation forces also shows that the technique can be used to eliminate actuation noise when this is a dominant factor.

Published
2019
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10. Temperature stability in the sub-milliHertz band with LISA Pathfinder

Author

Armano, M., Audley, H., Baird, J., Binetruy, P., Born, M., Bortoluzzi, D., Castelli, E., Cavalleri, A., Cesarini, A., Cruise, A. M., Danzmann, K., Silva, M. de Deus, Diepholz, I., Dixon, G., Dolesi, R., Ferraioli, L., Ferroni, V., Fitzsimons, E. D., Freschi, M., Gesa, L., Gibert, F., Giardini, D., Giusteri, R., Grimani, C., Grzymisch, J., Harrison, I., Heinzel, G., Hewitson, M., Hollington, D., Hoyland, D., Hueller, M., Inchauspé, H., Jennrich, O., Jetzer, P., Karnesis, N., Kaune, B., Korsakova, N., Killow, C. J., Lobo, J. A., Lloro, I., Liu, L., López-Zaragoza, J. P., Maarschalkerweerd, R., Mance, D., Mansanet, C., 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., Robertson, D. I., Rivas, F., Russano, G., Sanjuán, J., Slutsky, J., Sopuerta, C. F., Sumner, T., Texier, D., Thorpe, J. I., Trenkel, C., Vetrugno, D., Vitale, S., Wanner, G., Ward, H., Wass, P. J., Wealthy, D., Weber, W. J., Wissel, L., Wittchen, A., and Zweifel, P.

Subjects
Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics, General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
Abstract

LISA Pathfinder (LPF) was a technology pioneering mission designed to test key technologies required for gravitational wave detection in space. In the low frequency regime (milli-Hertz and below), where space-based gravitational wave observatories will operate, temperature fluctuations play a crucial role since they can couple into the interferometric measurement and the test masses' free-fall accuracy in many ways. A dedicated temperature measurement subsystem, with noise levels in 10$\,\mu$K$\,$Hz$^{-1/2}$ down to $1\,$mHz was part of the diagnostics unit on board LPF. In this paper we report on the temperature measurements throughout mission operations, characterize the thermal environment, estimate transfer functions between different locations and report temperature stability (and its time evolution) at frequencies as low as 10$\,\mu$Hz, where typically values around $1\,$K$\,$Hz$^{-1/2}$ were measured., Comment: 13 pages, 16 figures. MNRAS LaTeX style file version 3.0

Published
2019
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11. Micrometeoroid Events in LISA Pathfinder

Author

Thorpe, James Ira, Slutsky, Jacob, Baker, John, Littenberg, Tyson, Hourihane, Sophie, Pagane, Nicole, Pokorny, Petr, Janches, Diego, Armano, Michele, Audley, Heather, Auger, G., Baird, Jonathan, Bassan, Massimo, Binetruy, Pierre, Born, Michael, Bortoluzzi, D., Brandt, N., Caleno, M., Cavalleri, A, Cesarini, A, Cruise, A. M., Danzmann, K., Silva, M. de Deus, De Rosa, R., Di Fiore, L., Diepholz, I., Dixon, G., Dolesi, R., Dunbar, N., Ferraioli, L., Ferroni, V., Fitzsimons, E., Flatscher, R., Freschi, M., Marirrodriga, C. Garcia, Gerndt, R., Gesa, L., Gibert, F., Giardini, D., Giusteri, R., Grado, A., Grimani, C., Gryzmisch, J., Harrison, I., Heinzel, G., Hewitson, M., Hollington, D., Hoyland, D., Hueller, M., Inchauspe, H., Jennrich, O., Jetzer, P., Johlander, B., Karnesis, N., Kaune, B., Korsakova, N., Killow, C., Lobo, J. A., Lloro, I., Liu, L., Lopez-Zaragoza, J. P., Maarschalkerweerd, R., Mance, D., Martin, V., Martin-Polo, L., Martino, J., Martin-Porqueras, F., Madden, S., Mateos, I., McNamara, P. W., Mendes, J., Mendes, L., Nofarias, M., Paczkowski, S., Perreur-Lloyd, M., Petiteau, A., Pivato, P., Plagnol, E., Prat, P., Ragnit, U., Ramos-Castro, J., Reiche, J., Robertson, D., Rozemeijer, H., Rivas, F., Russano, G., Sarra, P., Schleicher, A., Shaul, D., Soperta, C., Stanga, R., Sumner, T., Texier, D., Trobs, M., Vetrungno, D., Vitale, S., Wanner, G., Ward, H., Wass, P., Wealthy, D., Weber, W. J., Wissel, L., Wittchen, A., Zambotti, A., Zanoni, C., Ziegler, T., and Zweifel, P.

Subjects
Astrophysics - Earth and Planetary Astrophysics
Abstract

The zodiacal dust complex, a population of dust and small particles that pervades the Solar System, provides important insight into the formation and dynamics of planets, comets, asteroids, and other bodies. Here we present a new set of data obtained using a novel technique: direct measurements of momentum transfer to a spacecraft from individual particle impacts. This technique is made possible by the extreme precision of the instruments flown on the LISA Pathfinder spacecraft, a technology demonstrator for a future space-based gravitational wave observatory that operated near the first Sun-Earth Lagrange point from early 2016 through Summer of 2017. Using a simple model of the impacts and knowledge of the control system, we show that it is possible to detect impacts and measure properties such as the transferred momentum (related to the particle's mass and velocity), direction of travel, and location of impact on the spacecraft. In this paper, we present the results of a systematic search for impacts during 4348 hours of Pathfinder data. We report a total of 54 candidates with momenta ranging from 0.2$\,\mu\textrm{Ns}$ to 230$\,\mu\textrm{Ns}$. We furthermore make a comparison of these candidates with models of micrometeoroid populations in the inner solar system including those resulting from Jupiter-family comets, Oort-cloud comets, Hailey-type comets, and Asteroids. We find that our measured population is consistent with a population dominated by Jupiter-family comets with some evidence for a smaller contribution from Hailey-type comets. This is in agreement with consensus models of the zodiacal dust complex in the momentum range sampled by LISA Pathfinder., Comment: 22 pages, 14 figures, accepted in ApJ

Published
2019
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12. Forbush decreases and $<$ 2-day GCR flux non-recurrent variations studied with LISA Pathfinder

Author

Grimani, C., Armano, M., Audley, H., Baird, J., Benella, S., Binetruy, P., Born, M., Bortoluzzi, D., Castelli, E., Cavalleri, A., Cesarini, A., Cruise, A. M., Danzmann, K., Silva, M. de Deus, Diepholz, I., Dixon, G., Dolesi, R., Fabi, M., Ferraioli, L., Ferroni, V., Finetti, N., Fitzsimons, E. D., Freschi, M., Gesa, L., Gibert, F., Giardini, D., Giusteri, R., Grzymisch, J., Harrison, I., Heinzel, G., Hewitson, M., Hollington, D., Hoyland, D., Hueller, M., Inchauspé, H., Jennrich, O., Jetzer, P., Karnesis, N., Kaune, B., Korsakova, N., Killow, C. J., Kudela, K., Laurenza, M., Lobo, J. A., Lloro, I., Liu, L., López-Zaragoza, J. P., Maarschalkerweerd, R., Mance, D., Meshksar, N., Martín, V., Martin-Polo, L., Martino, J., Martin-Porqueras, F., Mateos, I., McNamara, P. W., Mendes, J., Mendes, L., Nofrarias, M., Paczkowski, S., Perreur-Lloyd, M., Petiteau, A., Pivato, P., Plagnol, E., Ramos-Castro, J., Reiche, J., Robertson, D. I., Rivas, F., Russano, G., Slutsky, J., Sopuerta, C. F., Sumner, T., Telloni, D., Texier, D., Thorpe, J. I., Vetrugno, D., Villani, M., Vitale, S., Wanner, G., Ward, H., Wass, P., Weber, W. J., Wissel, L., Wittchen, A., and Zweifel, P.

Subjects
Physics - Space Physics, Astrophysics - Earth and Planetary Astrophysics, Astrophysics - Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
Abstract

Non-recurrent short term variations of the galactic cosmic-ray (GCR) flux above 70 MeV n$^{-1}$ were observed between 2016 February 18 and 2017 July 3 aboard the European Space Agency LISA Pathfinder (LPF) mission orbiting around the Lagrange point L1 at 1.5$\times$10$^6$ km from Earth. The energy dependence of three Forbush decreases (FDs) is studied and reported here. A comparison of these observations with others carried out in space down to the energy of a few tens of MeV n$^{-1}$ shows that the same GCR flux parameterization applies to events of different intensity during the main phase. FD observations in L1 with LPF and geomagnetic storm occurrence is also presented. Finally, the characteristics of GCR flux non-recurrent variations (peaks and depressions) of duration $<$ 2 days and their association with interplanetary structures are investigated. It is found that, most likely, plasma compression regions between subsequent corotating high-speed streams cause peaks, while heliospheric current sheet crossing cause the majority of the depressions.

Published
2019
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14. Experimental results from the ST7 mission on LISA Pathfinder

Author

Anderson, G, Anderson, J, Anderson, M, Aveni, G, Bame, D, Barela, P, Blackman, K, Carmain, A, Chen, L, Cherng, M, Clark, S, Connally, M, Connolly, W, Conroy, D, Cooper, M, Cutler, C, D'Agostino, J, Demmons, N, Dorantes, E, Dunn, C, Duran, M, Ehrbar, E, Evans, J, Fernandez, J, Franklin, G, Girard, M, Gorelik, J, Hruby, V, Hsu, O, Jackson, D, Javidnia, S, Kern, D, Knopp, M, Kolasinski, R, Kuo, C, Le, T, Li, I, Liepack, O, Littlefield, A, Maghami, P, Malik, S, Markley, L, Martin, R, Marrese-Reading, C, Mehta, J, Mennela, J, Miller, D, Nguyen, D, O'Donnell, J, Parikh, R, Plett, G, Ramsey, T, Randolph, T, Rhodes, S, Romero-Wolf, A, Roy, T, Ruiz, A, Shaw, H, Slutsky, J, Spence, D, Stocky, J, Tallon, J, Thorpe, I, Tolman, W, Umfress, H, Valencia, R, Valerio, C, Warner, W, Wellman, J, Willis, P, Ziemer, J, Zwahlen, J, Armano, M, Audley, H, Baird, J, Binetruy, P, Born, a M, Bortoluzzi, D, Castelli, E, Cavalleri, A, Cesarini, A, Cruise, A M, Danzmann, K, Silva, M de Deus, Diepholz, I, Dixon, G, Dolesi, R, Ferraioli, L, Ferroni, V, Fitzsimons, E D, Freschi, M, Gesa, L, Gibert, F, Giardini, D, Giusteri, R, Grimani, C, Grzymisch, J, Harrison, I, Heinzel, G, Hewitson, M, Hollington, D, Hoyland, D, Hueller, M, Inchauspe, H, Jennrich, O, Jetzer, P, Karnesis, N, Kaune, B, Korsakova, N, Killow, C J, Lobo, J A, Lloro, I, Liu, L, Lopez-Zaragoza, J P, Maarschalkerweerd, R, Mance, D, Meshksar, N, Martin, V, Martin-Polo, L, Martino, J, Martin-Porqueras, F, Mateos, I, McNamara, P W, Mendes, J, Mendes, L, Nofrarias, M, Paczkowski, S, Perreur-Lloyd, M, Petiteau, A, Pivato, P, Plagnol, E, Ramos-Castro, J, Reiche, J, Robertson, D I, Rivas, F, Russano, G, Sopuerta, C F, Sumner, T, Texier, D, Vetrugno, D, Vitale, S, Wanner, G, Ward, H, Wass, P J, Weber, W J, Wissel, L, Wittchen, A, and Zweifel, P

Subjects
Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
Abstract

The Space Technology 7 Disturbance Reduction System (ST7-DRS) is a NASA technology demonstration payload that operated from January 2016 through July of 2017 on the European Space Agency's LISA Pathfinder spacecraft. The joint goal of the NASA and ESA missions was to validate key technologies for a future space-based gravitational wave observatory targeting the source-rich milliHertz band. The two primary components of ST7-DRS are a micropropulsion system based on colloidal micro-Newton thrusters (CMNTs) and a control system that simultaneously controls the attitude and position of the spacecraft and the two free-flying test masses (TMs). This paper presents our main experimental results and summarizes the overall the performance of the CMNTs and control laws. We find that the CMNT performance to be consistent with pre-flight predictions, with a measured system thrust noise on the order of $100\,\textrm{nN}/\sqrt{\textrm{Hz}}$ in the $1\,\textrm{mHz}\leq f \leq 30\,\textrm{mHz}$ band. The control system maintained the TM-spacecraft separation with an RMS error of less than 2$\,$nm and a noise spectral density of less than $3\,\textrm{nm}/\sqrt{\textrm{Hz}}$ in the same band. Thruster calibration measurements yield thrust values consistent with the performance model and ground-based thrust-stand measurements, to within a few percent. We also report a differential acceleration noise between the two test masses with a spectral density of roughly $3\,\textrm{fm}/\textrm{s}^2/\sqrt{\textrm{Hz}}$ in the $1\,\textrm{mHz}\leq f \leq 30\,\textrm{mHz}$ band, slightly less than twice as large as the best performance reported with the baseline LISA Pathfinder configuration and below the current requirements for the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) mission.

Published
2018
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15. Precision Charge Control for Isolated Free-Falling Test Masses: LISA Pathfinder Results

Author

Armano, M., Audley, H., Baird, J., Binetruy, P., Born, M., Bortoluzzi, D., Castelli, E., Cavalleri, A., Cesarini, A., Cruise, A. M., Danzmann, K., Silva, M. de Deus, Diepholz, I., 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., Heinzel, G., Hewitson, M., Hollington, D., Hoyland, D., Hueller, M., Inchauspé, H., Jennrich, O., Jetzer, P., Karnesis, N., Kaune, B., Korsakova, N., Killow, C. J., Liu, L., Lloro, I., Lobo, J. A., López-Zaragoza, J. P., Maarschalkerweerd, R., Mailland, F., Mance, D., Martín, V., Martin-Polo, L., Martin-Porqueras, F., Martino, J., Mateos, I., McNamara, P. W., Mendes, J., Mendes, L., Meshskar, N., Nofrarias, M., Paczkowski, S., Perreur-Lloyd, M., Petiteau, A., Pfeil, M., Pivato, P., Plagnol, E., Ramos-Castro, J., Reiche, J., Robertson, D. I., Rivas, F., Russano, G., Santoruvo, G., Sarra, P., Shaul, D., Slutsky, J., Sopuerta, C. F., Sumner, T., Texier, D., Thorpe, J. I., Trenkel, C., Vetrugno, D., Vitale, S., Wanner, G., Ward, H., Waschke, S., Wass, P. J., Weber, W. J., Wissel, L., Wittchen, A., and Zweifel, P.

Subjects
Physics - Instrumentation and Detectors
Abstract

The LISA Pathfinder charge management device was responsible for neutralising the cosmic ray induced electric charge that inevitably accumulated on the free-falling test masses at the heart of the experiment. We present measurements made on ground and in-flight that quantify the performance of this contactless discharge system which was based on photo-emission under UV illumination. In addition, a two-part simulation is described that was developed alongside the hardware. Modelling of the absorbed UV light within the Pathfinder sensor was carried out with the GEANT4 software toolkit and a separate MATLAB charge transfer model calculated the net photocurrent between the test masses and surrounding housing in the presence of AC and DC electric fields. We confront the results of these models with observations and draw conclusions for the design of discharge systems for future experiments like LISA that will also employ free-falling test masses.

Published
2018
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16. Calibrating the system dynamics of LISA Pathfinder

Author

Armano, M., Audley, H., Baird, J., Binetruy, P., Born, M., Bortoluzzi, D., Castelli, E., Cavalleri, A., Cesarini, A., Cruise, A. M., Danzmann, K., Silva, M. de Deus, Diepholz, I., Dixon, G., Dolesi, R., Ferraioli, L., Ferroni, V., Fitzsimons, E. D., Freschi, M., Gesa, L., Gibert, F., Giardini, D., Giusteri, R., Grimani, C., Grzymisch, J., Harrison, I., Heinzel, G., Hewitson, M., Hollington, D., Hoyland, D., Hueller, M., Inchauspé, H., Jennrich, O., Jetzer, P., Karnesis, N., Kaune, B., Korsakova, N., Killow, C. J., Lobo, J. A., Lloro, I., Liu, L., López-Zaragoza, J. P., Maarschalkerweerd, R., Mance, D., Meshksar, N., Martín, V., Martin-Polo, L., Martino, J., Martin-Porqueras, F., Mateos, I., McNamara, P. W., Mendes, J., Mendes, L., Nofrarias, M., Paczkowski, S., Perreur-Lloyd, M., Petiteau, A., Pivato, P., Plagnol, E., Ramos-Castro, J., Reiche, J., Robertson, D. I., Rivas, F., Russano, G., Slutsky, J., Sopuerta, C. F., Sumner, T., Texier, D., Thorpe, J. I., Vetrugno, D., Vitale, S., Wanner, G., Ward, H., Wass, P., Weber, W. J., Wissel, L., Wittchen, A., and Zweifel, P.

Subjects
Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
Abstract

LISA Pathfinder (LPF) was a European Space Agency mission with the aim to test key technologies for future space-borne gravitational-wave observatories like LISA. The main scientific goal of LPF was to demonstrate measurements of differential acceleration between free-falling test masses at the sub-femto-g level, and to understand the residual acceleration in terms of a physical model of stray forces, and displacement readout noise. A key step toward reaching the LPF goals was the correct calibration of the dynamics of LPF, which was a three-body system composed by two test-masses enclosed in a single spacecraft, and subject to control laws for system stability. In this work, we report on the calibration procedures adopted to calculate the residual differential stray force per unit mass acting on the two test-masses in their nominal positions. The physical parameters of the adopted dynamical model are presented, together with their role on LPF performance. The analysis and results of these experiments show that the dynamics of the system was accurately modeled and the dynamical parameters were stationary throughout the mission. Finally, the impact and importance of calibrating system dynamics for future space-based gravitational wave observatories is discussed.

Published
2018
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17. Characteristics and energy dependence of recurrent galactic cosmic-ray flux depressions and of a Forbush decrease with LISA Pathfinder

Author

Armano, M., Audley, H., Baird, J., Bassan, M., Benella, S., Binetruy, P., Born, M., Bortoluzzi, D., Cavalleri, A., Cesarini, A., Cruise, A. M., Danzmann, K., Silva, M. de Deus, Diepholz, I., Dixon, G., Dolesi, R., Fabi, M., Ferraioli, L., Ferroni, V., Finetti, N., Fitzsimons, E. D., Freschi, M., Gesa, L., Gibert, F., Giardini, D., Giusteri, R., Grimani, C., Grzymisch, J., Harrison, I., Heinzel, G., Hewitson, M., Hollington, D., Hoyland, D., Hueller, M., Inchauspé, H., Jennrich, O., Jetzer, P., Karnesis, N., Kaune, B., Korsakova, N., Killow, C. J., Laurenza, M., Lobo, J. A., Lloro, I., Liu, L., 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., Nofrarias, M., Paczkowski, S., Perreur-Lloyd, M., Petiteau, A., Pivato, P., Plagnol, E., Ramos-Castro, J., Reiche, J., Robertson, D. I., Rivas, F., Russano, G., Sabbatini, F., Slutsky, J., Sopuerta, C. F., Sumner, T., Telloni, D., Texier, D., Thorpe, J. I., Vetrugno, D., Vitale, S., Wanner, G., Ward, H., Wass, P., Weber, W. J., Wissel, L., Wittchen, A., Zambotti, A., Zanoni, C., and Zweifel, P.

Subjects
Physics - Space Physics, Astrophysics - High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena, Astrophysics - Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
Abstract

Galactic cosmic-ray (GCR) energy spectra observed in the inner heliosphere are modulated by the solar activity, the solar polarity and structures of solar and interplanetary origin. A high counting rate particle detector (PD) aboard LISA Pathfinder (LPF), meant for subsystems diagnostics, was devoted to the measurement of galactic cosmic-ray and solar energetic particle integral fluxes above 70 MeV n$^{-1}$ up to 6500 counts s$^{-1}$. PD data were gathered with a sampling time of 15 s. Characteristics and energy-dependence of GCR flux recurrent depressions and of a Forbush decrease dated August 2, 2016 are reported here. The capability of interplanetary missions, carrying PDs for instrument performance purposes, in monitoring the passage of interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs) is also discussed.

Published
2018
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18. Measuring the Galactic Cosmic Ray Flux with the LISA Pathfinder Radiation Monitor

Author

Armano, M, Audley, H, Baird, J, Binetruy, P, Born, M, Bortoluzzi, D, Castelli, E, Cavalleri, A, Cesarini, A, Cruise, M, Danzmann, K, Silva, M de Deus, Diepholz, I, Dixon, G, Dolesi, R, Ferraioli, L, Ferroni, V, Finetti, N, Fitzsimons, E D, Freschi, M, Gesa, L, Gibert, F, Giardini, D, Giusteri, R, Grimani, C, Grzymisch, J, Harrison, I, Heinzel, G, Hewitson, M, Hollington, D, Hoyland, D, Hueller, M, Inchauspe, H, Jennrich, O, Jetzer, P, Karnesis, N, Kaune, B, Korsakova, N, Killow, C J, Lobo, J A, Lloro, I, Liu, L, Lopez-Zaragoza, J P, Maarschalkerweerd, R, Mance, D, Meshskar, N, Martin, V, Martin-Polo, L, Martino, J, Martin-Porqueras, F, Mateos, I, McNamara, P W, Mendes, J, Mendes, L, Nofrarias, M, Paczkowski, S, Perreur-Lloyd, M, Petiteau, A, Pivato, P, Plagnol, E, Ramos-Castro, J, Reiche, J, Robertson, D I, Rivas, F, Russano, G, Slutsky, J, Sopuerta, C F, Sumner, T, Texier, D, Thorpe, J I, Vetrugno, D, Vitale, S, Wanner, G, Ward, H, Wass, P, Weber, W J, Wissel, L, Wittchen, A, and Zweifel, P

Subjects
Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
Abstract

Test mass charging caused by cosmic rays will be a significant source of acceleration noise for space-based gravitational wave detectors like LISA. Operating between December 2015 and July 2017, the technology demonstration mission LISA Pathfinder included a bespoke monitor to help characterise the relationship between test mass charging and the local radiation environment. The radiation monitor made in situ measurements of the cosmic ray flux while also providing information about its energy spectrum. We describe the monitor and present measurements which show a gradual 40% increase in count rate coinciding with the declining phase of the solar cycle. Modulations of up to 10% were also observed with periods of 13 and 26 days that are associated with co-rotating interaction regions and heliospheric current sheet crossings. These variations in the flux above the monitor detection threshold (approximately 70 MeV) are shown to be coherent with measurements made by the IREM monitor on-board the Earth orbiting INTEGRAL spacecraft. Finally we use the measured deposited energy spectra, in combination with a GEANT4 model, to estimate the galactic cosmic ray differential energy spectrum over the course of the mission.

Published
2017
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19. Charge-induced force-noise on free-falling test masses: results from LISA Pathfinder

Author

Armano, M., Audley, H., Auger, G., Baird, J. T., Binetruy, P., Born, M., Bortoluzzi, D., Brandt, N., Bursi, A., Caleno, M., Cavalleri, A., Cesarini, A., Cruise, M., Danzmann, K., Silva, M. de Deus, Diepholz, I., Dolesi, R., Dunbar, N., Ferraioli, L., Ferroni, V., Fitzsimons, E. D., Flatscher, R., Freschi, M., Gallegos, J., Marirrodriga, C. García, Gerndt, R., Gesa, L., Gibert, F., Giardini, D., Giusteri, R., Grimani, C., Grzymisch, J., Harrison, I., Heinzel, G., Hewitson, M., Hollington, D., Hueller, M., Huesler, J., Inchauspé, H., Jennrich, O., Jetzer, P., Johlander, B., Karnesis, N., Kaune, B., Killow, C. J., Korsakova, N., Lloro, I., Liu, L., Maarschalkerweerd, R., Madden, S., Mance, D., Martín, V., Martin-Polo, L., Martino, J., Martin-Porqueras, F., Mateos, I., McNamara, P. W., Mendes, J., Mendes, L., Moroni, A., Nofrarias, M., Paczkowski, S., Perreur-Lloyd, M., Petiteau, A., Pivato, P., Plagnol, E., Prat, P., Ragnit, U., Ramos-Castro, J., Reiche, J., Perez, J. A. Romera, Robertson, D. I., Rozemeijer, H., Rivas, F., Russano, G., Sarra, P., Schleicher, A., Slutsky, J., Sopuerta, C., Sumner, T. J., Texier, D., Thorpe, J. I., Trenkel, C., Vetrugno, D., Vitale, S., Wanner, G., Ward, H., Wass, P. J., Wealthy, D., Weber, W. J., Wittchen, A., Zanoni, C., Ziegler, T., and Zweifel, P.

Subjects
Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
Abstract

We report on electrostatic measurements made on board the European Space Agency mission LISA Pathfinder. Detailed measurements of the charge-induced electrostatic forces exerted on free-falling test masses (TMs) inside the capacitive gravitational reference sensor are the first made in a relevant environment for a space-based gravitational wave detector. Employing a combination of charge control and electric-field compensation, we show that the level of charge-induced acceleration noise on a single TM can be maintained at a level close to 1.0 fm/s^2/sqrt(Hz) across the 0.1-100 mHz frequency band that is crucial to an observatory such as LISA. Using dedicated measurements that detect these effects in the differential acceleration between the two test masses, we resolve the stochastic nature of the TM charge build up due to interplanetary cosmic rays and the TM charge-to-force coupling through stray electric fields in the sensor. All our measurements are in good agreement with predictions based on a relatively simple electrostatic model of the LISA Pathfinder instrument., Comment: 9 Pages, 3 figures

Published
2017
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20. In-flight testing of the injection of the LISA Pathfinder test mass into a geodesic

Author

Bortoluzzi, D., Vignotto, D., Zambotti, A., Armano, M., Audley, H., Baird, J., Binetruy, P., Born, M., 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., Freschi, M., Gesa, L., Gibert, F., Giardini, D., 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., Korsakova, N., Killow, C.J., Lobo, J.A., Liu, L., López-Zaragoza, J.P., Maarschalkerweerd, R., Mance, D., Meshksar, N., Martín, V., Martin-Polo, L., Martino, J., Martin-Porqueras, F., McNamara, P.W., Mendes, J., Mendes, L., Nofrarias, M., Paczkowski, S., Perreur-Lloyd, M., Petiteau, A., Pivato, P., Plagnol, E., Ramos-Castro, J., Reiche, J., Robertson, D.I., Rivas, F., Russano, G., Slutsky, J., Sopuerta, C.F., Sumner, T., Texier, D., Thorpe, J.I., Vetrugno, D., Vitale, S., Wanner, G., Ward, H., Wass, P.J., Weber, W.J., Wissel, L., Wittchen, A., Zweifel, P., and Zanoni, Carlo

Published
2021
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21. Free-flight experiments in LISA Pathfinder

Author

Armano, M., Audley, H., Auger, G., Baird, J., Binetruy, P., Born, M., Bortoluzzi, D., Brandt, N., Bursi, A., Caleno, M., Cavalleri, A., Cesarini, A., Cruise, M., Cutler, C., Danzmann, K., Diepholz, I., Dolesi, R., Dunbar, N., Ferraioli, L., Ferroni, V., Fitzsimons, E., Freschi, M., Gallegos, J., Marirrodriga, C. Garcia., Gerndt, R., Gesa, LI., Gibert, F., Giardini, D., Giusteri, R., Grimani, C., Harrison, I., Heinzel, G., Hewitson, M., Hollington, D., Hueller, M., Huesler, J., Inchauspe, H., Jennrich, O., Jetzer, P., Johlander, B., Karnesis, N., Kaune, B., Korsakova, N., Killow, C., Lloro, I., Maarschalkerweerd, R., Madden, S., Maghami, P., Mance, D., Martin, V., Martin-Porqueras, F., Mateos, I., McNamara, P., Mendes, J., Mendes, L., Moroni, A., Nofrarias, M., Paczkowski, S., Perreur-Lloyd, M., Petiteau, A., Pivato, P., Plagnol, E., Prat, P., Ragnit, U., Ramos-Castro, J., Reiche, J., Perez, J. A. Romera., Robertson, D., Rozemeijer, H., Russano, G., Sarra, P., Schleicher, A., Slutsky, J., Sopuerta, C. F., Sumner, T., Texier, D., Thorpe, J., Trenkel, C., Tu, H. B., Vetrugno, D., Vitale, S., Wanner, G., Ward, H., Waschke, S., Wass, P., Wealthy, D., Wen, S., Weber, W., Wittchen, A., Zanoni, C., Ziegler, T., and Zweifel, P.

Subjects
General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology, Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
Abstract

The LISA Pathfinder mission will demonstrate the technology of drag-free test masses for use as inertial references in future space-based gravitational wave detectors. To accomplish this, the Pathfinder spacecraft will perform drag-free flight about a test mass while measuring the acceleration of this primary test mass relative to a second reference test mass. Because the reference test mass is contained within the same spacecraft, it is necessary to apply forces on it to maintain its position and attitude relative to the spacecraft. These forces are a potential source of acceleration noise in the LISA Pathfinder system that are not present in the full LISA configuration. While LISA Pathfinder has been designed to meet it's primary mission requirements in the presence of this noise, recent estimates suggest that the on-orbit performance may be limited by this `suspension noise'. The drift-mode or free-flight experiments provide an opportunity to mitigate this noise source and further characterize the underlying disturbances that are of interest to the designers of LISA-like instruments. This article provides a high-level overview of these experiments and the methods under development to analyze the resulting data., Comment: 13 pages, 5 figures. Accepted to Journal Of Physics, Conference Series. Presented at 10th International LISA Symposium, May 2014, Gainesville, FL, USA

Published
2014
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22. State space modelling and data analysis exercises in LISA Pathfinder

Author

Nofrarias, M, Antonucci, F, Armano, M, Audley, H, Auger, G, Benedetti, M, Binetruy, P, Bogenstahl, J, Bortoluzzi, D, Brandt, N, Caleno, M, Cavalleri, A, Congedo, G, Cruise, M, Danzmann, K, De Marchi, F, Diaz-Aguilo, M, Diepholz, I, Dixon, G, Dolesi, R, Dunbar, N, Fauste, J, Ferraioli, L, Fichter, V Ferroni W, Fitzsimons, E, Freschi, M, Marirrodriga, C García, Gerndt, R, Gesa, L, Gibert, F, Giardini, D, Grimani, C, Grynagier, A, Guzmán, F, Harrison, I, Heinzel, G, Hewitson, M, Hollington, D, Hoyland, D, Hueller, M, Huesler, J, Jennrich, O, Jetzer, P, Johlander, B, Karnesis, N, Korsakova, N, Killow, C, Llamas, X, Lloro, I, Lobo, A, Maarschalkerweerd, R, Madden, S, Mance, D, Mateos, I, McNamara, P W, Mendes, J, Mitchell, E, Nicolini, D, Nicolodi, D, Perreur-Lloyd, M, Plagnol, E, Prat, P, Ramos-Castro, J, Reiche, J, Perez, J A Romera, Robertson, D, Rozemeijer, H, Russano, G, Schleicher, A, Shaul, D, Sopuerta, CF, Sumner, T J, Taylor, A, Texier, D, Trenkel, C, Tu, H-B, Vitale, S, Wanner, G, Ward, H, Waschke, S, Wass, P, Wealthy, D, Wen, S, Weber, W J, Ziegler, T, and Zweifel, P

Subjects
General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology, Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics, Physics - Data Analysis, Statistics and Probability, Physics - Instrumentation and Detectors
Abstract

LISA Pathfinder is a mission planned by the European Space Agency to test the key technologies that will allow the detection of gravitational waves in space. The instrument on-board, the LISA Technology package, will undergo an exhaustive campaign of calibrations and noise characterisation campaigns in order to fully describe the noise model. Data analysis plays an important role in the mission and for that reason the data analysis team has been developing a toolbox which contains all the functionalities required during operations. In this contribution we give an overview of recent activities, focusing on the improvements in the modelling of the instrument and in the data analysis campaigns performed both with real and simulated data., Comment: Plenary talk presented at the 9th International LISA Symposium, 21-25 May 2012, Paris

Published
2013

23. From laboratory experiments to LISA Pathfinder: achieving LISA geodesic motion

Author

Antonucci, F, Armano, M, Audley, H, Auger, G, Benedetti, M, Binetruy, P, Boatella, C, Bogenstahl, J, Bortoluzzi, D, Bosetti, P, Brandt, N, Caleno, M, Cavalleri, A, Cesa, M, Chmeissani, M, Ciani, G, Conchillo, A, Congedo, G, Cristofolini, I, Cruise, M, Danzmann, K, De Marchi, F, Diaz-Aguilo, M, Diepholz, I, Dixon, G, Dolesi, R, Dunbar, N, Fauste, J, Ferraioli, L, Fertin, D, Fichter, W, Fitzsimons, E, Freschi, M, Marin, A García, Marirrodriga, C García, Gerndt, R, Gesa, L, Giardini, D, Gibert, F, Grimani, C, Grynagier, A, Guillaume, B, Guzmán, F, Harrison, I, Heinzel, G, Hewitson, M, Hollington, D, Hough, J, Hoyland, D, Hueller, M, Huesler, J, Jeannin, O, Jennrich, O, Jetzer, P, Johlander, B, Killow, C, Llamas, X, Lloro, I, Lobo, A, Maarschalkerweerd, R, Madden, S, Mance, D, Mateos, I, McNamara, P W, Mendestì, J, Mitchell, E, Monsky, A, Nicolini, D, Nicolodi, D, Nofrarias, M, Pedersen, F, Perreur-Lloyd, M, Perreca, A, Plagnol, E, Prat, P, Racca, G D, Rais, B, Ramos-Castro, J, Reiche, J, Perez, J A Romera, Robertson, D, Rozemeijer, H, Sanjuan, J, Schleicher, A, Schulte, M, Shaul, D, Stagnaro, L, Strandmoe, S, Steier, F, Sumner, T J, Taylor, A, Texier, D, Trenkel, C, Tombolato, D, Vitale, S, Wanner, G, Ward, H, Waschke, S, Wass, P, Weber, W J, and Zweifel, P

Subjects
General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology, Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
Abstract

This paper presents a quantitative assessment of the performance of the upcoming LISA Pathfinder geodesic explorer mission. The findings are based on the results of extensive ground testing and simulation campaigns using flight hardware and flight control and operations algorithms. The results show that, for the central experiment of measuring the stray differential acceleration between the LISA test masses, LISA Pathfinder will be able to verify the overall acceleration noise to within a factor two of the LISA requirement at 1 mHz and within a factor 6 at 0.1 mHz. We also discuss the key elements of the physical model of disturbances, coming from LISA Pathfinder and ground measurement, that will guarantee the LISA performance., Comment: Proceedings of the 8th LISA Symposium. To appear Class. Quantum Grav. 28 (2011)

Published
2010
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24. Measuring the Galactic Cosmic Ray flux with the LISA Pathfinder radiation monitor

Author

Armano, M., Audley, H., Baird, J., Binetruy, P., Born, M., Bortoluzzi, D., 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., Finetti, N., Fitzsimons, E.D., Freschi, M., Gesa, L., Gibert, F., Giardini, D., Giusteri, R., Grimani, C., Grzymisch, J., Harrison, I., Heinzel, G., Hewitson, M., Hollington, D., Hoyland, D., Hueller, M., Inchauspé, H., Jennrich, O., Jetzer, P., Karnesis, N., Kaune, B., Korsakova, N., Killow, C.J., Lobo, J.A., Lloro, I., Liu, L., Lopez-Zaragoza, J.P., Maarschalkerweerd, R., Mance, D., Meshskar, N., Martín, V., Martin-Polo, L., Martino, J., Martin-Porqueras, F., Mateos, I., McNamara, P.W., Mendes, J., Mendes, L., Nofrarias, M., Paczkowski, S., Perreur-Lloyd, M., Petiteau, A., Pivato, P., Plagnol, E., Ramos-Castro, J., Reiche, J., Robertson, D.I., Rivas, F., Russano, G., Slutsky, J., Sopuerta, C.F., Sumner, T., Texier, D., Thorpe, J.I., Vetrugno, D., Vitale, S., Wanner, G., Ward, H., Wass, P., Weber, W.J., Wissel, L., Wittchen, A., and Zweifel, P.

Published
2018
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25. Charging of free-falling test masses in orbit due to cosmic rays: Results from LISA Pathfinder

Author

Armano, M., Audley, H., Baird, J., Binetruy, P., Born, M., Bortoluzzi, D., 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., 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., Lobo, J.A., López-Zaragoza, J.P., Maarschalkerweerd, R., Mance, D., Martín, V., Martino, J., Martin-Polo, L., Martin-Porqueras, F., McNamara, P.W., Mendes, J., Mendes, L., Meshksar, N., Nofrarias, M., Paczkowski, S., Perreur-Lloyd, M., Petiteau, A., Plagnol, E., Ramos-Castro, J., Reiche, J., Rivas, F., Robertson, D.I., Russano, G., Slutsky, J., Sopuerta, C.F., Sumner, T.J., Texier, D., Thorpe, J.I., Vetrugno, D., Vitale, S., Wanner, G., Ward, H., Wass, P.J., Weber, W.J., Wissel, L., Wittchen, A., Zweifel, P., Armano, M., Audley, H., Baird, J., Binetruy, P., Born, M., Bortoluzzi, D., 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., 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., Lobo, J.A., López-Zaragoza, J.P., Maarschalkerweerd, R., Mance, D., Martín, V., Martino, J., Martin-Polo, L., Martin-Porqueras, F., McNamara, P.W., Mendes, J., Mendes, L., Meshksar, N., Nofrarias, M., Paczkowski, S., Perreur-Lloyd, M., Petiteau, A., Plagnol, E., Ramos-Castro, J., Reiche, J., Rivas, F., Robertson, D.I., Russano, G., Slutsky, J., Sopuerta, C.F., Sumner, T.J., Texier, D., Thorpe, J.I., Vetrugno, D., Vitale, S., Wanner, G., Ward, H., Wass, P.J., Weber, W.J., Wissel, L., Wittchen, A., and Zweifel, P.

Abstract

A comprehensive summary of the measurements made to characterize test-mass charging due to the space environment during the LISA Pathfinder mission is presented. Measurements of the residual charge of the test mass after release by the grabbing and positioning mechanism show that the initial charge of the test masses was negative after all releases, leaving the test mass with a potential in the range from -12 to -512. Variations in the neutral test-mass charging rate between 21.7 and 30.7 e s-1 were observed over the course of the 17-month science operations produced by cosmic ray flux changes including a Forbush decrease associated with a small solar energetic particle event. A dependence of the cosmic ray charging rate on the test-mass potential between -30.2 and -40.3 e s-1 V-1 was observed resulting in an equilibrium test-mass potential between 670 and 960 mV, and this is attributed to a contribution to charging from low-energy electrons emitted from the gold surfaces of the gravitational reference sensor. Data from the onboard particle detector show a reliable correlation with the charging rate and with other environmental monitors of the cosmic ray flux. This correlation is exploited to extrapolate test-mass charging rates to a 20-year period giving useful insight into the expected range of charging rate that may be observed in the LISA mission.

Published
2023

26. Sensor Noise in LISA Pathfinder: In-Flight Performance of the Optical Test Mass Readout

Author

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., Zweifel, P., 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.

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 32.0-1.7+2.4 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.

Published
2021

27. Capacitive sensing of test mass motion with nanometer precision over millimeter-wide sensing gaps for space-borne gravitational reference sensors

Author

Armano, M., Audley, H., Auger, G., Baird, J., Bassan, M., Binetruy, P., Born, M., Bortoluzzi, D., Brandt, N., Caleno, M., Cavalleri, A., Cesarini, A., Cruise, A. M., Danzmann, K., de Deus Silva, M., De Rosa, R., Di Fiore, L., Diepholz, I., Dixon, G., Dolesi, R., Dunbar, N., Ferraioli, L., Ferroni, V., Fitzsimons, E. D., Flatscher, R., Freschi, M., García Marirrodriga, C., Gerndt, R., Gesa, L., Gibert, F., Giardini, D., Giusteri, R., GRADO, ANIELLO, Grimani, C., Grzymisch, J., Harrison, I., Heinzel, G., Hewitson, M., Hollington, D., Hoyland, D., Hueller, M., Inchauspé, H., Jennrich, O., Jetzer, P., Johlander, B., Karnesis, N., Kaune, B., Korsakova, N., Killow, C. J., Lobo, J. A., Lloro, I., Liu, L., López-Zaragoza, J. P., Maarschalkerweerd, R., Mance, D., Martín, V., Martin-Polo, L., Martino, J., Martin-Porqueras, F., Madden, S., Mateos, I., McNamara, P. W., Mendes, J., Mendes, L., Meshksar, N., Nofrarias, M., Paczkowski, S., Perreur-Lloyd, M., Petiteau, A., Pivato, P., Plagnol, E., Prat, P., Ragnit, U., Ramos-Castro, J., Reiche, J., Robertson, D. I., Rozemeijer, H., Rivas, F., Russano, G., Sarra, P., Schleicher, A., Slutsky, J., Sopuerta, C. F., Stanga, R., Sumner, T. J., Texier, D., Thorpe, J. I., Trenkel, C., Tröbs, M., Vetrugno, D., Vitale, S., Wanner, G., Ward, H., Wass, P. J., Wealthy, D., Weber, W. J., Wissel, L., Wittchen, A., Zambotti, A., Zanoni, C., Ziegler, T., Zweifel, P., LISA Pathfinder Collaboration, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. Departament d'Enginyeria Electrònica, AstroParticule et Cosmologie (APC (UMR_7164)), Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules du CNRS (IN2P3)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Observatoire de Paris, PSL Research University (PSL)-PSL Research University (PSL)-Université Paris Diderot - Paris 7 (UPD7), LISA Pathfinder, Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules du CNRS (IN2P3)-Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Paris Cité (UPCité), Observatoire de Paris, PSL Research University (PSL)-PSL Research University (PSL)-Université Paris Diderot - Paris 7 (UPD7)-Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules du CNRS (IN2P3)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Paris (UP), Armano, M., Audley, H., Auger, G., Baird, J., Bassan, M., Binetruy, P., Born, M., Bortoluzzi, D., Brandt, N., Caleno, M., Cavalleri, A., Cesarini, A., Cruise, A. M., Danzmann, K., De Deus Silva, M., De Rosa, R., Di Fiore, L., Diepholz, I., Dixon, G., Dolesi, R., Dunbar, N., Ferraioli, L., Ferroni, V., Fitzsimons, E. D., Flatscher, R., Freschi, M., Garcia Marirrodriga, C., Gerndt, R., Gesa, L., Gibert, F., Giardini, D., Giusteri, R., Grado, A., Grimani, C., Grzymisch, J., Harrison, I., Heinzel, G., Hewitson, M., Hollington, D., Hoyland, D., Hueller, M., Inchauspe, H., Jennrich, O., Jetzer, P., Johlander, B., Karnesis, N., Kaune, B., Korsakova, N., Killow, C. J., Lobo, J. A., Lloro, I., Liu, L., Lopez-Zaragoza, J. P., Maarschalkerweerd, R., Mance, D., Martin, V., Martin-Polo, L., Martino, J., Martin-Porqueras, F., Madden, S., Mateos, I., Mcnamara, P. W., Mendes, J., Mendes, L., Meshksar, N., Nofrarias, M., Paczkowski, S., Perreur-Lloyd, M., Petiteau, A., Pivato, P., Plagnol, E., Prat, P., Ragnit, U., Ramos-Castro, J., Reiche, J., Robertson, D. I., Rozemeijer, H., Rivas, F., Russano, G., Sarra, P., Schleicher, A., Slutsky, J., Sopuerta, C. F., Stanga, R., Sumner, T. J., Texier, D., Thorpe, J. I., Trenkel, C., Trobs, M., Vetrugno, D., Vitale, S., Wanner, G., Ward, H., Wass, P. J., Wealthy, D., Weber, W. J., Wissel, L., Wittchen, A., Zambotti, A., Zanoni, C., Ziegler, T., and Zweifel, P.

Subjects
noise, detector: performance, Capacitive sensing, gap, Astronomy & Astrophysics, gravitational radiation: direct detection, 01 natural sciences, Noise (electronics), rotation, Displacement (vector), Physics, Particles & Fields, Gravitational waves, Optics, Ones gravitacionals, 0103 physical sciences, [PHYS.PHYS.PHYS-INS-DET]Physics [physics]/Physics [physics]/Instrumentation and Detectors [physics.ins-det], 010306 general physics, MISSION, Physics, LISA, Science & Technology, Spacecraft, 010308 nuclear & particles physics, business.industry, Gravitational wave, Settore FIS/01 - Fisica Sperimentale, gravitational radiation, Ranging, gravitational radiation detector, FOURIER-TRANSFORM, observatory, Pathfinder, gravitation, Física::Astronomia i astrofísica [Àrees temàtiques de la UPC], Physical Sciences, [PHYS.GRQC]Physics [physics]/General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology [gr-qc], Millimeter, business
Abstract

We report on the performance of the capacitive gap-sensing system of the Gravitational Reference Sensor on board the LISA Pathfinder spacecraft. From in-flight measurements, the system has demonstrated a performance, down to 1 mHz, that is ranging between 0.7 and \ud 1.8\ud \ud \ud aF\ud \ud Hz\ud −\ud 1\ud /\ud 2\ud . That translates into a sensing noise of the test mass motion within 1.2 and \ud 2.4\ud \ud nm\ud \ud Hz\ud −\ud 1\ud /\ud 2\ud in displacement and within 83 and \ud 170\ud \ud nrad\ud \ud Hz\ud −\ud 1\ud /\ud 2\ud in rotation. This matches the performance goals for LISA Pathfinder, and it allows the successful implementation of the gravitational waves observatory LISA. A \ud 1\ud /\ud f\ud tail has been observed for frequencies below 1 mHz, the tail has been investigated in detail with dedicated in-flight measurements, and a model is presented in the paper. A projection of such noise to frequencies below 0.1 mHz shows that an improvement of performance at those frequencies is desirable for the next generation of gravitational reference sensors for space-borne gravitational waves observation.

Published
2017

28. Beyond the Required LISA Free-Fall Performance: New LISA Pathfinder Results down to 20 mu Hz

Author

Armano, M., Audley, H., Baird, J., Binetruy, P., Born, M., Bortoluzzi, D., 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., Freschi, M., Gesa, L., Gibert, F., Giardini, D., Giusteri, R., Grimani, C., Grzymisch, J., Harrison, I., Heinzel, G., Hewitson, M., Hollington, D., Hoyland, D., Hueller, M., Inchauspe, H., Jennrich, O., Jetzer, P., Karnesis, N., Kaune, B., Korsakova, N., Killow, C. J., Lobo, J. A., Lloro, I., Liu, L., Lopez-Zaragoza, J. P., Maarschalkerweerd, R., Mance, D., Meshksar, N., Martin, V., Martin-Polo, L., Martino, J., Martin-Porqueras, F., Mateos, I., McNamara, P. W., Mendes, J., Mendes, L., Nofrarias, M., Paczkowski, S., Perreur-Lloyd, M., Petiteau, A., Pivato, P., Plagnol, E., Ramos-Castro, J., Reiche, J., Robertson, D. I., Rivas, F., Russano, G., Slutsky, J., Sopuerta, C. F., Sumner, T., Texier, D., Thorpe, J. I., Vetrugno, D., Vitale, S., Wanner, G., Ward, H., Wass, P. J., Weber, W. J., Wissel, L., Wittchen, A., Zweifel, P., Armano, M., Audley, H., Baird, J., Binetruy, P., Born, M., Bortoluzzi, D., 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., Freschi, M., Gesa, L., Gibert, F., Giardini, D., Giusteri, R., Grimani, C., Grzymisch, J., Harrison, I., Heinzel, G., Hewitson, M., Hollington, D., Hoyland, D., Hueller, M., Inchauspe, H., Jennrich, O., Jetzer, P., Karnesis, N., Kaune, B., Korsakova, N., Killow, C. J., Lobo, J. A., Lloro, I., Liu, L., Lopez-Zaragoza, J. P., Maarschalkerweerd, R., Mance, D., Meshksar, N., Martin, V., Martin-Polo, L., Martino, J., Martin-Porqueras, F., Mateos, I., McNamara, P. W., Mendes, J., Mendes, L., Nofrarias, M., Paczkowski, S., Perreur-Lloyd, M., Petiteau, A., Pivato, P., Plagnol, E., Ramos-Castro, J., Reiche, J., Robertson, D. I., Rivas, F., Russano, G., Slutsky, J., Sopuerta, C. F., Sumner, T., Texier, D., Thorpe, J. I., Vetrugno, D., Vitale, S., Wanner, G., Ward, H., Wass, P. J., Weber, W. J., Wissel, L., Wittchen, A., and Zweifel, P.

Abstract

In the months since the publication of the first results, the noise performance of LISA Pathfinder has improved because of reduced Brownian noise due to the continued decrease in pressure around the test masses, from a better correction of noninertial effects, and from a better calibration of the electrostatic force actuation. In addition, the availability of numerous long noise measurement runs, during which no perturbation is purposely applied to the test masses, has allowed the measurement of noise with good statistics down to 20 mu Hz. The Letter presents the measured differential acceleration noise figure, which is at (1.74 +/- 0.01) fm s(-2)/root Hz above 2 mHz and (6 +/- 1) x 10 fm s(-2)/root Hz at 20 mu Hz, and discusses the physical sources for the measured noise. This performance provides an experimental benchmark demonstrating the ability to realize the low-frequency science potential of the LISA mission, recently selected by the European Space Agency.

Published
2018

29. Bayesian statistics for the calibration of the LISA Pathfinder experiment

Author

Armano, M., Audley, H., Auger, G., Baird, J., Binetruy, P., Born, M., Bortoluzzi, D., Brandt, N., Bursi, A., Caleno, M., Cavalleri, A., Cesarini, A., Cruise, M., Danzmann, K., Diepholz, I., Dolesi, R., Dunbar, N., Ferraioli, L., Ferroni, V., Fitzsimons, E., Freschi, M., Gallegos, J., Marirrodriga, C., Gerndt, R., Gesa, L., Gibert, F., Giardini, D., Giusteri, R., Grimani, C., Harrison, I., Heinzel, G., Hewitson, M., Hollington, D., Hueller, M., Huesler, J., Inchauspé, H., Jennrich, O., Jetzer, P., Johlander, B., Karnesis, N., Kaune, B., Korsakova, N., Killow, C., Lloro, I., Maarschalkerweerd, R., Madden, S., Mance, D., Martín, V., Martin-Porqueras, F., Mateos, I., McNamara, P., Mendes, J., Mendes, L., Moroni, A., Nofrarias, M., Paczkowski, S., Perreur-Lloyd, M., Petiteau, A., Pivato, P., Plagnol, E., Prat, P., Ragnit, U., Ramos-Castro, J., Reiche, J., Romera Perez, J., Robertson, D., Rozemeijer, H., Russano, G., Sarra, P., Schleicher, A., Slutsky, J., Sopuerta, C., Sumner, T., Texier, D., Thorpe, J., Trenkel, C., Tu, H., Vitale, S., Wanner, G., Ward, H., Waschke, S., Wass, P., Wealthy, D., Wen, S., Weber, W., Wittchen, A., Zanoni, C., Ziegler, T., and Zweifel, P.

Published
2015

30. A Strategy to Characterize the LISA-Pathfinder Cold Gas Thruster System

Author

Armano, M, Audley, H, Auger, G, Baird, J, Binetruy, P, Born, M, Bortoluzzi, D, Brandt, N, Bursi, A, Caleno, M, Cavalleri, A, Cesarini, A, Cruise, M, Danzmann, K, Diepholz, I, Dolesi, R, Dunbar, N, Ferraioli, L, Ferroni, V, Fitzsimons, E, Freschi, M, Gallegos, J, Marirrodriga, C Garcia, Gerndt, R, Gesa, L I, Gibert, F, Giardini, D, Giusteri, R, Grimani, C, Harrison, I, Heinzel, G, Hewitson, M, Hollington, D, Hueller, M, Huesler, J, Inchauspé, H, Jennrich, O, Jetzer, P, Johlander, B, Karnesis, N, Kaune, B, Korsakova, N, Killow, C., Lloro, I, Maarschalkerweerd, R, Madden, S, Mance, D, Martin, V, Martin-Porqueras, F, Mateos, I, McNamara, P, Mendes, J, Mendes, L, Moroni, A, Nofrarias, M, Paczkowski, S, Perreur-Lloyd, M., Petiteau, A, Pivato, P, Plagnol, E, Prat, P, Ragnit, U, Ramos-Castro, J, Reiche, J, Perez, J A Romera, Robertson, D., Rozemeijer, H, Russano, G, Sarra, P, Schleicher, A, Slutsky, J, Sopuerta, C F, Sumner, T, Texier, D, Thorpe, J, Trenkel, C, Tu, H B, Vitale, S, Wanner, G, Ward, H., Waschke, S, Wass, P, Wealthy, D, Wen, S, Weber, W, Wittchen, A, Zanoni, C, Ziegler, T, and Zweifel, P

Subjects
Astronomy, ddc:530, ddc:500, Dewey Decimal Classification::500 | Naturwissenschaften::530 | Physik, Astrophysics, LISA Pathfinder, Konferenzschrift, Dewey Decimal Classification::500 | Naturwissenschaften, Physics, Applied
Abstract

The cold gas micro-propulsion system that will be used during the LISA-Pathfinder mission will be one of the most important component used to ensure the "free-fall" of the enclosed test masses. In this paper we present a possible strategy to characterize the effective direction and amplitude gain of each of the 6 thrusters of this system. Sorbonne Paric Cite/UnivEarthS Labex French Space Ageny (CNES)

Published
2015
Full Text
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31. The LISA Pathfinder Mission

Author

Armano, M, Audley, H, Auger, G, Baird, J, Binetruy, P, Born, M, Bortoluzzi, D, Brandt, N, Bursi, A, Caleno, M, Cavalleri, A, Cesarini, A, Cruise, M, Danzmann, K, Diepholz, I, Dolesi, R, Dunbar, N, Ferraioli, L, Ferroni, V, Fitzsimons, E, Freschi, M, Gallegos, J, Marirrodriga, C García, Gerndt, R, Gesa, L I, Gibert, F, Giardini, D, Giusteri, R, Grimani, C, Harrison, I, Heinzel, G, Hewitson, M, Hollington, D, Hueller, M, Huesler, J, Inchauspé, H, Jennrich, O, Jetzer, P, Johlander, B, Karnesis, N, Kaune, B, Korsakova, N, Killow, C., Lloro, I, Maarschalkerweerd, R, Madden, S, Mance, D, Martín, V, Martin-Porqueras, F, Mateos, I, McNamara, P, Mendes, J, Mendes, L, Moroni, A, Nofrarias, M, Paczkowski, S, Perreur-Lloyd, M., Petiteau, A, Pivato, P, Plagnol, E, Prat, P, Ragnit, U, Ramos-Castro, J, Reiche, J, Perez, J A Romera, Robertson, D., Rozemeijer, H, Russano, G, Sarra, P, Schleicher, A, Slutsky, J, Sopuerta, C F, Sumner, T, Texier, D, Thorpe, J, Trenkel, C, Tu, H B, Vetrugno, D, Vitale, S, Wanner, G, Ward, H., Waschke, S, Wass, P, Wealthy, D, Wen, S, Weber, W, Wittchen, A, Zanoni, C, Ziegler, T, and Zweifel, P

Subjects
History, Critical technologies, Lisa technology packages, Gravity waves, Propulsion, 01 natural sciences, 7. Clean energy, Education, Gravitational wave detectors, Gravitational-wave detection, 0103 physical sciences, ddc:530, Free flight, 010303 astronomy & astrophysics, Konferenzschrift, Physical principles, 010308 nuclear & particles physics, Gravitational effects, Measurement concepts, Technology validations, Computer Science Applications, Low pass filters, Inertial navigation systems, European Space Agency, Space probes, Gravitation
Abstract

ISA Pathfinder (LPF), the second of the European Space Agency's Small Missions for Advanced Research in Technology (SMART), is a dedicated technology validation mission for future spaceborne gravitational wave detectors, such as the proposed eLISA mission. LISA Pathfinder, and its scientific payload - the LISA Technology Package - will test, in flight, the critical technologies required for low frequency gravitational wave detection: it will put two test masses in a near-perfect gravitational free-fall and control and measure their motion with unprecedented accuracy. This is achieved through technology comprising inertial sensors, high precision laser metrology, drag-free control and an ultra-precise micro-Newton propulsion system. LISA Pathfinder is due to be launched in mid-2015, with first results on the performance of the system being available 6 months thereafter.\ud \ud The paper introduces the LISA Pathfinder mission, followed by an explanation of the physical principles of measurement concept and associated hardware. We then provide a detailed discussion of the LISA Technology Package, including both the inertial sensor and interferometric readout. As we approach the launch of the LISA Pathfinder, the focus of the development is shifting towards the science operations and data analysis - this is described in the final section of the paper.

Published
2015

32. A Strategy to Characterize the LISA-Pathfinder Cold Gas Thruster System

Author

Armano, M., Audley, H., Auger, G., Baird, J., Binetruy, P., Born, M., Bortoluzzi, D., Brandt, N., Bursi, A., Caleno, M., Cavalleri, A., Cesarini, A., Cruise, M., Cutler, C., Danzmann, K., Diepholz, I., Dolesi, R., Dunbar, N., Ferraioli, L., Ferroni, V., Fitzsimons, E., Freschi, M., Gallegos, J., Marirrodriga, C., Gerndt, R., Gesa, L., Gibert, F., Giardini, D., Giusteri, R., Grimani, C., Harrison, I., Heinzel, G., Hewitson, M., Hollington, D., Hueller, M., Huesler, J., Inchauspe, H., Jennrich, O., Jetzer, P., Johlander, B., Karnesis, N., Kaune, B., Korsakova, N., Killow, C., Lloro, I., Maarschalkerweerd, R., Madden, S., Maghami, P., Mance, D., Martin, V., Martin-Porqueras, F., Mateos, I., McNamara, P., Mendes, J., Mendes, L., Moroni, A., Nofrarias, M., Paczkowski, S., Perreur-Lloyd, M., Petiteau, A., Pivato, P., Plagnol, E., Prat, P., Ragnit, U., Ramos-Castro, J., Reiche, J., Perez, J., Robertson, D., Rozemeijer, H., Russano, G., Sarra, P., Schleicher, A., Slutsky, J., Sopuerta, C., Sumner, T., Texier, D., Thorpe, J., Trenkel, C., Tu, H., Vetrugno, D., Vitale, S., Wanner, G., Ward, H., Waschke, S., Wass, P., Wealthy, D., Wen, S., Weber, W., Wittchen, A., Zanoni, C., Ziegler, T., and Zweifel, P.

Subjects
Physics, History, business.industry, Astrophysics::Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics, Astrophysics, Cold gas thruster, Computer Science Applications, Education, Pathfinder, Amplitude, Component (UML), Physics::Space Physics, Aerospace engineering, business
Abstract

The LISA Pathfinder mission will demonstrate the technology of drag-free test masses for use as inertial references in future space-based gravitational wave detectors. To accomplish this, the Pathfinder spacecraft will perform drag-free flight about a test mass while measuring the acceleration of this primary test mass relative to a second reference test mass. Because the reference test mass is contained within the same spacecraft, it is necessary to apply forces on it to maintain its position and attitude relative to the spacecraft. These forces are a potential source of acceleration noise in the LISA Pathfinder system that are not present in the full LISA configuration. While LISA Pathfinder has been designed to meet it's primary mission requirements in the presence of this noise, recent estimates suggest that the on-orbit performance may be limited by this `suspension noise'. The drift-mode or free-flight experiments provide an opportunity to mitigate this noise source and further characterize the underlying disturbances that are of interest to the designers of LISA-like instruments. This article provides a high-level overview of these experiments and the methods under development to analyze the resulting data.

Published
2015

33. A noise simulator for eLISA: Migrating LISA Pathfinder knowledge to the eLISA mission

Author

Armano, M., Audley, H., Auger, G., Baird, J., Binetruy, P., Born, M., Bortoluzzi, D., Brandt, N., Bursi, A., Caleno, M., Cavalleri, A., Cesarini, A., Cruise, M., Danzmann, Karsten, Diepholz, I., Dolesi, R., Dunbar, N., Ferraioli, L., Ferroni, V., Fitzsimons, E., Freschi, M., Gallegos, J., García Marirrodriga, C., Gerndt, R., Gesa, L.I., Gibert, F., Giardini, D., Giusteri, R., Grimani, C., Harrison, I., Heinzel, G., Hewitson, M., Hollington, D., Hueller, M., Huesler, J., Inchauspé, H., Jennrich, O., Jetzer, P., Johlander, B., Karnesis, N., Kaune, B., Korsakova, N., Killow, C., Lloro, I., Maarschalkerweerd, R., Madden, S., Mance, D., Martín, V., Martin-Porqueras, F., Mateos, I., McNamara, P., Mendes, J., Mendes, L., Moroni, A., Nofrarias, M., Paczkowski, S., Perreur-Lloyd, M., Petiteau, A., Pivato, P., Plagnol, E., Prat, P., Ragnit, U., Ramos-Castro, J., Reiche, J., Perez, J.A.R., Robertson, D., Rozemeijer, H., Russano, G., Sarra, P., Schleicher, A., Slutsky, J., Sopuerta, C.F., Sumner, T., Texier, D., Thorpe, J., Trenkel, C., Tu, H.B., Vetrugno, D., Vitale, S., Wanner, G., Ward, H., Waschke, S., Wass, P., Wealthy, D., Wen, S., Weber, W., Wittchen, A., Zanoni, C., Ziegler, T., Zweifel, P., Armano, M., Audley, H., Auger, G., Baird, J., Binetruy, P., Born, M., Bortoluzzi, D., Brandt, N., Bursi, A., Caleno, M., Cavalleri, A., Cesarini, A., Cruise, M., Danzmann, Karsten, Diepholz, I., Dolesi, R., Dunbar, N., Ferraioli, L., Ferroni, V., Fitzsimons, E., Freschi, M., Gallegos, J., García Marirrodriga, C., Gerndt, R., Gesa, L.I., Gibert, F., Giardini, D., Giusteri, R., Grimani, C., Harrison, I., Heinzel, G., Hewitson, M., Hollington, D., Hueller, M., Huesler, J., Inchauspé, H., Jennrich, O., Jetzer, P., Johlander, B., Karnesis, N., Kaune, B., Korsakova, N., Killow, C., Lloro, I., Maarschalkerweerd, R., Madden, S., Mance, D., Martín, V., Martin-Porqueras, F., Mateos, I., McNamara, P., Mendes, J., Mendes, L., Moroni, A., Nofrarias, M., Paczkowski, S., Perreur-Lloyd, M., Petiteau, A., Pivato, P., Plagnol, E., Prat, P., Ragnit, U., Ramos-Castro, J., Reiche, J., Perez, J.A.R., Robertson, D., Rozemeijer, H., Russano, G., Sarra, P., Schleicher, A., Slutsky, J., Sopuerta, C.F., Sumner, T., Texier, D., Thorpe, J., Trenkel, C., Tu, H.B., Vetrugno, D., Vitale, S., Wanner, G., Ward, H., Waschke, S., Wass, P., Wealthy, D., Wen, S., Weber, W., Wittchen, A., Zanoni, C., Ziegler, T., and Zweifel, P.

Abstract

We present a new technical simulator for the eLISA mission, based on state space modeling techniques and developed in MATLAB. This simulator computes the coordinate and velocity over time of each body involved in the constellation, i.e. the spacecraft and its test masses, taking into account the different disturbances and actuations. This allows studying the contribution of instrumental noises and system imperfections on the residual acceleration applied on the TMs, the latter reflecting the performance of the achieved free-fall along the sensitive axis. A preliminary version of the results is presented.

Published
2015

34. The LISA Pathfinder Mission

Author

Armano, M., Audley, H., Auger, G., Baird, J., Binetruy, P., Born, M., Bortoluzzi, D., Brandt, N., Bursi, A., Caleno, M., Cavalleri, A., Cesarini, A., Cruise, M., Danzmann, K., Diepholz, I., Dolesi, R., Dunbar, N., Ferraioli, L., Ferroni, V., Fitzsimons, E., Freschi, M., Gallegos, J., Marirrodriga, C.G., Gerndt, R., Gesa, L.I., Gibert, F., Giardini, D., Giusteri, R., Grimani, C., Harrison, I., Heinzel, G., Hewitson, M., Hollington, D., Hueller, M., Huesler, J., Inchauspé, H., Jennrich, O., Jetzer, P., Johlander, B., Karnesis, N., Kaune, B., Korsakova, N., Killow, C., Lloro, I., Maarschalkerweerd, R., Madden, S., Mance, D., Martín, V., Martin-Porqueras, F., Mateos, I., McNamara, P., Mendes, J., Mendes, L., Moroni, A., Nofrarias, M., Paczkowski, S., Perreur-Lloyd, M., Petiteau, A., Pivato, P., Plagnol, E., Prat, P., Ragnit, U., Ramos-Castro, J., Reiche, J., Perez, J.A.R., Robertson, D., Rozemeijer, H., Russano, G., Sarra, P., Schleicher, A., Slutsky, J., Sopuerta, C.F., Sumner, T., Texier, D., Thorpe, J., Trenkel, C., Tu, H.B., Vetrugno, D., Vitale, S., Wanner, G., Ward, H., Waschke, S., Wass, P., Wealthy, D., Wen, S., Weber, W., Wittchen, A., Zanoni, C., Ziegler, T., Zweifel, P., Armano, M., Audley, H., Auger, G., Baird, J., Binetruy, P., Born, M., Bortoluzzi, D., Brandt, N., Bursi, A., Caleno, M., Cavalleri, A., Cesarini, A., Cruise, M., Danzmann, K., Diepholz, I., Dolesi, R., Dunbar, N., Ferraioli, L., Ferroni, V., Fitzsimons, E., Freschi, M., Gallegos, J., Marirrodriga, C.G., Gerndt, R., Gesa, L.I., Gibert, F., Giardini, D., Giusteri, R., Grimani, C., Harrison, I., Heinzel, G., Hewitson, M., Hollington, D., Hueller, M., Huesler, J., Inchauspé, H., Jennrich, O., Jetzer, P., Johlander, B., Karnesis, N., Kaune, B., Korsakova, N., Killow, C., Lloro, I., Maarschalkerweerd, R., Madden, S., Mance, D., Martín, V., Martin-Porqueras, F., Mateos, I., McNamara, P., Mendes, J., Mendes, L., Moroni, A., Nofrarias, M., Paczkowski, S., Perreur-Lloyd, M., Petiteau, A., Pivato, P., Plagnol, E., Prat, P., Ragnit, U., Ramos-Castro, J., Reiche, J., Perez, J.A.R., Robertson, D., Rozemeijer, H., Russano, G., Sarra, P., Schleicher, A., Slutsky, J., Sopuerta, C.F., Sumner, T., Texier, D., Thorpe, J., Trenkel, C., Tu, H.B., Vetrugno, D., Vitale, S., Wanner, G., Ward, H., Waschke, S., Wass, P., Wealthy, D., Wen, S., Weber, W., Wittchen, A., Zanoni, C., Ziegler, T., and Zweifel, P.

Abstract

LISA Pathfinder (LPF), the second of the European Space Agency's Small Missions for Advanced Research in Technology (SMART), is a dedicated technology validation mission for future spaceborne gravitational wave detectors, such as the proposed eLISA mission. LISA Pathfinder, and its scientific payload - the LISA Technology Package - will test, in flight, the critical technologies required for low frequency gravitational wave detection: it will put two test masses in a near-perfect gravitational free-fall and control and measure their motion with unprecedented accuracy. This is achieved through technology comprising inertial sensors, high precision laser metrology, drag-free control and an ultra-precise micro-Newton propulsion system. LISA Pathfinder is due to be launched in mid-2015, with first results on the performance of the system being available 6 months thereafter. The paper introduces the LISA Pathfinder mission, followed by an explanation of the physical principles of measurement concept and associated hardware. We then provide a detailed discussion of the LISA Technology Package, including both the inertial sensor and interferometric readout. As we approach the launch of the LISA Pathfinder, the focus of the development is shifting towards the science operations and data analysis - this is described in the final section of the paper.

Published
2015

35. Free-flight experiments in LISA Pathfinder

Author

Armano, M., Audley, H., Auger, G., Baird, J., Binetruy, P., Born, M., Bortoluzzi, D., Brandt, N., Bursi, A., Caleno, M., Cavalleri, A., Cesarini, A., Cruise, M., Cutler, C., Danzmann, K., Diepholz, I., Dolesi, R., Dunbar, N., Ferraioli, L., Ferroni, V., Fitzsimons, E., Freschi, M., Gallegos, J., Marirrodriga, C.G., Gerndt, R., Gesa, L., Gibert, F., Giardini, D., Giusteri, R., Grimani, C., Harrison, I., Heinzel, G., Hewitson, M., Hollington, D., Hueller, M., Huesler, J., Inchauspé, H., Jennrich, O., Jetzer, P., Johlander, B., Karnesis, N., Kaune, B., Korsakova, N., Killow, C., Lloro, I., Maarschalkerweerd, R., Madden, S., Maghami, P., Mance, D., Martín, V., Martin-Porqueras, F., Mateos, I., McNamara, P., Mendes, J., Mendes, L., Moroni, A., Nofrarias, M., Paczkowski, S., Perreur-Lloyd, M., Petiteau, A., Pivato, P., Plagnol, E., Prat, P., Ragnit, U., Ramos-Castro, J., Reiche, J., Perez, J.A.R., Robertson, D., Rozemeijer, H., Russano, G., Sarra, P., Schleicher, A., Slutsky, J., Sopuerta, C.F., Sumner, T., Texier, D., Thorpe, J., Trenkel, C., Tu, H.B., Vetrugno, D., Vitale, S., Wanner, G., Ward, H., Waschke, S., Wass, P., Wealthy, D., Wen, S., Weber, W., Wittchen, A., Zanoni, C., Ziegler, T., Zweifel, P., Armano, M., Audley, H., Auger, G., Baird, J., Binetruy, P., Born, M., Bortoluzzi, D., Brandt, N., Bursi, A., Caleno, M., Cavalleri, A., Cesarini, A., Cruise, M., Cutler, C., Danzmann, K., Diepholz, I., Dolesi, R., Dunbar, N., Ferraioli, L., Ferroni, V., Fitzsimons, E., Freschi, M., Gallegos, J., Marirrodriga, C.G., Gerndt, R., Gesa, L., Gibert, F., Giardini, D., Giusteri, R., Grimani, C., Harrison, I., Heinzel, G., Hewitson, M., Hollington, D., Hueller, M., Huesler, J., Inchauspé, H., Jennrich, O., Jetzer, P., Johlander, B., Karnesis, N., Kaune, B., Korsakova, N., Killow, C., Lloro, I., Maarschalkerweerd, R., Madden, S., Maghami, P., Mance, D., Martín, V., Martin-Porqueras, F., Mateos, I., McNamara, P., Mendes, J., Mendes, L., Moroni, A., Nofrarias, M., Paczkowski, S., Perreur-Lloyd, M., Petiteau, A., Pivato, P., Plagnol, E., Prat, P., Ragnit, U., Ramos-Castro, J., Reiche, J., Perez, J.A.R., Robertson, D., Rozemeijer, H., Russano, G., Sarra, P., Schleicher, A., Slutsky, J., Sopuerta, C.F., Sumner, T., Texier, D., Thorpe, J., Trenkel, C., Tu, H.B., Vetrugno, D., Vitale, S., Wanner, G., Ward, H., Waschke, S., Wass, P., Wealthy, D., Wen, S., Weber, W., Wittchen, A., Zanoni, C., Ziegler, T., and Zweifel, P.

Abstract

The LISA Pathfinder mission will demonstrate the technology of drag-free test masses for use as inertial references in future space-based gravitational wave detectors. To accomplish this, the Pathfinder spacecraft will perform drag-free flight about a test mass while measuring the acceleration of this primary test mass relative to a second reference test mass. Because the reference test mass is contained within the same spacecraft, it is necessary to apply forces on it to maintain its position and attitude relative to the spacecraft. These forces are a potential source of acceleration noise in the LISA Pathfinder system that are not present in the full LISA configuration. While LISA Pathfinder has been designed to meet it's primary mission requirements in the presence of this noise, recent estimates suggest that the on-orbit performance may be limited by this 'suspension noise'. The drift-mode or free-flight experiments provide an opportunity to mitigate this noise source and further characterize the underlying disturbances that are of interest to the designers of LISA-like instruments. This article provides a high-level overview of these experiments and the methods under development to analyze the resulting data.

Published
2015

36. In-flight thermal experiments for LISA Pathfinder: Simulating temperature noise at the Inertial Sensors

Author

Gibert, F., Nofrarias, M., Armano, M., Audley, H., Auger, G., Baird, J., Binetruy, P., Born, Michael, Bortoluzzi, D., Brandt, N., Bursi, A., Caleno, M., Cavalleri, A., Cesarini, A., Cruise, M., Danzmann, Karsten, Diepholz, I., Dolesi, R., Dunbar, N., Ferraioli, L., Ferroni, V., Fitzsimons, E., Freschi, M., Gallegos, J., Garcia Marirrodriga, C., Gerndt, R., Gesa, L.I., Giardini, D., Giusteri, R., Grimani, C., Harrison, I., Heinzel, Gerhard, Hewitson, M., Hollington, D., Hueller, M., Huesler, J., Inchauspe, H., Jennrich, O., Jetzer, P., Johlander, B., Karnesis, N., Kaune, B., Korsakova, N., Killow, C., Lloro, I., Maarschalkerweerd, R., Madden, S., Maghami, P., Mance, D., Martin, V., Martin-Porqueras, F., Mateos, I., McNamara, P., Mendes, J., Mendes, L., Moroni, A., Paczkowski, S., Perreur-Lloyd, M., Petiteau, A., Pivato, P., Plagnol, E., Prat, P., Ragnit, U., Ramos-Castro, J., Reiche, J., Perez, J. A. Romera, Robertson, D., Rozemeijer, H., Russano, G., Sarra, P., Schleicher, A., Slutsky, J., Sopuerta, C.F., Sumner, T., Texier, D., Thorpe, J., Trenkel, C., Tu, H.B., Vetrugno, D., Vitale, S., Wanner, G., Ward, H., Waschke, S., Wass, P., Wealthy, D., Wen, S., Weber, W., Wittchen, A., Zanoni, C., Ziegler, T., Zweifel, P., Gibert, F., Nofrarias, M., Armano, M., Audley, H., Auger, G., Baird, J., Binetruy, P., Born, Michael, Bortoluzzi, D., Brandt, N., Bursi, A., Caleno, M., Cavalleri, A., Cesarini, A., Cruise, M., Danzmann, Karsten, Diepholz, I., Dolesi, R., Dunbar, N., Ferraioli, L., Ferroni, V., Fitzsimons, E., Freschi, M., Gallegos, J., Garcia Marirrodriga, C., Gerndt, R., Gesa, L.I., Giardini, D., Giusteri, R., Grimani, C., Harrison, I., Heinzel, Gerhard, Hewitson, M., Hollington, D., Hueller, M., Huesler, J., Inchauspe, H., Jennrich, O., Jetzer, P., Johlander, B., Karnesis, N., Kaune, B., Korsakova, N., Killow, C., Lloro, I., Maarschalkerweerd, R., Madden, S., Maghami, P., Mance, D., Martin, V., Martin-Porqueras, F., Mateos, I., McNamara, P., Mendes, J., Mendes, L., Moroni, A., Paczkowski, S., Perreur-Lloyd, M., Petiteau, A., Pivato, P., Plagnol, E., Prat, P., Ragnit, U., Ramos-Castro, J., Reiche, J., Perez, J. A. Romera, Robertson, D., Rozemeijer, H., Russano, G., Sarra, P., Schleicher, A., Slutsky, J., Sopuerta, C.F., Sumner, T., Texier, D., Thorpe, J., Trenkel, C., Tu, H.B., Vetrugno, D., Vitale, S., Wanner, G., Ward, H., Waschke, S., Wass, P., Wealthy, D., Wen, S., Weber, W., Wittchen, A., Zanoni, C., Ziegler, T., and Zweifel, P.

Abstract

Thermal Diagnostics experiments to be carried out on board LISA Pathfinder (LPF) will yield a detailed characterisation of how temperature fluctuations affect the LTP (LISA Technology Package) instrument performance, a crucial information for future space based gravitational wave detectors as the proposed eLISA. Amongst them, the study of temperature gradient fluctuations around the test masses of the Inertial Sensors will provide as well information regarding the contribution of the Brownian noise, which is expected to limit the LTP sensitivity at frequencies close to 1mHz during some LTP experiments. In this paper we report on how these kind of Thermal Diagnostics experiments were simulated in the last LPF Simulation Campaign (November, 2013) involving all the LPF Data Analysis team and using an end-to-end simulator of the whole spacecraft. Such simulation campaign was conducted under the framework of the preparation for LPF operations.

Published
2015

37. Disentangling the magnetic force noise contribution in LISA Pathfinder

Author

Armano, M., Audley, H., Auger, G., Baird, J., Binetruy, P., Born, Michael, Bortoluzzi, D., Brandt, N., Bursi, A., Caleno, M., Cavalleri, A., Cesarini, A., Cruise, M., Danzmann, Karsten, Diepholz, I., Dolesi, R., Dunbar, N., Ferraioli, L., Ferroni, V., Fitzsimons, E., Freschi, M., Gallegos, J., Marirrodriga, C. Garcia, Gerndt, R., Gesa, L.I., Gibert, F., Giardini, D., Giusteri, R., Grimani, C., Harrison, I., Heinzel, Gerhard, Hewitson, M., Hollington, D., Hueller, M., Huesler, J., Inchauspe, H., Jennrich, O., Jetzer, P., Johlander, B., Karnesis, N., Kaune, B., Korsakova, N., Killow, C., Lloro, I., Maarschalkerweerd, R., Madden, S., Mance, D., Martin, V., Martin-Porqueras, F., Mateos, I., McNamara, P., Mendes, J., Mendes, L., Moroni, A., Nofrarias, M., Paczkowski, S., Perreur-Lloyd, M., Petiteau, A., Pivato, P., Plagnol, E., Prat, P., Ragnit, U., Ramos-Castro, J., Reiche, J., Perez, J. A. Romera, Robertson, D., Rozemeijer, H., Russano, G., Sarra, P., Schleicher, A., Slutsky, J., Sopuerta, C.F., Sumner, T., Texier, D., Thorpe, J., Trenkel, C., Tu, H.B., Vitale, S., Wanner, G., Ward, H., Waschke, S., Wass, P., Wealthy, D., Wen, S., Weber, W., Wittchen, A., Zanoni, C., Ziegler, T., Zweifel, P., Armano, M., Audley, H., Auger, G., Baird, J., Binetruy, P., Born, Michael, Bortoluzzi, D., Brandt, N., Bursi, A., Caleno, M., Cavalleri, A., Cesarini, A., Cruise, M., Danzmann, Karsten, Diepholz, I., Dolesi, R., Dunbar, N., Ferraioli, L., Ferroni, V., Fitzsimons, E., Freschi, M., Gallegos, J., Marirrodriga, C. Garcia, Gerndt, R., Gesa, L.I., Gibert, F., Giardini, D., Giusteri, R., Grimani, C., Harrison, I., Heinzel, Gerhard, Hewitson, M., Hollington, D., Hueller, M., Huesler, J., Inchauspe, H., Jennrich, O., Jetzer, P., Johlander, B., Karnesis, N., Kaune, B., Korsakova, N., Killow, C., Lloro, I., Maarschalkerweerd, R., Madden, S., Mance, D., Martin, V., Martin-Porqueras, F., Mateos, I., McNamara, P., Mendes, J., Mendes, L., Moroni, A., Nofrarias, M., Paczkowski, S., Perreur-Lloyd, M., Petiteau, A., Pivato, P., Plagnol, E., Prat, P., Ragnit, U., Ramos-Castro, J., Reiche, J., Perez, J. A. Romera, Robertson, D., Rozemeijer, H., Russano, G., Sarra, P., Schleicher, A., Slutsky, J., Sopuerta, C.F., Sumner, T., Texier, D., Thorpe, J., Trenkel, C., Tu, H.B., Vitale, S., Wanner, G., Ward, H., Waschke, S., Wass, P., Wealthy, D., Wen, S., Weber, W., Wittchen, A., Zanoni, C., Ziegler, T., and Zweifel, P.

Abstract

Magnetically-induced forces on the inertial masses on-board LISA Path finder are expected to be one of the dominant contributions to the mission noise budget, accounting for up to 40%. The origin of this disturbance is the coupling of the residual magnetization and susceptibility of the test masses with the environmental magnetic field. In order to fully understand this important part of the noise model, a set of coils and magnetometers are integrated as a part of the diagnostics subsystem. During operations a sequence of magnetic excitations will be applied to precisely determine the coupling of the magnetic environment to the test mass displacement using the on-board magnetometers. Since no direct measurement of the magnetic field in the test mass position will be available, an extrapolation of the magnetic measurements to the test mass position will be carried out as a part of the data analysis activities. In this paper we show the first results on the magnetic experiments during an end-to-end LISA Path finder simulation, and we describe the methods under development to map the magnetic field on-board.

Published
2015

38. LISA Pathfinder: mission and status

Author

Antonucci, F, Armano, M, Audley, H, Auger, G, Benedetti, M, Binetruy, P, Boatella, C, Bogenstahl, J, Bortoluzzi, D, Bosetti, P, Caleno, M, Cavalleri, A, Cesa, M, Chmeissani, M, Ciani, G, Conchillo, A, Congedo, G, Cristofolini, I, Cruise, M, Danzmann, K, De Marchi, F, Diaz-Aguilo, M, Diepholz, I, Dixon, G, Dolesi, R, Dunbar, N, Fauste, J, Ferraioli, L, Fertin, D, Fichter, W, Fitzsimons, E, Freschi, M, Marin, AG, Marirrodriga, CG, Gerndt, R, Gesa, L, Gilbert, F, Giardini, D, Grimani, C, Grynagier, A, Guillaume, B, Guzmán, F, Harrison, I, Heinzel, G, Hewitson, M, Hollington, D, Hough, J, Hoyland, D, Hueller, M, Huesler, J, Jeannin, O, Jennrich, O, Jetzer, P, Johlander, B, Killow, C, Llamas, X, Lloro, I, Lobo, A, Maarschalkerweerd, R, Madden, S, Mance, D, Mateos, I, McNamara, PW, Mendes, J, Mitchell, E, Monsky, A, Nicolini, D, Nicolodi, D, Nofrarias, M, Pedersen, F, Perreur-Lloyd, M, Perreca, A, Plagnol, E, Prat, P, Racca, GD, Rais, B, Ramos-Castro, J, Reiche, J, Perez, JAR, Robertson, D, Rozemeijer, H, Sanjuan, J, Schleicher, A, Schulte, M, Shaul, D, Stagnaro, L, Strandmoe, S, Steier, F, Sumner, TJ, Taylor, A, Texier, D, Trenkel, C, Tombolato, D, Vitale, S, Wanner, G, Ward, H, Waschke, S, Wass, P, Weber, WJ, Zweifel, P, Gruppo Collegato di Trento, National Institute for Nuclear Physics ( INFN ), European Space Astronomy Centre, European Space Agency ( ESA ), Max-Planck-Institut für Gravitationsphysik, Universitat Hannover, AstroParticule et Cosmologie ( APC - UMR 7164 ), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique ( CNRS ) -Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules du CNRS ( IN2P3 ) -Observatoire de Paris-Université Paris Diderot - Paris 7 ( UPD7 ) -Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives ( CEA ), Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales ( CNES ), European Space Technology Centre, IFAE, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona [Barcelona] ( UAB ), Department of Physics [Gainesville], University of Florida [Gainesville], ICE, Institut d'Estudis Espacials de Catalunya ( IEEC-CSIC ), School of Physics and Astronomy [Birmingham], University of Birmingham [Birmingham], EPSC, Astrium Ltd, Institut für Flugmechanik und Flugregelung, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Glasgow, Astrium GmbH, Institut für Geophysik [Zürich], Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule [Zürich] ( ETH Zürich ), Istituto di Fisica, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center ( GSFC ), European Space Operations Centre, Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College London, Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität Zürich [Zürich] ( UZH ), NTE-SENER, Departament d'Enginyeria Electrònica [Barcelona], Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN), European Space Astronomy Centre (ESAC), Agence Spatiale Européenne = European Space Agency (ESA), Max-Planck-Institut für Gravitationsphysik ( Albert-Einstein-Institut ) (AEI), Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, AstroParticule et Cosmologie (APC (UMR_7164)), Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules du CNRS (IN2P3)-Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris Diderot - Paris 7 (UPD7)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse] (CNES), European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC), Institut de Física d’Altes Energies [Barcelone] (IFAE), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Department of Physics [Gainesville] (UF|Physics), University of Florida [Gainesville] (UF), Institut d'Estudis Espacials de Catalunya (IEEC-CSIC), SUPA School of Physics and Astronomy [Glasgow], Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology [Zürich] (ETH Zürich), NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC), Universität Zürich [Zürich] = University of Zurich (UZH), National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN), European Space Agency (ESA), Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules du CNRS (IN2P3)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Observatoire de Paris, PSL Research University (PSL)-PSL Research University (PSL)-Université Paris Diderot - Paris 7 (UPD7), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona [Barcelona] (UAB), Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule - Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zürich [Zürich] (ETH Zürich), Universität Zürich [Zürich] (UZH), Observatoire de Paris, and Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Université Paris Diderot - Paris 7 (UPD7)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules du CNRS (IN2P3)

Subjects
Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous), Physical Sciences, [PHYS.GRQC]Physics [physics]/General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology [gr-qc], ComputingMilieux_MISCELLANEOUS, [ PHYS.GRQC ] Physics [physics]/General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology [gr-qc]
Abstract

LISA Pathfinder, the second of the European Space Agency's Small Missions for Advanced Research in Technology (SMART), is a dedicated technology demonstrator for the joint ESA/NASA Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) mission. The technologies required for LISA are many and extremely challenging. This coupled with the fact that some flight hardware cannot be fully tested on ground due to Earth-induced noise led to the implementation of the LISA Pathfinder mission to test the critical LISA technologies in a flight environment. LISA Pathfinder essentially mimics one arm of the LISA constellation by shrinking the 5 million kilometre armlength down to a few tens of centimetres, giving up the sensitivity to gravitational waves, but keeping the measurement technology: the distance between the two test masses is measured using a laser interferometric technique similar to one aspect of the LISA interferometry system. The scientific objective of the LISA Pathfinder mission consists then of the first in-flight test of low frequency gravitational wave detection metrology. LISA Pathfinder is due to be launched in 2013 on-board a dedicated small launch vehicle (VEGA). After a series of apogee raising manoeuvres using an expendable propulsion module, LISA Pathfinder will enter a transfer orbit towards the first Sun-Earth Lagrange point (L1). After separation from the propulsion module, the LPF spacecraft will be stabilized using the micro-Newton thrusters, entering a 500 000 km by 800 000 km Lissajous orbit around L1. Science results will be available approximately 2 months after launch. © 2011 IOP Publishing Ltd.

Published
2011

39. A comparison between fixation methods of femoral diaphyseal fractures in cats - a retrospective study.

Author

Könning, T., Maarschalkerweerd, R. J., Endenburg, N., and Theyse, L. F. H.

Abstract

Objectives To compare the outcome of three different fixation methods and to determine prognostic factors in cats with diaphyseal femoral fractures. Methods Retrospective analysis of case records of cats with diaphyseal femoral fractures surgically corrected using external fixators, bone plate or plate-rod construct. Outcome was evaluated by estimating the time to bone healing and by calculating the complication rate. Results In total, an external fixator was used in 30 cases, a bone plate in 20 cases and a plate-rod construct in 56 cases. All methods were successful in achieving bone healing without significant differences. There was a significant difference between the categorized complication rates between the treatment groups. The external fixation group had the most complications overall. When only the major and catastrophic complications were taken into account, it had the fewest complications. The plate-rod construct had the fewest complications overall, with most being major complications. The bone plate group had a complication rate between that of the external fixation and plate-rod construct groups. It had the most catastrophic complications in relative terms. Clinical Significance There was no statistically significant difference in the time to achieve bone healing but there was a significant difference in categorized complication rates between the groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2013
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40. Influence of orchiectomy on canine behaviour.

Author

Maarschalkerweerd, R. J., Endenburg, N., Kirpensteijn, J., and Knol, B. W.

Abstract

One hundred and twenty-two dog owners were interviewed to obtain information about the effects of orchiectomy on the behaviour, unwanted side effects, and testosterone-dependent disease processes in their dogs. Behavioural problems were the main reason for orchiectomy, unwanted sexual behaviour being the most common, together with roaming, aggression, and abnormal urination behaviour. Objectionable sexual behaviour, inter-male aggression, roaming, and abnormalurination were reduced after orchiectomy in approximately 60 per cent of the dogs. The side effects of orchiectomy included increased bodyweight, increased appetite and decreased activity in less than 50 per cent of the dogs, and there was asignificant relationship between increased appetite and bodyweight. The clinical signs of testosterone-dependent disease in most of the dogs either decreased or disappeared after orchiectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Published
1997
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41. The LISA Pathfinder Mission

Author

Armano, M., Audley, H., Auger, G., Baird, J., Binetruy, P., Born, M., Bortoluzzi, D., Brandt, N., Bursi, A., Caleno, M., Cavalleri, A., Cesarini, A., Cruise, M., Danzmann, K., Diepholz, I., Dolesi, R., Dunbar, N., Ferraioli, L., Ferroni, V., Fitzsimons, E., Freschi, M., Gallegos, J., Marirrodriga, C.G., Gerndt, R., Gesa, L.I., Gibert, F., Giardini, D., Giusteri, R., Grimani, C., Harrison, I., Heinzel, G., Hewitson, M., Hollington, D., Hueller, M., Huesler, J., Inchauspé, H., Jennrich, O., Jetzer, P., Johlander, B., Karnesis, N., Kaune, B., Korsakova, N., Killow, C., Lloro, I., Maarschalkerweerd, R., Madden, S., Mance, D., Martín, V., Martin-Porqueras, F., Mateos, I., McNamara, P., Mendes, J., Mendes, L., Moroni, A., Nofrarias, M., Paczkowski, S., Perreur-Lloyd, M., Petiteau, A., Pivato, P., Plagnol, E., Prat, P., Ragnit, U., Ramos-Castro, J., Reiche, J., Perez, J.A.R., Robertson, D., Rozemeijer, H., Russano, G., Sarra, P., Schleicher, A., Slutsky, J., Sopuerta, C.F., Sumner, T., Texier, D., Thorpe, J., Trenkel, C., Tu, H.B., Vetrugno, D., Vitale, S., Wanner, G., Ward, H., Waschke, S., Wass, P., Wealthy, D., Wen, S., Weber, W., Wittchen, A., Zanoni, C., Ziegler, T., and Zweifel, P.

Subjects
Critical technologies, Physical principles, Lisa technology packages, Gravitational effects, Measurement concepts, Gravity waves, Propulsion, 7. Clean energy, Technology validations, Gravitational wave detectors, Gravitational-wave detection, Low pass filters, Free flight, Dewey Decimal Classification::500 | Naturwissenschaften::530 | Physik, Inertial navigation systems, European Space Agency, Space probes, Konferenzschrift, Gravitation
Abstract

LISA Pathfinder (LPF), the second of the European Space Agency's Small Missions for Advanced Research in Technology (SMART), is a dedicated technology validation mission for future spaceborne gravitational wave detectors, such as the proposed eLISA mission. LISA Pathfinder, and its scientific payload - the LISA Technology Package - will test, in flight, the critical technologies required for low frequency gravitational wave detection: it will put two test masses in a near-perfect gravitational free-fall and control and measure their motion with unprecedented accuracy. This is achieved through technology comprising inertial sensors, high precision laser metrology, drag-free control and an ultra-precise micro-Newton propulsion system. LISA Pathfinder is due to be launched in mid-2015, with first results on the performance of the system being available 6 months thereafter. The paper introduces the LISA Pathfinder mission, followed by an explanation of the physical principles of measurement concept and associated hardware. We then provide a detailed discussion of the LISA Technology Package, including both the inertial sensor and interferometric readout. As we approach the launch of the LISA Pathfinder, the focus of the development is shifting towards the science operations and data analysis - this is described in the final section of the paper.

42. State Space Modelling and Data Analysis Exercises in LISA Pathfinder

Author

Nofrarias, M., Antonucci, F., Armano, M., Audley, H., Auger, G., Benedetti, M., Binetruy, P., Bogenstahl, J., Bortoluzzi, D., Brandt, N., Caleno, M., Cavalleri, A., Giuseppe Congedo, Cruise, M., Danzmann, K., Marchi, F., Diaz-Aguilo, M., Diepholz, I., Dixon, G., Dolesi, R., Dunbar, N., Fauste, J., Ferraioli, L., Ferroni, V., Fichter, W., Fitzsimons, E., Freschi, M., Marirrodriga, C. Garcia, Gerndt, R., Gesa, L., Gibert, F., Giardini, D., Grimani, C., Grynagier, A., Guzman, F., Harrison, I., Heinzel, G., Hewitson, M., Hollington, D., Hoyland, D., Hueller, M., Huesler, J., Jennrich, O., Jetzer, P., Johlander, B., Karnesis, N., Korsakova, N., Killow, C., Llamas, X., Lloro, I., Lobo, A., Maarschalkerweerd, R., Madden, S., Mance, D., Martin, V., Mateos, I., Mcnamara, P., Mendes, I., Mitchell, E., Nicolodi, D., Perreur-Lloyd, M., Plagnol, E., Prat, P., Ramos-Castro, J., Reiche, J., Perez, J. A. Romera, Robertson, D., Rozemeijer, H., Rossano, G., Schleicher, A., Shaul, D., Sopuerta, C. F., Sumner, T. J., Taylor, A., Texier, D., Trenkel, C., Tu, H. B., Vitale, S., Wanner, G., Ward, H., Waschke, S., Wass, P., Wealthy, D., Wen, S., Weber, W., Ziegler, T., and Zweifel, P.

Subjects
Physics - Instrumentation and Detectors, Physics - Data Analysis, Statistics and Probability, FOS: Physical sciences, General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology (gr-qc), Instrumentation and Detectors (physics.ins-det), Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics, Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics (astro-ph.IM), General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology, Data Analysis, Statistics and Probability (physics.data-an)
Abstract

LISA Pathfinder is a mission planned by the European Space Agency to test the key technologies that will allow the detection of gravitational waves in space. The instrument on-board, the LISA Technology package, will undergo an exhaustive campaign of calibrations and noise characterisation campaigns in order to fully describe the noise model. Data analysis plays an important role in the mission and for that reason the data analysis team has been developing a toolbox which contains all the functionalities required during operations. In this contribution we give an overview of recent activities, focusing on the improvements in the modelling of the instrument and in the data analysis campaigns performed both with real and simulated data., Comment: Plenary talk presented at the 9th International LISA Symposium, 21-25 May 2012, Paris

43. LISA PATHFINDER FIRST STEP TOWARD A GRAVITATIONAL WAVE SPACE OBSERVATORY

Author

Bassan, M., Armano, M., Audley, H., Auger, G., Baird, J. T., Binetruy, P., Born, M., Bortoluzzi, D., Brandt, N., Caleno, M., Carbone, L., Cavalleri, A., Cesarini, A., Ciani, G., Congedo, G., Cruise, A. M., Danzmann, K., Deus Silva, M., Rosario De Rosa, Di Fiore, L., Diaz-Aguiló, M., Diepholz, I., Dixon, G., Dolesi, R., Dunbar, N., Ferraioli, L., Ferroni, V., Fitzsimons, E. D., Flatscher, R., Freschi, M., Garcia Marín, A., García Marrirodriga, C., Gerndt, R., Gesa, L., Gibert, F., Giardini, D., Giusteri, R., Grado, A., Grimani, C., Grynagier, A., Grzymisch, J., Guzman, F., Harrison, I., Heinzel, G., Hewitson, M., Hollington, D., Hoyland, D., Hueller, M., Inchauspé, H., Jennrich, O., Jetzer, P., Johlander, B., Karnesis, N., Kaune, B., Korsakova, N., Killow, C. J., Lobo, J. A., Lloro, I., Liu, L., López-Zaragoza, J. P., Maarschalkerweerd, R., Mance, D., Martín, V., Martin-Polo, L., Martino, J., Martin-Porqueras, F., Madden, S., Mateos, I., Mcnamara, P. W., Mendes, J., Mendes, L., Monsky, A., Nicolodi, D., Nofrarias, M., Paczkowski, S., Perreur-Lloyd, M., Petiteau, A., Pivato, P., Plagnol, E., Prat, P., Ragnit, U., Raïs, B., Ramos-Castro, J., Reiche, J., Robertson, D. I., Rozemeijer, H., Rivas, F., Russano, G., Sanjuan, J., Sarra, P., Schleicher, A., Shaul, D., Slutsky, J., Sopuerta, C. F., Stanga, R., Steier, F., Sumner, T., Texier, D., Thorpe, J. I., Trenkel, C., Tröbs, M., Tu, H. B., Vetrugno, D., Vitale, S., Wand, V., Wanner, G., Ward, H., Wass, P. J., Wealthy, D., Weber, W. J., Wissel, L., Wittchen, A., Zambotti, A., Zanoni, C., Ziegler, T., and Zweifel, P.

44. Micrometeoroid Events in LISA Pathfinder

Author

Ignacio Mateos, St Drs Operations Team, J. Grzymisch, H. Ward, D. Wealthy, H. Rozemeijer, J. A. Lobo, Gerhard Heinzel, Nicole Pagane, A. Zambotti, S. Paczkowski, Ivan Lloro, Ph. Jetzer, Antoine Petiteau, Paul McNamara, P. Prat, José F. F. Mendes, Daniele Bortoluzzi, N. Brandt, Nikolaos Karnesis, James Ira Thorpe, R. De Rosa, Michael Tröbs, Carlos F. Sopuerta, Michele Armano, L. Mendes, C. Zanoni, Davor Mance, J. O’Donnell, Daniele Vetrugno, B. Johlander, Lluis Gesa, G. Auger, Curt Cutler, John Ziemer, M. Freschi, Henri Inchauspe, A. Schleicher, F. Martin-Porqueras, M. Girard, M. Hewitson, D. Shaul, R. Maarschalkerweerd, Karsten Danzmann, T. J. Sumner, D. Texier, E. D. Fitzsimons, F. Rivas, Daniel Hollington, L. Liu, Oliver Jennrich, Miquel Nofrarías, P. Pivato, A. M. Cruise, W. J. Weber, R. Giusteri, Michael Perreur-Lloyd, John G. Baker, P. Sarra, Tobias Ziegler, N. Korsakova, Aniello Grado, Heather Audley, Peter Wass, Tyson Littenberg, Gudrun Wanner, Sophie Hourihane, Pierre Binétruy, Antonella Cavalleri, L. Di Fiore, R. Gerndt, Jacob Slutsky, Valerio Ferroni, S. Vitale, Christian J. Killow, B. Kaune, C. Trenkel, S. Madden, Diego Janches, Juan Ramos-Castro, D. Hoyland, C. Marrese-Reading, J. Reiche, Rita Dolesi, N. Dunbar, Catia Grimani, P. Barela, C. Dunn, C. García Marirrodriga, A. Wittchen, R. Flatscher, P. Maghami, U. Ragnit, I. Li, Ruggero Stanga, Mauro Hueller, Nate Demmons, S. Javidnia, Petr Pokorny, G. Dixon, J. P. López-Zaragoza, M. Born, A. Cesarini, G. Russano, Ferran Gibert, J. Martino, J. Baird, Massimo Bassan, O. Hsu, Andrew Romero-Wolf, L. Wissel, Ingo Diepholz, M. de Deus Silva, Luigi Ferraioli, Eric Plagnol, V. Martín, Domenico Giardini, M. Caleno, D. I. Robertson, Peter Zweifel, J. Mehta, L. Martin-Polo, I. Harrison, Thorpe, J. I., Slutsky, J., Baker, J. G., Littenberg, T. B., Hourihane, S., Pagane, N., Pokorny, P., Janches, D., Armano, M., Audley, H., Auger, G., Baird, J., Bassan, M., Binetruy, P., Born, M., Bortoluzzi, D., Brandt, N., Caleno, M., Cavalleri, A., Cesarini, A., Cruise, A. M., Danzmann, K., De Deus Silva, M., DE ROSA, Rosario, Di Fiore, L., Diepholz, I., Dixon, G., Dolesi, R., Dunbar, N., Ferraioli, L., Ferroni, V., Fitzsimons, E. D., Flatscher, R., Freschi, M., Garcia Marirrodriga, C., Gerndt, R., Gesa, L., Gibert, F., Giardini, D., Giusteri, R., Grado, A., Grimani, C., Grzymisch, J., Harrison, I., Heinzel, G., Hewitson, M., Hollington, D., Hoyland, D., Hueller, M., Inchauspe, H., Jennrich, O., Jetzer, P., Johlander, B., Karnesis, N., Kaune, B., Korsakova, N., Killow, C. J., Lobo, J. A., Lloro, I., Liu, L., Lopez-Zaragoza, J. P., Maarschalkerweerd, R., Mance, D., Martin, V., Martin-Polo, L., Martino, J., Martin-Porqueras, F., Madden, S., Mateos, I., Mcnamara, P. W., Mendes, J., Mendes, L., Nofrarias, M., Paczkowski, S., Perreur-Lloyd, M., Petiteau, A., Pivato, P., Plagnol, E., Prat, P., Ragnit, U., Ramos-Castro, J., Reiche, J., Robertson, D. I., Rozemeijer, H., Rivas, F., Russano, G., Sarra, P., Schleicher, A., Shaul, D., Sopuerta, C. F., Stanga, R., Sumner, T., Texier, D., Trenkel, C., Trobs, M., Vetrugno, D., Vitale, S., Wanner, G., Ward, H., Wass, P., Wealthy, D., Weber, W. J., Wissel, L., Wittchen, A., Zambotti, A., Zanoni, C., Ziegler, T., Zweifel, P., Barela, P., Cutler, C., Demmons, N., Dunn, C., Girard, M., Hsu, O., Javidnia, S., Li, I., Maghami, P., Marrese-Reading, C., Mehta, J., Romero-Wolf, A., Ziemer, J., AstroParticule et Cosmologie (APC (UMR_7164)), Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules du CNRS (IN2P3)-Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris Diderot - Paris 7 (UPD7)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. Departament d'Enginyeria Electrònica, and Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)

Subjects
Astrofísica, Solar System, 010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences, Meteors, Astrophysics, 01 natural sciences, Planet, meteoroids, 010303 astronomy & astrophysics, Earth and Planetary Astrophysics (astro-ph.EP), 0306 Physical Chemistry (incl. Structural), Settore FIS/01, Physics, Sistema solar, education.field_of_study, Micrometeoroid, Astrophysics::Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics, Meteoroids, instrumentation: miscellaneous, meteorites, meteors, meteoroids, Asteroid, Physical Sciences, 0202 Atomic, Molecular, Nuclear, Particle and Plasma Physics, Physics::Space Physics, Astrophysics::Earth and Planetary Astrophysics, miscellaneous [Instrumentation], Solar system, Population, FOS: Physical sciences, Astronomy & Astrophysics, meteorites, 0201 Astronomical and Space Sciences, 0103 physical sciences, meteors, education, 0105 earth and related environmental sciences, Science & Technology, Zodiacal light, Meteoroid, instrumentation: miscellaneou, Astronomy, Astronomy and Astrophysics, miscellaneous, meteorites, meteors, meteoroids [instrumentation], Pathfinder, 13. Climate action, Space and Planetary Science, [SDU]Sciences of the Universe [physics], Física::Astronomia i astrofísica [Àrees temàtiques de la UPC], Enginyeria electrònica::Instrumentació i mesura [Àrees temàtiques de la UPC], ORBITS, Astrophysics - Earth and Planetary Astrophysics, Meteorites
Abstract

The zodiacal dust complex, a population of dust and small particles that pervades the Solar System, provides important insight into the formation and dynamics of planets, comets, asteroids, and other bodies. Here we present a new set of data obtained using a novel technique: direct measurements of momentum transfer to a spacecraft from individual particle impacts. This technique is made possible by the extreme precision of the instruments flown on the LISA Pathfinder spacecraft, a technology demonstrator for a future space-based gravitational wave observatory that operated near the first Sun-Earth Lagrange point from early 2016 through Summer of 2017. Using a simple model of the impacts and knowledge of the control system, we show that it is possible to detect impacts and measure properties such as the transferred momentum (related to the particle's mass and velocity), direction of travel, and location of impact on the spacecraft. In this paper, we present the results of a systematic search for impacts during 4348 hours of Pathfinder data. We report a total of 54 candidates with momenta ranging from 0.2$\,\mu\textrm{Ns}$ to 230$\,\mu\textrm{Ns}$. We furthermore make a comparison of these candidates with models of micrometeoroid populations in the inner solar system including those resulting from Jupiter-family comets, Oort-cloud comets, Hailey-type comets, and Asteroids. We find that our measured population is consistent with a population dominated by Jupiter-family comets with some evidence for a smaller contribution from Hailey-type comets. This is in agreement with consensus models of the zodiacal dust complex in the momentum range sampled by LISA Pathfinder., Comment: 22 pages, 14 figures, accepted in ApJ

Published
2019

45. Sub-Femto- g Free Fall for Space-Based Gravitational Wave Observatories: LISA Pathfinder Results

Author

R. Gerndt, F. Rivas, Daniele Bortoluzzi, L. Carbone, L. Mendes, Ph. Jetzer, Walter Fichter, Jacob Slutsky, Valerio Ferroni, D. Hoyland, Ulrich Johann, Gudrun Wanner, Miquel Nofrarías, Peter Wass, Juan Ramos-Castro, Pierre Binétruy, Ivan Lloro, Lluis Gesa, G. Auger, C. Trenkel, Stefano Vitale, James Ira Thorpe, Antoine Petiteau, A. Grynagier, Paul McNamara, A. F. García Marín, G. Congedo, Luigi Ferraioli, M. Born, R. Maarschalkerweerd, Karsten Danzmann, V Wand, C. Zanoni, A. Monsky, Ruggero Stanga, Ingo Diepholz, Carlos F. Sopuerta, F. Steier, A. Cesarini, José F. F. Mendes, Tobias Ziegler, N. Korsakova, G. Russano, F. Guzmán, H. Rozemeijer, M. Hewitson, A. Schleicher, B. Johlander, J. P. López-Zaragoza, Michael Perreur-Lloyd, Michele Armano, Daniel Hollington, Daniele Vetrugno, D. Wealthy, B. Kaune, S. Madden, P. Sarra, A. Zambotti, M. Diaz-Aguilo, Christian J. Killow, Peter Zweifel, Davor Mance, D. Shaul, T. J. Sumner, L. Liu, J. Grzymisch, H. Ward, M. Freschi, L. Di Fiore, Oliver Jennrich, Michael Tröbs, H. B. Tu, R. Flatscher, M. Caleno, D. I. Robertson, J. A. Lobo, S. Paczkowski, Ferran Gibert, L. Martin-Polo, P. Prat, I. Harrison, P. Pivato, Ignacio Mateos, C. García Marirrodriga, Mauro Hueller, D. Texier, A. Wittchen, U. Ragnit, Aniello Grado, Heather Audley, J Sanjuán, C. Warren, J. Reiche, B. Rais, Henri Inchauspe, G. Dixon, Eric Plagnol, V. Martín, Domenico Giardini, Daniele Nicolodi, N. Brandt, Nikolaos Karnesis, Giacomo Ciani, Antonella Cavalleri, J. Martino, R. Giusteri, L. Wissel, Rita Dolesi, J. Baird, Massimo Bassan, R. De Rosa, E. D. Fitzsimons, Gerhard Heinzel, W. J. Weber, A. M. Cruise, F. Martin-Porqueras, M. de Deus Silva, N. Dunbar, Catia Grimani, AstroParticule et Cosmologie (APC (UMR_7164)), Observatoire de Paris, PSL Research University (PSL)-PSL Research University (PSL)-Université Paris Diderot - Paris 7 (UPD7)-Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules du CNRS (IN2P3)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. Departament d'Enginyeria Electrònica, UK Space Agency, Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), Armano, M., Audley, H., Auger, G., Baird, J. T., Bassan, M., Binetruy, P., Born, M., Bortoluzzi, D., Brandt, N., Caleno, M., Carbone, L., Cavalleri, A., Cesarini, A., Ciani, G., Congedo, G., Cruise, A. M., Danzmann, K., De Deus Silva, M., DE ROSA, Rosario, Diaz Aguiló, M., Di Fiore, L., Diepholz, I., Dixon, G., Dolesi, R., Dunbar, N., Ferraioli, L., Ferroni, V., Fichter, W., Fitzsimons, E. D., Flatscher, R., Freschi, M., García Marín, A. F., García Marirrodriga, C., Gerndt, R., Gesa, L., Gibert, F., Giardini, D., Giusteri, R., Guzmán, F., Grado, A., Grimani, C., Grynagier, A., Grzymisch, J., Harrison, I., Heinzel, G., Hewitson, M., Hollington, D., Hoyland, D., Hueller, M., Inchauspé, H., Jennrich, O., Jetzer, P., Johann, U., Johlander, B., Karnesis, N., Kaune, B., Korsakova, N., Killow, C. J., Lobo, J. A., Lloro, I., Liu, L., López Zaragoza, J. P., Maarschalkerweerd, R., Mance, D., Martín, V., Martin Polo, L., Martino, J., Martin Porqueras, F., Madden, S., Mateos, I., Mcnamara, P. W., Mendes, J., Mendes, L., Monsky, A., Nicolodi, D., Nofrarias, M., Paczkowski, S., Perreur Lloyd, M., Petiteau, A., Pivato, P., Plagnol, E., Prat, P., Ragnit, U., Raïs, B., Ramos Castro, J., Reiche, J., Robertson, D. I., Rozemeijer, H., Rivas, F., Russano, G., Sanjuán, J., Sarra, P., Schleicher, A., Shaul, D., Slutsky, J., Sopuerta, C. F., Stanga, R., Steier, F., Sumner, T., Texier, D., Thorpe, J. I., Trenkel, C., Tröbs, M., Tu, H. B., Vetrugno, D., Vitale, S., Wand, V., Wanner, G., Ward, H., Warren, C., Wass, P. J., Wealthy, D., Weber, W. J., Wissel, L., Wittchen, A., Zambotti, A., Zanoni, C., Ziegler, T., Zweifel, P., Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules du CNRS (IN2P3)-Observatoire de Paris, Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université Paris Cité (UPCité), Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Université Paris sciences et lettres (PSL)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Paris (UP), Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules du CNRS (IN2P3)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA)-Observatoire de Paris, and PSL Research University (PSL)-PSL Research University (PSL)-Université Paris Diderot - Paris 7 (UPD7)

Subjects
General Physics, Gravitational-wave observatory, detector: performance, Physics, Multidisciplinary, General Physics and Astronomy, Astrophysics, 01 natural sciences, 7. Clean energy, Noise (electronics), 09 Engineering, LISA Pathfinder, Gravitational waves, Acceleration, Physics and Astronomy (all), Square root, Ones gravitacionals, gas, 0103 physical sciences, Orders of magnitude (speed), interferometer: satellite, noise: acceleration, 010303 astronomy & astrophysics, 01 Mathematical Sciences, MISSION, Physics, LISA, Science & Technology, 02 Physical Sciences, density: spectral, 010308 nuclear & particles physics, Gravitational wave, Settore FIS/01 - Fisica Sperimentale, Astrophysics::Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics, gravitational radiation, Spectral density, gravitational radiation detector: satellite, detector: sensitivity, gravitation, Physical Sciences, viscosity, [PHYS.GRQC]Physics [physics]/General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology [gr-qc], Brownian noise, readout, INTERFEROMETER
Abstract

We report the first results of the LISA Pathfinder in-flight experiment. The results demonstrate that two free-falling reference test masses, such as those needed for a space-based gravitational wave observatory like LISA, can be put in free fall with a relative acceleration noise with a square root of the power spectral density of 5.2 +/- 0.1 fm s(exp -2)/square root of Hz, or (0.54 +/- 0.01) x 10(exp -15) g/square root of Hz, with g the standard gravity, for frequencies between 0.7 and 20 mHz. This value is lower than the LISA Pathfinder requirement by more than a factor 5 and within a factor 1.25 of the requirement for the LISA mission, and is compatible with Brownian noise from viscous damping due to the residual gas surrounding the test masses. Above 60 mHz the acceleration noise is dominated by interferometer displacement readout noise at a level of (34.8 +/- 0.3) fm square root of Hz, about 2 orders of magnitude better than requirements. At f less than or equal to 0.5 mHz we observe a low-frequency tail that stays below 12 fm s(exp -2)/square root of Hz down to 0.1 mHz. This performance would allow for a space-based gravitational wave observatory with a sensitivity close to what was originally foreseen for LISA.

Published
2016

46. Sensor Noise in LISA Pathfinder: In-Flight Performance of the Optical Test Mass Readout.

Author

Armano M, Audley H, Baird J, Binetruy P, Born M, Bortoluzzi D, Brandt N, Castelli E, Cavalleri A, Cesarini A, Cruise AM, Danzmann K, de Deus Silva M, Diepholz I, Dixon G, Dolesi R, Ferraioli L, Ferroni V, Fitzsimons ED, 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 MS, 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 CJ, Korsakova N, Lobo JA, Liu L, López-Zaragoza JP, Maarschalkerweerd R, Mance D, Martín V, Martin-Polo L, Martin-Porqueras F, Martino J, McNamara PW, 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 DI, Russano G, Sanjuan J, Slutsky J, Sopuerta CF, Steier F, Sumner T, Texier D, Thorpe JI, Vetrugno D, Vitale S, Wand V, Wanner G, Ward H, Wass PJ, Weber WJ, Wissel L, Wittchen A, and Zweifel P

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&#95;{-1.7}^{+2.4}  fm/sqrt[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.

Published
2021
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47. Analysis of the accuracy of actuation electronics in the laser interferometer space antenna pathfinder.

Author

Armano M, Audley H, Baird J, Born M, Bortoluzzi D, Cardines N, Castelli E, Cavalleri A, Cesarini A, Cruise AM, Danzmann K, de Deus Silva M, Dixon G, Dolesi R, Ferraioli L, Ferroni V, Fitzsimons ED, Freschi M, Gesa L, Giardini D, Gibert F, Giusteri R, Grimani C, Grzymisch J, Harrison I, Hartig MS, Heinzel G, Hewitson M, Hollington D, Hoyland D, Hueller M, Inchauspé H, Jennrich O, Jetzer P, Karnesis N, Kaune B, Killow CJ, Korsakova N, López-Zaragoza JP, Maarschalkerweerd R, Mance D, Martín V, Martin-Polo L, Martino J, Martin-Porqueras F, Mateos I, McNamara PW, 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 DI, Russano G, Slutsky J, Sopuerta CF, Sumner T, Texier D, Ten Pierick J, Thorpe JI, Vetrugno D, Vitale S, Wanner G, Ward H, Wass PJ, Weber WJ, Wissel L, Wittchen A, and Zweifel P

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.

Published
2020
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48. Beyond the Required LISA Free-Fall Performance: New LISA Pathfinder Results down to 20  μHz.

Author

Armano M, Audley H, Baird J, Binetruy P, Born M, Bortoluzzi D, Castelli E, Cavalleri A, Cesarini A, Cruise AM, Danzmann K, de Deus Silva M, Diepholz I, Dixon G, Dolesi R, Ferraioli L, Ferroni V, Fitzsimons ED, Freschi M, Gesa L, Gibert F, Giardini D, Giusteri R, Grimani C, Grzymisch J, Harrison I, Heinzel G, Hewitson M, Hollington D, Hoyland D, Hueller M, Inchauspé H, Jennrich O, Jetzer P, Karnesis N, Kaune B, Korsakova N, Killow CJ, Lobo JA, Lloro I, Liu L, López-Zaragoza JP, Maarschalkerweerd R, Mance D, Meshksar N, Martín V, Martin-Polo L, Martino J, Martin-Porqueras F, Mateos I, McNamara PW, Mendes J, Mendes L, Nofrarias M, Paczkowski S, Perreur-Lloyd M, Petiteau A, Pivato P, Plagnol E, Ramos-Castro J, Reiche J, Robertson DI, Rivas F, Russano G, Slutsky J, Sopuerta CF, Sumner T, Texier D, Thorpe JI, Vetrugno D, Vitale S, Wanner G, Ward H, Wass PJ, Weber WJ, Wissel L, Wittchen A, and Zweifel P

Abstract

In the months since the publication of the first results, the noise performance of LISA Pathfinder has improved because of reduced Brownian noise due to the continued decrease in pressure around the test masses, from a better correction of noninertial effects, and from a better calibration of the electrostatic force actuation. In addition, the availability of numerous long noise measurement runs, during which no perturbation is purposely applied to the test masses, has allowed the measurement of noise with good statistics down to 20  μHz. The Letter presents the measured differential acceleration noise figure, which is at (1.74±0.05)  fm s^{-2}/sqrt[Hz] above 2 mHz and (6±1)×10  fm s^{-2}/sqrt[Hz] at 20  μHz, and discusses the physical sources for the measured noise. This performance provides an experimental benchmark demonstrating the ability to realize the low-frequency science potential of the LISA mission, recently selected by the European Space Agency.

Published
2018
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49. EVALUATION OF BONE MINERALIZATION BY COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY IN WILD AND CAPTIVE EUROPEAN COMMON SPADEFOOTS (PELOBATES FUSCUS), IN RELATION TO EXPOSURE TO ULTRAVIOLET B RADIATION AND DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS.

Author

van Zijll Langhout M, Struijk RPJH, Könning T, van Zuilen D, Horvath K, van Bolhuis H, Maarschalkerweerd R, and Verstappen F

Subjects
Animals, Hindlimb, Minerals administration & dosage, Skull, Vitamins administration & dosage, Animals, Wild, Animals, Zoo, Anura, Bone Density drug effects, Bone Density radiation effects, Dietary Supplements
Abstract

Captive rearing programs have been initiated to save the European common spadefoot (Pelobates fuscus), a toad species in the family of Pelobatidae, from extinction in The Netherlands. Evaluating whether this species needs ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation and/or dietary supplementation for healthy bone development is crucial for its captive management and related conservation efforts. The bone mineralization in the femurs and the thickest part of the parietal bone of the skulls of European common spadefoots (n = 51) was measured in Hounsfield units (HUs) by computed tomography. One group, containing adults (n = 8) and juveniles (n = 13), was reared at ARTIS Amsterdam Royal Zoo without UVB exposure. During their terrestrial lifetime, these specimens received a vitamin-mineral supplement. Another group, containing adults (n = 8) and juveniles (n = 10), was reared and kept in an outdoor breeding facility in Münster, Germany, with permanent access to natural UVB light, without vitamin-mineral supplementation. The HUs in the ARTIS and Münster specimens were compared with those in wild specimens (n = 12). No significant difference was found between the HUs in the femurs of both ARTIS and Münster adults and wild adults (P = 0.537; P = 0.181). The HUs in the skulls of both captive-adult groups were significantly higher than in the skulls of wild specimens (P = 0.020; P = 0.005). The HUs in the femurs of the adult ARTIS animals were significantly higher than the HUs in the femurs of the adult Münster animals (P = 0.007). The absence of UVB radiation did not seem to have a negative effect on the bone development in the terrestrial stage. This suggests that this nocturnal, subterrestrial amphibian was able to extract sufficient vitamin D 3 from its diet and did not rely heavily on photobiosynthesis through UVB exposure.

Published
2017
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50. Sub-Femto-g Free Fall for Space-Based Gravitational Wave Observatories: LISA Pathfinder Results.

Author

Armano M, Audley H, Auger G, Baird JT, Bassan M, Binetruy P, Born M, Bortoluzzi D, Brandt N, Caleno M, Carbone L, Cavalleri A, Cesarini A, Ciani G, Congedo G, Cruise AM, Danzmann K, de Deus Silva M, De Rosa R, Diaz-Aguiló M, Di Fiore L, Diepholz I, Dixon G, Dolesi R, Dunbar N, Ferraioli L, Ferroni V, Fichter W, Fitzsimons ED, Flatscher R, Freschi M, García Marín AF, García Marirrodriga C, Gerndt R, Gesa L, Gibert F, Giardini D, Giusteri R, Guzmán F, Grado A, Grimani C, Grynagier A, Grzymisch J, Harrison I, Heinzel G, Hewitson M, Hollington D, Hoyland D, Hueller M, Inchauspé H, Jennrich O, Jetzer P, Johann U, Johlander B, Karnesis N, Kaune B, Korsakova N, Killow CJ, Lobo JA, Lloro I, Liu L, López-Zaragoza JP, Maarschalkerweerd R, Mance D, Martín V, Martin-Polo L, Martino J, Martin-Porqueras F, Madden S, Mateos I, McNamara PW, Mendes J, Mendes L, Monsky A, Nicolodi D, Nofrarias M, Paczkowski S, Perreur-Lloyd M, Petiteau A, Pivato P, Plagnol E, Prat P, Ragnit U, Raïs B, Ramos-Castro J, Reiche J, Robertson DI, Rozemeijer H, Rivas F, Russano G, Sanjuán J, Sarra P, Schleicher A, Shaul D, Slutsky J, Sopuerta CF, Stanga R, Steier F, Sumner T, Texier D, Thorpe JI, Trenkel C, Tröbs M, Tu HB, Vetrugno D, Vitale S, Wand V, Wanner G, Ward H, Warren C, Wass PJ, Wealthy D, Weber WJ, Wissel L, Wittchen A, Zambotti A, Zanoni C, Ziegler T, and Zweifel P

Abstract

We report the first results of the LISA Pathfinder in-flight experiment. The results demonstrate that two free-falling reference test masses, such as those needed for a space-based gravitational wave observatory like LISA, can be put in free fall with a relative acceleration noise with a square root of the power spectral density of 5.2±0.1  fm s^{-2}/sqrt[Hz], or (0.54±0.01)×10^{-15}  g/sqrt[Hz], with g the standard gravity, for frequencies between 0.7 and 20 mHz. This value is lower than the LISA Pathfinder requirement by more than a factor 5 and within a factor 1.25 of the requirement for the LISA mission, and is compatible with Brownian noise from viscous damping due to the residual gas surrounding the test masses. Above 60 mHz the acceleration noise is dominated by interferometer displacement readout noise at a level of (34.8±0.3)  fm/sqrt[Hz], about 2 orders of magnitude better than requirements. At f≤0.5  mHz we observe a low-frequency tail that stays below 12  fm s^{-2}/sqrt[Hz] down to 0.1 mHz. This performance would allow for a space-based gravitational wave observatory with a sensitivity close to what was originally foreseen for LISA.

Published
2016
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