Towards the LISA backlink: Experiment design for comparing optical phase reference distribution systems
Publication date
2018-03-14
Document type
Research article
Author
Bischof, Lea
Ast, Stefan
Penkert, Daniel
Schwarze, Thomas S.
Barranco, Germán Fernández
Zwetz, Max
Veith, Sonja
Hennig, Jan Simon
Tröbs, Michael
Reiche, Jens
Gerberding, Oliver
Danzmann, Karsten
Heinzel, Gerhard
Organisational unit
Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics
Scopus ID
Series or journal
Classical and Quantum Gravity
Periodical volume
35
Part of the university bibliography
Nein
Keyword
gravitational wave detection
laser interferometer space antenna
laser interferometry
precision metrology
stray light
Abstract
LISA is a proposed space-based laser interferometer detecting gravitational waves by measuring distances between free-floating test masses housed in three satellites in a triangular constellation with laser links in-between. Each satellite contains two optical benches that are articulated by moving optical subassemblies for compensating the breathing angle in the constellation. The phase reference distribution system, also known as backlink, forms an optical bi-directional path between the intra-satellite benches. In this work we discuss phase reference implementations with a target non-reciprocity of at most 2π μrad Hz-1, equivalent to 1 pm √Hz-1 for a wavelength of 1064 nm in the frequency band from 0.1 mHz to 1 Hz. One phase reference uses a steered free beam connection, the other one a fiber together with additional laser frequencies. The noise characteristics of these implementations will be compared in a single interferometric set-up with a previously successfully tested direct fiber connection. We show the design of this interferometer created by optical simulations including ghost beam analysis, component alignment and noise estimation. First experimental results of a free beam laser link between two optical set-ups that are co-rotating by ±1° are presented. This experiment demonstrates sufficient thermal stability during rotation of less than 10-4 K √Hz-1 at 1 mHz and operation of the free beam steering mirror control over more than 1 week.
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