Sensor noise in LISA Pathfinder: An extensive in-flight review of the angular and longitudinal interferometric measurement system

M. Armano , H. Audley , J. Baird (1) , P. Binetruy (1) , M. Born , D. Bortoluzzi , N. Brandt , E. Castelli , A. Cavalleri , A. Cesarini , A.M. Cruise , K. Danzmann , M. de Deus Silva , I. Diepholz , G. Dixon , R. Dolesi , L. Ferraioli , V. Ferroni , E.D. Fitzsimons , R. Flatscher , M. Freschi , A. García , R. Gerndt , L. Gesa , D. Giardini , F. Gibert , R. Giusteri , C. Grimani , J. Grzymisch , F. Guzman , I. Harrison , M-S Hartig , G. Hechenblaikner , G. Heinzel , M. Hewitson , D. Hollington , D. Hoyland , M. Hueller , H. Inchauspé (1) , O. Jennrich , P. Jetzer , U. Johann , B. Johlander , N. Karnesis (1) , B. Kaune , C.J. Killow , N. Korsakova (2) , J.A. Lobo , J.P. López-Zaragoza , R. Maarschalkerweerd , D. Mance , V. Martín , L. Martin-Polo , F. Martin-Porqueras , J. Martino (1) , P.W. Mcnamara , J. Mendes , L. Mendes , N. Meshksar , A. Monsky , M. Nofrarias , S. Paczkowski , M. Perreur-Lloyd , A. Petiteau (1) , E. Plagnol (1) , J. Ramos-Castro , J. Reiche , F. Rivas , D.I. Robertson , G. Russano , J. Sanjuan , J. Slutsky , C.F. Sopuerta , F. Steier , T. Sumner , D. Texier , J.I. Thorpe , D. Vetrugno , S. Vitale , V. Wand , G. Wanner , H. Ward , P.J. Wass , W.J. Weber , L. Wissel , A. Wittchen , P. Zweifel

1 APC (UMR_7164) - AstroParticule et Cosmologie
2 OCA - Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur

In a previous article [1], we have reported on the first subpicometer interferometer flown in space as part of ESA’s LISA Pathfinder mission, and have shown the residual sensor noise to be on the level of $32.0^{+2.4}_{-1.7}$ fm/$\sqrt{\textrm{Hz}}$. This review provides a deeper and more complete overview of the full system and its interferometric mission performance under varying operational conditions, allowing a much more detailed view on the noise model. We also include the optical measurements of rotations through differential wave front sensing (DWS), which reached a sensitivity of as good as 100 prad/$\sqrt{\textrm{Hz}}$. We present more evidence for the long-term stability of the interferometric performance and components. This proves a solid foundation for future interferometry in space such as the LISA mission.

Keywords: detector: noise; interferometer: performance; interferometer: stability; LISA; sensitivity; satellite; measurement methods

Domains: Physics [physics]; Physics [physics]; Instrumentation and Detectors [physics.ins-det]

M. Armano, H. Audley, J. Baird, P. Binetruy, M. Born, et al.. Sensor noise in LISA Pathfinder: An extensive in-flight review of the angular and longitudinal interferometric measurement system. Physical Review D, 2022, 106 (8), pp.082001. ⟨10.1103/PhysRevD.106.082001⟩. ⟨hal-03822850⟩