- Physical Review Journals
All JournalsPhysics Magazine
Access Provided by Xinjiang University

Physical Review D

Export citation

Export citation

Choose format for download:

Download Citation
  • Access by Xinjiang University

Thermal gradient-induced forces on geodesic reference masses for LISA

L. Carbone1, A. Cavalleri2, G. Ciani1, R. Dolesi1, M. Hueller1, D. Tombolato1, S. Vitale1, and W. J. Weber1

  • 1Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Trento and I.N.F.N. Gruppo Collegato di Trento, I-38050 Povo (TN), Italy
  • 2Centro Fisica degli Stati Aggregati, 38050 Povo (TN), Italy

PDF

Phys. Rev. D 76, 102003 – Published 16 November, 2007

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.76.102003

Abstract

The low frequency sensitivity of space-borne gravitational wave observatories will depend critically on the geodesic purity of the trajectories of orbiting test masses. Fluctuations in the temperature difference across the enclosure surrounding the free-falling test mass can produce noisy forces through several processes, including the radiometric effect, radiation pressure, and outgassing. We present here a detailed experimental investigation of thermal gradient-induced forces for the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) gravitational wave mission and the LISA Pathfinder, employing high resolution torsion pendulum measurements of the torque on a LISA-like test mass suspended inside a prototype of the LISA gravitational reference sensor that will surround the test mass in orbit. The measurement campaign, accompanied by numerical simulations of the radiometric and radiation pressure effects, allows a more accurate and representative characterization of thermal-gradient forces in the specific geometry and environment relevant to LISA free-fall. The pressure dependence of the measured torques allows clear identification of the radiometric effect, in quantitative agreement with the model developed. In the limit of zero gas pressure, the measurements are most likely dominated by outgassing, but at a low level that does not threaten the current LISA noise estimate, which assumes a maximum net force per degree of temperature difference of 100pNK for the overall thermal gradient-induced effects.

View figure in article

Article Text

References (32)

  1. P. Bender et al., LISA ESA-SCI(2000)11, 2000.
  2. J. Mester et al., Nucl. Phys. B, Proc. Suppl. 134, 147 (2004).
  3. STEP Satellite Test of the Equivalence Principle, Report on the Phase A Study, ESA/NASA-SCI(93)4, 1993.
  4. P. Toubul and M. Rodrigues, Classical Quantum Gravity 18, 2487 (2001).
  5. R. Dolesi et al., Classical Quantum Gravity 20, S99 (2003).
  6. R. T. Stebbins et al., Classical Quantum Gravity 21, S653 (2004).
  7. B. L. Schumaker, Classical Quantum Gravity 20, S239 (2003).
  8. W. J. Weber et al., Proc. SPIE Int. Soc. Opt. Eng. 4856, 31 (2003).
  9. M. Hueller et al., Classical Quantum Gravity 22, S521 (2005).
  10. S. Vitale et al., Nucl. Phys. B, Proc. Suppl. 110, 209 (2002).
  11. S. Anza et al., Classical Quantum Gravity 22, S125 (2005).
  12. M. Hueller et al., Classical Quantum Gravity 19, 1757 (2002).
  13. L. Carbone et al., Phys. Rev. D 75, 042001 (2007).
  14. L. Carbone et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 91, 151101 (2003).
  15. L. Carbone et al., Classical Quantum Gravity 21, S611 (2004).
  16. L. Carbone, Ph.D. thesis, University of Trento, 2005.
  17. L. Carbone et al., Classical Quantum Gravity 22, S509 (2005).
  18. S. Schlamminger et al., in Proceedings of the 6th International LISA Symposium, AIP Conf. Proc. No. 873 (AIP, New York, 2006), pp. 151–157.
  19. A. M. Nobili et al., Phys. Rev. D 63, 101101(R) (2001).
  20. A. M. Nobili et al., New Astron. Rev. 7, 521 (2002).
  21. S. E. Pollack et al., in Proceedings of the 6th International LISA Symposium, AIP Conf. Proc. No. 873 (AIP, New York, 2006), pp. 158–164.
  22. P. L. Bender, in Proceedings of the 6th International LISA Symposium, AIP Conf. Proc. No. 873 (AIP, New York, 2006), pp. 143–150.
  23. S. M. Merkowitz, in Proceedings of the 6th International LISA Symposium, AIP Conf. Proc. No. 873 (AIP, New York, 2006), pp. 133–142 (2006).
  24. A. Roth, Vacuum Technology (North Holland, Amsterdam, 1982).
  25. Y. Wu, J. Vac. Sci. Technol. 9, 1248 (1972).
  26. Y. Wu, J. Chem. Phys. 48, 889 (1968).
  27. Thermal Radiative Properties: Metallic Elements and Alloys, Thermophysiscal Prop. of Matter, the TPRC Data Series Vol. 7, pp. 244–245.
  28. S. Vitale, Report No. Unitn-Int-1-2003, 2003.
  29. A. Rüdiger, Residual Gas Effects in Space-borne Position Sensors, MPI für Gravitationsphysik [AEI Hannover, (unpublished)] (2002).
  30. J. F. O’Hanlon, A User Guide to Vacuum Technology (Wiley-Interscience Publication, New York, 1989).
  31. L. Carbone et al., in Proceedings of the 6th International LISA Symposium, AIP Conf. Proc. No. 873 (AIP, New York, 2006), pp. 561–565.
  32. W. Steckelmacher and M. W. Lucas, J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 16, 1453 (1983).

Outline

Information

Phys. Rev. D 76, 102003– Published 16 November, 2007
  • Received 1 July 2007

© 2007 American Physical Society

Sign In to Your Journals Account

Filter

Filter

Article Lookup

Enter a citation