GRS electronics for a space-borne gravitational wave observatory

11th International LISA Symposium

Mance, D.^1 ; Zweifel, P.^1 ; Ferraioli, L.^1 ; Ten Pierick, J.^2 ; Meshksar, N.^1 ; Giardini, D.^1

Department of Earth Sciences, Institute of Geophysics, ETH Zurich, Sonneggstrasse 5, Zurich, Switzerland^1

Department of Physics, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, Zurich, Switzerland^2

关键词: Gravitational reference sensors;    Gravitational-wave observatory;    LISA Pathfinder;    Optical Metrology;    Spacecraft control;    Switzerland;    Technical solutions;    University of Zurich;   

Others  :  https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1742-6596/840/1/012040/pdf
DOI  :  10.1088/1742-6596/840/1/012040

来源: IOP

【 摘 要 】

The Gravitational Reference Sensor (GRS) electronics is a crucial element of the future space-borne gravitational wave observatory. Together with the optical metrology system, it provides position measurements of the sensor's reference body, a Test Mass (TM), for all axes. This is needed for precise spacecraft control. In addition, the GRS electronics can actuate the TM using electrostatic forces, which is used to keep the TM centered in its enclosure or to follow a certain guidance. The GRS electronics has been successfully tested during the LISA Pathfinder mission, launched in December 2015. The electronics has been designed in Switzerland by RUAG and HES-SO under supervision of ETH Zurich and University of Zurich. The paper describes the working principle and the adopted technical solutions for the LISA Pathfinder GRS electronics and for the LISA GRS electronics prototype. Both confirm the readiness of the technology for LISA.