LISA Pathfinder micronewton cold gas thrusters: In-flight characterization

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

doi:10.1103/physrevd.99.122003

Cited by 33 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…The reason of this long term trend observed in the magnetic field on-board can be explained by the differences between LTP and DRS micro-propulsion systems. The LTP micro-propulsion system consists of three clusters each featuring four cold gas thrusters (Armano et al 2019a). The thruster system uses high-pressure Nitrogen propellant to provide very small impulses with a thrust range of 1-500 µN.…”

Section: Evolution Of the Measured On-board Magnetic Fieldmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spacecraft and interplanetary contributions to the magnetic environment on-board LISA Pathfinder

Armano

Audley

Baird

et al. 2020

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

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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 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 µHz, where we measure values around 200 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.

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Section: Evolution Of the Measured On-board Magnetic Fieldmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spacecraft and interplanetary contributions to the magnetic environment on-board LISA Pathfinder

Armano

Audley

Baird

et al. 2020

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

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show abstract

“…We mimic a degraded spacecraft stability by increasing the noisy forces and torques applied on the spacecraft. We find that multiplying the forces and torques by factors 4.5 and 2.5 respectively compared levels observed with LISA Pathfinder [11,22] the simulated stability spectra are brought up to the requirement threshold, as shown by the light blue and orange traces of Figure 3.…”

Section: A Simulation Software and Control Lawsmentioning

confidence: 81%

“…All dynamical couplings between common and differential modes such as stiffness or sensing and actuation In light blue are traced the stability curves for nominal thrust noise floor levels (from LISAPathfinder [11,22]). In orange the same curves with increased longitudinal thrust noise (×4.5) and angular thrust noise (×2.5) emulating degradation of stability performance down to requirements (at 20 mHz).…”

Section: B Experiment: Thrust Forces Along X Y and Zmentioning

confidence: 99%

On a new LISA dynamics feedback control scheme: Common-mode isolation of test mass control and probes of test-mass acceleration

Inchauspé,

Hewitson,

Sauter

et al. 2022

Preprint

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The Drag-Free and Attitude Control System is a central element of LISA technology, ensuring the very high dynamic stability of spacecraft and test masses required in order to reach the sensitivity that gravitational wave astronomy in space requires. Applying electrostatic forces on test-masses is unavoidable but should be restricted to the minimum necessary to keep the spacecraft-test masses system in place, while granting the optimal quality of test-mass free-fall. To realise this, we propose a new test-mass suspension scheme that applies forces and torques only in proportion to any differential test mass motion observed, and we demonstrate that the new scheme significantly mitigates the amount of suspension forces and torques needed to control the whole system. The mathematical method involved allows us to derive a new observable measuring the differential acceleration of test masses projected on the relevant sensitive axes, which will have important consequences for LISA data calibration, processing and analysis.

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“…The Gravitational Reference Sensor (GRS), performs capacitive sensing and electrostatic actuation of the test mass in six degrees-of-freedom [13]. This, together with an interferometric readout of the test mass position along the line-of-sight of the interferometer arms, allows the spacecraft to follow the test mass motion using micro-Newton thrusters in certain axes [14], while applying nano-Newton forces to the test mass to maintain its position inside the GRS. The LISA GRS (Figure 1) is made up of the test mass (TM), surrounded by six pairs of sensing and actuation electrodes and three additional pairs of electrodes responsible for capacitively inducing a 100 kHz potential on the test mass for position and attitude readout.…”

Section: A Gravitational Reference Sensormentioning

confidence: 99%

Numerical Modeling and Experimental Demonstration of Pulsed Charge Control for the Space Inertial Sensor used in LISA

Inchauspé,

Olatunde,

Apple

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Electrostatic charge control of isolated free-falling test masses is a key enabling technology for space-based gravitational missions. Contact-free electrostatic charge control can be achieved using photoelectron emission from metal surfaces under illumination with deep UV light. A contact-free method minimizes force disturbances that can perturb measurements or interrupt science operations. In this paper we present charge control experiments using a gravitational reference sensor geometry relevant to the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) gravitational wave observatory in a torsion pendulum apparatus. We use a UV LED light source to control the test mass potential, taking advantage of their high bandwidth to phase-lock the light output to 100 kHz electric fields used for capacitive position sensing of the test mass. We demonstrate charge-rate and test mass potential control by adjustment of the phase of the light with respect to the electric field. We present a simple physics-based model of the discharging process which explains our experimental results in terms of the UV light distribution in the sensor, surface work functions and quantum yields. A robust fitting method is used to determine the best-fit physical parameters of the model that describe the system.

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LISA Pathfinder micronewton cold gas thrusters: In-flight characterization

Cited by 33 publications

References 12 publications

Spacecraft and interplanetary contributions to the magnetic environment on-board LISA Pathfinder

Spacecraft and interplanetary contributions to the magnetic environment on-board LISA Pathfinder

On a new LISA dynamics feedback control scheme: Common-mode isolation of test mass control and probes of test-mass acceleration

Numerical Modeling and Experimental Demonstration of Pulsed Charge Control for the Space Inertial Sensor used in LISA

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