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1. Tilt-to-length coupling in LISA Pathfinder: long-term stability

Author: Armano, M, Audley, H, Baird, J, Binetruy, P, Born, M, Bortoluzzi, D, Castelli, E, Cavalleri, A, Cesarini, A, Cruise, A M, Danzmann, K, Silva, M de Deus, Diepholz, I, Dixon, G, Dolesi, R, Ferraioli, L, Ferroni, V, Fitzsimons, E D, Freschi, M, Gesa, L, Giardini, D, Gibert, F, Giusteri, R, Grimani, C, Grzymisch, J, Harrison, I, Hartig, M-S, Heinzel, G, Hewitson, M, Hollington, D, Hoyland, D, Hueller, M, Inchauspé, H, Jennrich, O, Jetzer, P, Johann, U, Johlander, B, Karnesis, N, Kaune, B, Killow, C J, Korsakova, N, Lobo, J A, López-Zaragoza, J P, Maarschalkerweerd, R, Mance, D, Martín, V, Martin-Polo, L, Martin-Porqueras, F, Martino, J, McNamara, P W, Mendes, J, Mendes, L, Meshksar, N, Nofrarias, M, Paczkowski, S, Perreur-Lloyd, M, Petiteau, A, Plagnol, E, Ramos-Castro, J, Reiche, J, Rivas, F, Robertson, D I, Russano, G, Sanjuan, J, Slutsky, J, Sopuerta, C F, Sumner, T, Texier, D, Thorpe, J I, Vetrugno, D, Vitale, S, Wanner, G, Ward, H, Wass, P J, Weber, W J, Wissel, L, Wittchen, A, and Zweifel, P
Subjects: Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
Abstract: The tilt-to-length coupling during the LISA Pathfinder mission has been numerically and analytically modeled for particular timespans. In this work, we investigate the long-term stability of the coupling coefficients of this noise. We show that they drifted slowly (by 1\,$\mu$m/rad and 6$\times10^{-6}$ in 100 days) and strongly correlated to temperature changes within the satellite (8\,$\mu$m/rad/K and 30$\times10^{-6}$/K). Based on analytical TTL coupling models, we attribute the temperature-driven coupling changes to rotations of the test masses and small distortions in the optical setup. Particularly, we show that LISA Pathfinder's optical baseplate was bent during the cooldown experiment, which started in late 2016 and lasted several months.
Published: 2024
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2. Precision measurements of the magnetic parameters of LISA Pathfinder test masses

Author: Armano, M, Audley, H, Baird, J, Binetruy, P, Born, M, Bortoluzzi, D, Castelli, E, Cavalleri, A, Cesarini, A, Cruise, A M, Danzmann, K, Silva, M De Deus, Diepholz, I, Dixon, G, Dolesi, R, Ferraioli, L, Ferroni, V, Fitzsimons, E D, Freschi, M, Gesa, L, Giardini, D, Gibert, F, Giusteri, R, Grimani, C, Grzymisch, J, Harrison, I, Hartig, M S, Heinzel, G, Hewitson, M, Hollington, D, Hoyland, D, Hueller, M, Inchauspé, H, Jennrich, O, Jetzer, P, Karnesis, N, Kaune, B, Korsakova, N, Killow, C J, Liu, L, Lobo, J A, López-Zaragoza, J P, Maarschalkerweerd, R, Mance, D, Martín, V, Martino, J, Martin-Polo, L, Martin-Porqueras, F, McNamara, P W, Mendes, J, Mendes, L, Meshksar, N, Nofrarias, M, Paczkowski, S, Perreur-Lloyd, M, Petiteau, A, Pivato, P, Plagnol, E, Ramos-Castro, J, Reiche, J, Rivas, F, Robertson, D I, Russano, G, Sala, L, Serrano, D, Slutsky, J, Sopuerta, C F, Sumner, T, Texier, D, Thorpe, J I, Vetrugno, D, Vitale, S, Wanner, G, Ward, H, Wass, P, Weber, W J, Wissel, L, Wittchen, A, and Zweifel, P
Subjects: Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics, General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
Abstract: A precise characterization of the magnetic properties of LISA Pathfinder free falling test-masses is of special interest for future gravitational wave observatory in space. Magnetic forces have an important impact on the instrument sensitivity in the low frequency regime below the millihertz. In this paper we report on the magnetic injection experiments performed throughout LISA Pathfinder operations. We show how these experiments allowed a high precision estimate of the instrument magnetic parameters. The remanent magnetic moment was found to have a modulus of $(0.245\pm0.081)\,\rm{nAm}^2$, the x-component of the background magnetic field within the test masses position was measured to be $(414 \pm 74)$ nT and its gradient had a value of $(-7.4\pm 2.1)\,\mu$T/m. Finally, we also measured the test mass magnetic susceptibility to be $(-3.35\pm0.15)\times$10$^{-5}$ in the low frequency regime. All results are in agreement with on-ground estimates.
Published: 2024

3. Magnetic-induced force noise in LISA Pathfinder free-falling test masses

Author: Armano, M, Audley, H, Baird, J, Binetruy, P, Born, M, Bortoluzzi, D, Castelli, E, Cavalleri, A, Cesarini, A, Cruise, A M, Danzmann, K, Silva, M De Deus, Diepholz, I, Dixon, G, Dolesi, R, Ferraioli, L, Ferroni, V, Fitzsimons, E D, Freschi, M, Gesa, L, Giardini, D, Gibert, F, Giusteri, R, Grimani, C, Grzymisch, J, Harrison, I, Hartig, M S, Heinzel, G, Hewitson, M, Hollington, D, Hoyland, D, Hueller, M, Inchauspé, H, Jennrich, O, Jetzer, P, Karnesis, N, Kaune, B, Korsakova, N, Killow, C J, Liu, L, Lobo, J A, López-Zaragoza, J P, Maarschalkerweerd, R, Mance, D, Martín, V, Martino, J, Martin-Polo, L, Martin-Porqueras, F, McNamara, P W, Mendes, J, Mendes, L, Meshksar, N, Nofrarias, M, Paczkowski, S, Perreur-Lloyd, M, Petiteau, A, Pivato, P, Plagnol, E, Ramos-Castro, J, Reiche, J, Rivas, F, Robertson, D I, Russano, G, Sala, L, Serrano, D, Slutsky, J, Sopuerta, C F, Sumner, T, Texier, D, Thorpe, J I, Vetrugno, D, Vitale, S, Wanner, G, Ward, H, Wass, P, Weber, W J, Wissel, L, Wittchen, A, and Zweifel, P
Subjects: Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics, General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
Abstract: LISA Pathfinder was a mission designed to test key technologies required for gravitational wave detection in space. Magnetically driven forces play a key role in the instrument sensitivity in the low-frequency regime, which corresponds to the measurement band of interest for future space-borne gravitational wave observatories. Magnetic-induced forces couple to the test mass motion, introducing a contribution to the relative acceleration noise between the free falling test masses. In this Letter we present the first complete estimate of this term of the instrument performance model. Our results set the magnetic-induced acceleration noise during the February 2017 noise run of $\rm 0.25_{-0.08}^{+0.15}\,fm\,s^{-2}/\sqrt{Hz}$ at 1 mHz and $\rm 1.01_{-0.24}^{+0.73}\, fm\,s^{-2}/\sqrt{Hz}$ at 0.1 mHz. We also discuss how the non-stationarities of the interplanetary magnetic field can affect these values during extreme space weather conditions.
Published: 2024

4. In-depth analysis of LISA Pathfinder performance results: Time evolution, noise projection, physical models, and implications for LISA

Author: Armano, M., Audley, H., Baird, J., Binetruy, P., Born, M., Bortoluzzi, D., Castelli, E., Cavalleri, A., Cesarini, A., Chiavegato, V., Cruise, A. M., Bosco, D. Dal, Danzmann, K., Silva, M. De Deus, Diepholz, I., Dixon, G., Dolesi, R., Ferraioli, L., Ferroni, V., Fitzsimons, E. D., Freschi, M., Gesa, L., Giardini, D., Gibert, F., Giusteri, R., Grimani, C., Grzymisch, J., Harrison, I., Hartig, M. S., Heinzel, G., Hewitson, M., Hollington, D., Hoyland, D., Hueller, M., Inchauspé, H., Jennrich, O., Jetzer, P., Johlander, B., Karnesis, N., Kaune, B., Korsakova, N., Killow, C. J., Lobo, J. A., Lopez-Zaragoza, J. P., Maarschalkerweerd, R., Mance, D., Martın, V., Martin-Polo, L., Martin-Porqueras, F., Martino, J., McNamara, P. W., Mendes, J., Mendes, L., Meshksar, N., Nofrarias, M., Paczkowski, S., Perreur-Lloyd, M., Petiteau, A., Plagnol, E., Ramos-Castro, J., Reiche, J., Rivas, F., Robertson, D. I., Russano, G., Sala, L., Slutsky, J., Sopuerta, C. F., Sumner, T., Texier, D., Thorpe, J. I., Vetrugno, D., Vitale, S., Wanner, G., Ward, H., Wass, P., Weber, W. J., Wissel, L., Wittchen, A., Zanoni, C., and Zweifel, P.
Subjects: Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
Abstract: We present an in-depth analysis of the LISA Pathfinder differential acceleration performance over the entire course of its science operations, spanning approximately 500 days. We find that: 1) the evolution of the Brownian noise that dominates the acceleration amplitude spectral density (ASD), for frequencies $f\gtrsim 1\,\text{mHz}$, is consistent with the decaying pressure due to the outgassing of a single gaseous species. 2) between $f=36\,\mu\text{Hz}$ and $1\,\text{mHz}$, the acceleration ASD shows a $1/f$ tail in excess of the Brownian noise of almost constant amplitude, with $\simeq 20\%$ fluctuations over a period of a few days, with no particular time pattern over the course of the mission; 3) at the lowest considered frequency of $f=18\,\mu\text{Hz}$, the ASD significantly deviates from the $1/f$ behavior, because of temperature fluctuations that appear to modulate a quasi-static pressure gradient, sustained by the asymmetries of the outgassing pattern. We also present the results of a projection of the observed acceleration noise on the potential sources for which we had either a direct correlation measurement, or a quantitative estimate from dedicated experiments. These sources account for approximately $40\%$ of the noise power in the $1/f$ tail. Finally, we analyze the possible sources of the remaining unexplained fraction, and identify the possible measures that may be taken to keep those under control in LISA.
Published: 2024
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5. NanoNewton electrostatic force actuators for femtoNewton-sensitive measurements: system performance test in the LISA Pathfinder mission

Author: Armano, M, Audley, H, Baird, J, Bassan, M, Binetruy, P, Born, M, Bortoluzzi, D, Castelli, E, Cavalleri, A, Cesarini, A, Chiavegato, V, Cruise, A M, Bosco, D Dal, Danzmann, K, Silva, M De Deus, De Rosa, R, Di Fiore, L, Diepholz, I, Dixon, G, Dolesi, R, Ferroni, L Ferraioli V, Fitzsimons, E D, Freschi, M, Gesa, L, Giardini, D, Gibert, F, Giusteri, R, Grado, A, Grimani, C, Grzymisch, J, Harrison, I, Hartig, M S, Heinzel, G, Hewitson, M, Hollington, D, Hoyland, D, Hueller, M, Inchauspé, H, Jennrich, O, Jetzer, P, Johlander, B, Karnesis, N, Kaune, B, Korsakova, N, Killow, C J, Liu, L, Lobo, J A, López-Zaragoza, J P, Maarschalkerweerd, R, Mance, D, Martín, V, Martin-Polo, L, Martin-Porqueras, F, Martino, J, McNamara, P W, Mendes, J, Mendes, L, Meshksar, N, Moerschell, J, Nofrarias, M, Paczkowski, S, Perreur-Lloyd, M, Petiteau, A, Plagnol, E, Praplan, C, Ramos-Castro, J, Reiche, J, Rivas, F, Robertson, D I, Russano, G, Sala, L, Sarra, P, Schule-Walewski, S L, Slutsky, J, Sopuerta, C F, Stanga, R, Sumner, T, Pierick, J ten, Texier, D, Thorpe, J I, Vetrugno, D, Vitale, S, Wanner, G, Ward, H, Wass, P, Weber, W J, Wissel, L, Wittchen, A, Zanoni, C, and Zweifel, P
Subjects: Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics, General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
Abstract: Electrostatic force actuation is a key component of the system of geodesic reference test masses (TM) for the LISA orbiting gravitational wave observatory and in particular for performance at low frequencies, below 1 mHz, where the observatory sensitivity is limited by stray force noise. The system needs to apply forces of order 10$^{-9}$ N while limiting fluctuations in the measurement band to levels approaching 10$^{-15}$ N/Hz$^{1/2}$. We present here the LISA actuation system design, based on audio-frequency voltage carrier signals, and results of its in-flight performance test with the LISA Pathfinder test mission. In LISA, TM force actuation is used to align the otherwise free-falling TM to the spacecraft-mounted optical metrology system, without any forcing along the critical gravitational wave-sensitive interferometry axes. In LISA Pathfinder, on the other hand, the actuation was used also to stabilize the TM along the critical $x$ axis joining the two TM, with the commanded actuation force entering directly into the mission's main differential acceleration science observable. The mission allowed demonstration of the full compatibility of the electrostatic actuation system with the LISA observatory requirements, including dedicated measurement campaigns to amplify, isolate, and quantify the two main force noise contributions from the actuation system, from actuator gain noise and from low frequency ``in band'' voltage fluctuations. These campaigns have shown actuation force noise to be a relevant, but not dominant, noise source in LISA Pathfinder and have allowed performance projections for the conditions expected in the LISA mission.
Published: 2023

6. Tilt-to-length coupling in LISA Pathfinder: a data analysis

Author: Armano, M, Audley, H, Baird, J, Binetruy, P, Born, M, Bortoluzzi, D, Castelli, E, Cavalleri, A, Cesarini, A, Cruise, A M, Danzmann, K, Silva, M de Deus, Diepholz, I, Dixon, G, Dolesi, R, Ferraioli, L, Ferroni, V, Fitzsimons, E D, Freschi, M, Gesa, L, Giardini, D, Gibert, F, Giusteri, R, Grimani, C, Grzymisch, J, Harrison, I, Hartig, M-S, Heinzel, G, Hewitson, M, Hollington, D, Hoyland, D, Hueller, M, Inchauspé, H, Jennrich, O, Jetzer, P, Johann, U, Johlander, B, Karnesis, N, Kaune, B, Killow, C J, Korsakova, N, Lobo, J A, López-Zaragoza, J P, Maarschalkerweerd, R, Mance, D, Martín, V, Martin-Polo, L, Martin-Porqueras, F, Martino, J, McNamara, P W, Mendes, J, Mendes, L, Meshksar, N, Nofrarias, M, Paczkowski, S, Perreur-Lloyd, M, Petiteau, A, Plagnol, E, Ramos-Castro, J, Reiche, J, Rivas, F, Robertson, D I, Russano, G, Sanjuan, J, Slutsky, J, Sopuerta, C F, Sumner, T, Tevlin, L, Texier, D, Thorpe, J I, Vetrugno, D, Vitale, S, Wanner, G, Ward, H, Wass, P J, Weber, W J, Wissel, L, Wittchen, A, and Zweifel, P
Subjects: Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
Abstract: We present a study of the tilt-to-length coupling noise during the LISA Pathfinder mission and how it depended on the system's alignment. Tilt-to-length coupling noise is the unwanted coupling of angular and lateral spacecraft or test mass motion into the primary interferometric displacement readout. It was one of the major noise sources in the LISA Pathfinder mission and is likewise expected to be a primary noise source in LISA. We demonstrate here that a recently derived and published analytical model describes the dependency of the LISA Pathfinder tilt-to-length coupling noise on the alignment of the two freely falling test masses. This was verified with the data taken before and after the realignments performed in March (engineering days) and June 2016, and during a two-day experiment in February 2017 (long cross-talk experiment). The latter was performed with the explicit goal of testing the tilt-to-length coupling noise dependency on the test mass alignment. Using the analytical model, we show that all realignments performed during the mission were only partially successful and explain the reasons why. In addition to the analytical model, we computed another physical tilt-to-length coupling model via a minimising routine making use of the long cross-talk experiment data. A similar approach could prove useful for the LISA mission.
Published: 2023
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7. Charging of free-falling test masses in orbit due to cosmic rays: results from LISA Pathfinder

Author: LISA Pathfinder Collaboration, Armano, M., Audley, H., Baird, J., Binetruy, P., Born, M., Bortoluzzi, D., Castelli, E., Cesarini, A. Cavalleri A., Cruise, A. M, Danzmann, K., Silva, M. de Deus, Diepholz, I., Dixon, G., Dolesi, R., Ferraioli, L., Ferroni, V., Fitzsimons, E. D., Freschi, M., Gesa, L., Giardini, D., Gibert, F., Giusteri, R., Grimani, C., Grzymisch, J., Harrison, I., Hartig, M. -S., Heinzel, G., Hewitson, M., Hollington, D., Hoyland, D., Hueller, M., Inchauspé, H., Jennrich, O., Jetzer, P., Karnesis, N., Kaune, B., Killow, C. J., Korsakova, N., Lobo, J. A., López-Zaragoza, J. P., Maarschalkerweerd, R., Mance, D., Martín, V., Martino, J., Martin-Polo, L., Martin-Porqueras, F., McNamara, P. W., Mendes, J., Mendes, L., Meshksar, N., Nofrarias, M., Paczkowski, S., Perreur-Lloyd, M., Petiteau, A., Plagnol, E., Ramos-Castro, J., Reiche, J., Rivas, F., Robertson, D. I., Russano, G., Slutsky, J., Sopuerta, C. F., Sumner, T. J., Texier, D., Thorpe, J. I., Vetrugno, D., Vitale, S., Wanner, G., Ward, H., Wass, P. J., Weber, W. J., Wissel, L., Wittchen, A., and Zweifel, P.
Subjects: Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
Abstract: A comprehensive summary of the measurements made to characterize test mass charging due to the space environment during the LISA Pathfinder mission is presented. Measurements of the residual charge of the test mass after release by the grabbing and positioning mechanism, show that the initial charge of the test masses was negative after all releases, leaving the test mass with a potential in the range $-12$ mV to $-512$ mV. Variations in the neutral test mass charging rate between $21.7$ e s$^{-1}$ and $30.7$ e s$^{-1}$ were observed over the course of the 17-month science operations produced by cosmic ray flux changes including a Forbush decrease associated with a small solar energetic particle event. A dependence of the cosmic ray charging rate on the test mass potential between $-30.2$ e s$^{-1}$ V$^{-1}$ and $-40.3$ e s$^{-1}$ V$^{-1}$ was observed and this is attributed to a contribution to charging from low-energy electrons emitted from the gold surfaces of the gravitational reference sensor. Data from the on-board particle detector show a reliable correlation with the charging rate and with other environmental monitors of the cosmic ray flux. This correlation is exploited to extrapolate test mass charging rates to a 20-year period giving useful insight into the expected range of charging rate that may be observed in the LISA mission., Comment: 17 pages, 10 figures
Published: 2022
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8. Deep Reinforcement Learning for Mapless Navigation of a Hybrid Aerial Underwater Vehicle with Medium Transition

Author: Grando, Ricardo Bedin, de Jesus, Junior Costa, Kich, Victor Augusto, Kolling, Alisson Henrique, Bortoluzzi, Nicolas Pieper, Pinheiro, Pedro Miranda, Neto, Armando Alves, and Drews-Jr, Paulo Lilles Jorge
Subjects: Computer Science - Robotics
Abstract: Since the application of Deep Q-Learning to the continuous action domain in Atari-like games, Deep Reinforcement Learning (Deep-RL) techniques for motion control have been qualitatively enhanced. Nowadays, modern Deep-RL can be successfully applied to solve a wide range of complex decision-making tasks for many types of vehicles. Based on this context, in this paper, we propose the use of Deep-RL to perform autonomous mapless navigation for Hybrid Unmanned Aerial Underwater Vehicles (HUAUVs), robots that can operate in both, air or water media. We developed two approaches, one deterministic and the other stochastic. Our system uses the relative localization of the vehicle and simple sparse range data to train the network. We compared our approaches with a traditional geometric tracking controller for mapless navigation. Based on experimental results, we can conclude that Deep-RL-based approaches can be successfully used to perform mapless navigation and obstacle avoidance for HUAUVs. Our vehicle accomplished the navigation in two scenarios, being capable to achieve the desired target through both environments, and even outperforming the geometric-based tracking controller on the obstacle-avoidance capability., Comment: Accepted to the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) 2021
Published: 2021

9. Estimation of the electrostatic effects in the LISA-Pathfinder critical test mass dynamics via the method of moments

Author: Zanoni, Carlo and Bortoluzzi, Daniele
Subjects: Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
Abstract: LISA-Pathfinder is an ESA space mission flown between 2015 and 2017 to demonstrate a technological maturity sufficient for building a gravitational waves telescope in space, such as the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA). A pair of cubic test masses is hosted inside the LISA-Pathfinder spacecraft and shielded from any force other than the interplanetary gravitational field. The purity of the shielding gives the performance of the mission. There are a number of aspects that had to be confirmed in-flight. One of them is the transition phase from the launch configuration, when the test masses are locked, to the science free-falling configuration. Each test mass is initially released from the mechanical constraints via a dedicated mechanism and then captured by an electrostatic control system. In fact, each test mass is surrounded by a set of electrodes for actuation and sensing purposes. The performance criterion of the release is the final velocity of the test mass relative to the spacecraft, with an upper threshold set to 5 $\mu m/s$. The LISA-Pathfinder first in-flight release velocities highlighted an unexpected dynamics with large linear and angular velocities. The electrostatic control was successful, but only relying on a manual procedure that cannot be considered as baseline for LISA. This paper helps investigating the in-flight non-compliance by dealing with the modeling of the electrostatic environment around each test mass and its contribution to the release and capture dynamics. The electrostatic model is based on the method of moments, a boundary element numerical technique suitable for estimating forces and capacitances between conductors. We also provide a short overview of the method, which can be used for the analysis of other phenomena within LISA and for the design of future gravitational waves telescopes and space projects.
Published: 2021
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10. Spacecraft and interplanetary contributions to the magnetic environment on-board LISA Pathfinder

Author: Armano, M., Audley, H., Baird, J., Binetruy, P., Born, M., Bortoluzzi, D., Castelli, E., Cavalleri, A., Cesarini, A., Cruise, A. M., Danzmann, K., Silva, M. de Deus, Diepholz, I., Dixon, G., Dolesi, R., Ferraioli, L., Ferroni, V., Fitzsimons, E. D., Freschi, M., Gesa, L., Gibert, F., Giardini, D., Giusteri, R., Grimani, C., Grzymisch, J., Harrison, I., Hartig, M-S., Heinzel, G., Hewitson, M., Hollington, D., Hoyland, D., Hueller, M., Inchauspé, H., Jennrich, O., Jetzer, P., Karnesis, N., Kaune, B., Korsakova, N., Killow, C. J., Lobo, J. A., Liu, L., López-Zaragoza, J. P., Maarschalkerweerd, R., Mance, D., Martín, V., Martin-Polo, L., Martino, J., Martin-Porqueras, F., Mateos, I., McNamara, P. W., Mendes, J., Mendes, L., Meshksar, N., Nofrarias, M., Paczkowski, S., Perreur-Lloyd, M., Petiteau, A., Pivato, P., Plagnol, E., Ramos-Castro, J., Reiche, J., Rivas, F., Robertson, D. I., Roma-Dollase, D., Russano, G., Slutsky, J., Sopuerta, C. F., Sumner, T., Telloni, D., Texier, D., Thorpe, J. I., Trenkel, C., Vetrugno, D., Vitale, S., Wanner, G., Ward, H., Wass, P. J., Wealthy, D., Weber, W. J., Wissel, L., Wittchen, A., and Zweifel, P.
Subjects: Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
Abstract: 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 $ \rm 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 $\mu$Hz, where we measure values around 200 $ \rm 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., Comment: 16 pages, 17 figures. MNRAS LaTeX style file version 3.0
Published: 2020
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11. LISA Pathfinder Performance Confirmed in an Open-Loop Configuration: Results from the Free-Fall Actuation Mode

Author: Armano, M., Audley, H., Baird, J., Binetruy, P., Born, M., Bortoluzzi, D., Castelli, E., Cavalleri, A., Cesarini, A., Cruise, A. M., Danzmann, K., Silva, M. de Deus, Diepholz, I., Dixon, G., Dolesi, R., Ferraioli, L., Ferroni, V., Fitzsimons, E. D., Freschi, M., Gesa, L., Gibert, F., Giardini, D., Giusteri, R., Grimani, C., Grzymisch, J., Harrison, I., Hartig, M-S., Heinzel, G., Hewitson, M., Hollington, D., Hoyland, D., Hueller, M., Inchauspé, H., Jennrich, O., Jetzer, P., Karnesis, N., Kaune, B., Korsakova, N., Killow, C. J., Lobo, J. A., Liu, L., Llopez-Zaragoza, J. P., Maarschalkerweerd, R., Mance, D., Meshksar, N., Martìn, V., Martin-Polo, L., Martino, J., Martin-Porqueras, F., Mateos, I., McNamara, P. W., Mendes, J., Mendes, L., Nofrarias, M., Paczkowski, S., Perreur-Lloyd, M., Petiteau, A., Pivato, P., Plagnol, E., Ramos-Castro, J., Reiche, J., Robertson, D. I., Rivas, F., Russano, G., Slutsky, J., Sopuerta, C. F., Sumner, T., Texier, D., Thorpe, J. I., Vetrugno, D., Vitale, S., Wanner, G., Ward, H., Wass, P. J., Weber, W. J., Wissel, L., Wittchen, A., and Zweifel, P.
Subjects: Physics - Space Physics, Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
Abstract: We report on the results of the LISA Pathfinder (LPF) free-fall mode experiment, in which the control force needed to compensate the quasistatic differential force acting on two test masses is applied intermittently as a series of "impulse" forces lasting a few seconds and separated by roughly 350 s periods of true free fall. This represents an alternative to the normal LPF mode of operation in which this balancing force is applied continuously, with the advantage that the acceleration noise during free fall is measured in the absence of the actuation force, thus eliminating associated noise and force calibration errors. The differential acceleration noise measurement presented here with the free-fall mode agrees with noise measured with the continuous actuation scheme, representing an important and independent confirmation of the LPF result. An additional measurement with larger actuation forces also shows that the technique can be used to eliminate actuation noise when this is a dominant factor.
Published: 2019
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12. Temperature stability in the sub-milliHertz band with LISA Pathfinder

Author: Armano, M., Audley, H., Baird, J., Binetruy, P., Born, M., Bortoluzzi, D., Castelli, E., Cavalleri, A., Cesarini, A., Cruise, A. M., Danzmann, K., Silva, M. de Deus, Diepholz, I., Dixon, G., Dolesi, R., Ferraioli, L., Ferroni, V., Fitzsimons, E. D., Freschi, M., Gesa, L., Gibert, F., Giardini, D., Giusteri, R., Grimani, C., Grzymisch, J., Harrison, I., Heinzel, G., Hewitson, M., Hollington, D., Hoyland, D., Hueller, M., Inchauspé, H., Jennrich, O., Jetzer, P., Karnesis, N., Kaune, B., Korsakova, N., Killow, C. J., Lobo, J. A., Lloro, I., Liu, L., López-Zaragoza, J. P., Maarschalkerweerd, R., Mance, D., Mansanet, C., Martín, V., Martin-Polo, L., Martino, J., Martin-Porqueras, F., Mateos, I., McNamara, P. W., Mendes, J., Mendes, L., Meshksar, N., Nofrarias, M., Paczkowski, S., Perreur-Lloyd, M., Petiteau, A., Pivato, P., Plagnol, E., Ramos-Castro, J., Reiche, J., Robertson, D. I., Rivas, F., Russano, G., Sanjuán, J., Slutsky, J., Sopuerta, C. F., Sumner, T., Texier, D., Thorpe, J. I., Trenkel, C., Vetrugno, D., Vitale, S., Wanner, G., Ward, H., Wass, P. J., Wealthy, D., Weber, W. J., Wissel, L., Wittchen, A., and Zweifel, P.
Subjects: Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics, General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
Abstract: LISA Pathfinder (LPF) was a technology pioneering mission designed to test key technologies required for gravitational wave detection in space. In the low frequency regime (milli-Hertz and below), where space-based gravitational wave observatories will operate, temperature fluctuations play a crucial role since they can couple into the interferometric measurement and the test masses' free-fall accuracy in many ways. A dedicated temperature measurement subsystem, with noise levels in 10$\,\mu$K$\,$Hz$^{-1/2}$ down to $1\,$mHz was part of the diagnostics unit on board LPF. In this paper we report on the temperature measurements throughout mission operations, characterize the thermal environment, estimate transfer functions between different locations and report temperature stability (and its time evolution) at frequencies as low as 10$\,\mu$Hz, where typically values around $1\,$K$\,$Hz$^{-1/2}$ were measured., Comment: 13 pages, 16 figures. MNRAS LaTeX style file version 3.0
Published: 2019
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13. Micrometeoroid Events in LISA Pathfinder

Author: Thorpe, James Ira, Slutsky, Jacob, Baker, John, Littenberg, Tyson, Hourihane, Sophie, Pagane, Nicole, Pokorny, Petr, Janches, Diego, Armano, Michele, Audley, Heather, Auger, G., Baird, Jonathan, Bassan, Massimo, Binetruy, Pierre, Born, Michael, Bortoluzzi, D., Brandt, N., Caleno, M., Cavalleri, A, Cesarini, A, Cruise, A. M., Danzmann, K., Silva, M. de Deus, De Rosa, R., Di Fiore, L., Diepholz, I., Dixon, G., Dolesi, R., Dunbar, N., Ferraioli, L., Ferroni, V., Fitzsimons, E., Flatscher, R., Freschi, M., Marirrodriga, C. Garcia, Gerndt, R., Gesa, L., Gibert, F., Giardini, D., Giusteri, R., Grado, A., Grimani, C., Gryzmisch, J., Harrison, I., Heinzel, G., Hewitson, M., Hollington, D., Hoyland, D., Hueller, M., Inchauspe, H., Jennrich, O., Jetzer, P., Johlander, B., Karnesis, N., Kaune, B., Korsakova, N., Killow, C., Lobo, J. A., Lloro, I., Liu, L., Lopez-Zaragoza, J. P., Maarschalkerweerd, R., Mance, D., Martin, V., Martin-Polo, L., Martino, J., Martin-Porqueras, F., Madden, S., Mateos, I., McNamara, P. W., Mendes, J., Mendes, L., Nofarias, M., Paczkowski, S., Perreur-Lloyd, M., Petiteau, A., Pivato, P., Plagnol, E., Prat, P., Ragnit, U., Ramos-Castro, J., Reiche, J., Robertson, D., Rozemeijer, H., Rivas, F., Russano, G., Sarra, P., Schleicher, A., Shaul, D., Soperta, C., Stanga, R., Sumner, T., Texier, D., Trobs, M., Vetrungno, D., Vitale, S., Wanner, G., Ward, H., Wass, P., Wealthy, D., Weber, W. J., Wissel, L., Wittchen, A., Zambotti, A., Zanoni, C., Ziegler, T., and Zweifel, P.
Subjects: Astrophysics - Earth and Planetary Astrophysics
Abstract: The zodiacal dust complex, a population of dust and small particles that pervades the Solar System, provides important insight into the formation and dynamics of planets, comets, asteroids, and other bodies. Here we present a new set of data obtained using a novel technique: direct measurements of momentum transfer to a spacecraft from individual particle impacts. This technique is made possible by the extreme precision of the instruments flown on the LISA Pathfinder spacecraft, a technology demonstrator for a future space-based gravitational wave observatory that operated near the first Sun-Earth Lagrange point from early 2016 through Summer of 2017. Using a simple model of the impacts and knowledge of the control system, we show that it is possible to detect impacts and measure properties such as the transferred momentum (related to the particle's mass and velocity), direction of travel, and location of impact on the spacecraft. In this paper, we present the results of a systematic search for impacts during 4348 hours of Pathfinder data. We report a total of 54 candidates with momenta ranging from 0.2$\,\mu\textrm{Ns}$ to 230$\,\mu\textrm{Ns}$. We furthermore make a comparison of these candidates with models of micrometeoroid populations in the inner solar system including those resulting from Jupiter-family comets, Oort-cloud comets, Hailey-type comets, and Asteroids. We find that our measured population is consistent with a population dominated by Jupiter-family comets with some evidence for a smaller contribution from Hailey-type comets. This is in agreement with consensus models of the zodiacal dust complex in the momentum range sampled by LISA Pathfinder., Comment: 22 pages, 14 figures, accepted in ApJ
Published: 2019
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14. Forbush decreases and $<$ 2-day GCR flux non-recurrent variations studied with LISA Pathfinder

Author: Grimani, C., Armano, M., Audley, H., Baird, J., Benella, S., Binetruy, P., Born, M., Bortoluzzi, D., Castelli, E., Cavalleri, A., Cesarini, A., Cruise, A. M., Danzmann, K., Silva, M. de Deus, Diepholz, I., Dixon, G., Dolesi, R., Fabi, M., Ferraioli, L., Ferroni, V., Finetti, N., Fitzsimons, E. D., Freschi, M., Gesa, L., Gibert, F., Giardini, D., Giusteri, R., Grzymisch, J., Harrison, I., Heinzel, G., Hewitson, M., Hollington, D., Hoyland, D., Hueller, M., Inchauspé, H., Jennrich, O., Jetzer, P., Karnesis, N., Kaune, B., Korsakova, N., Killow, C. J., Kudela, K., Laurenza, M., Lobo, J. A., Lloro, I., Liu, L., López-Zaragoza, J. P., Maarschalkerweerd, R., Mance, D., Meshksar, N., Martín, V., Martin-Polo, L., Martino, J., Martin-Porqueras, F., Mateos, I., McNamara, P. W., Mendes, J., Mendes, L., Nofrarias, M., Paczkowski, S., Perreur-Lloyd, M., Petiteau, A., Pivato, P., Plagnol, E., Ramos-Castro, J., Reiche, J., Robertson, D. I., Rivas, F., Russano, G., Slutsky, J., Sopuerta, C. F., Sumner, T., Telloni, D., Texier, D., Thorpe, J. I., Vetrugno, D., Villani, M., Vitale, S., Wanner, G., Ward, H., Wass, P., Weber, W. J., Wissel, L., Wittchen, A., and Zweifel, P.
Subjects: Physics - Space Physics, Astrophysics - Earth and Planetary Astrophysics, Astrophysics - Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
Abstract: Non-recurrent short term variations of the galactic cosmic-ray (GCR) flux above 70 MeV n$^{-1}$ were observed between 2016 February 18 and 2017 July 3 aboard the European Space Agency LISA Pathfinder (LPF) mission orbiting around the Lagrange point L1 at 1.5$\times$10$^6$ km from Earth. The energy dependence of three Forbush decreases (FDs) is studied and reported here. A comparison of these observations with others carried out in space down to the energy of a few tens of MeV n$^{-1}$ shows that the same GCR flux parameterization applies to events of different intensity during the main phase. FD observations in L1 with LPF and geomagnetic storm occurrence is also presented. Finally, the characteristics of GCR flux non-recurrent variations (peaks and depressions) of duration $<$ 2 days and their association with interplanetary structures are investigated. It is found that, most likely, plasma compression regions between subsequent corotating high-speed streams cause peaks, while heliospheric current sheet crossing cause the majority of the depressions.
Published: 2019
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15. LISA Pathfinder

Author: Armano, Michele, Audley, Heather, Baird, Jonathon, Binetruy, Pierre, Born, Michael, Bortoluzzi, Daniele, Castelli, Eleanora, Cavalleri, Antonella, Cesarini, Andrea, Cruise, Mike, Danzmann, Karsten, Silva, Marcus de Deus, Diepholz, Ingo, Dixon, George, Dolesi, Rita, Ferraioli, Luigi, Ferroni, Valerio, Fitzsimons, Ewan, Freschi, Mario, Gesa, Luis, Gibert, Ferran, Giardini, Domenico, Giusteri, Roberta, Grimani, Catia, Grzymisch, Jonathan, Harrison, Ian, Heinzel, Gerhard, Hewitson, Martin, Hollington, Daniel, Hoyland, David, Hueller, Mauro, Inchauspe, Henri, Jennrich, Oliver, Jetzer, Philippe, Karnesis, Nikolaos, Kaune, Brigitte, Korsakova, Natalia, Killow, Christian J, Lobo, Alberto, Lloro, Ivan, Liu, Li, Lopez-Zaragoza, Juan-Pedro, Maarschalkerweerd, Rolf, Mance, Davor, Meshksar, Neda, Martın, V, Martin-Polo, L, Martino, Joseph, Martin-Porqueras, Fernando, Mateos, Ignacio, McNamara, Paul, Mendes, Jose, Mendes, Luis, Nofrarias, Miquel, Paczkowski, Sarah, Perreur-Lloyd, Michael, Petiteau, Antoine, Pivato, Paolo, Plagnol, Eric, Ramos-Castro, Jose, Reiche, Jens, Robertson, David, Rivas, Francisco, Russano, Giuliana, Slutsky, Jacob, Sopuerta, Carlos, Sumner, Timothy, Texier, Daniel, Thorpe, Ira, Vetrugno, Daniele, Vitale, Stefano, Wanner, Gudrun, Ward, Harry, Wass, Peter, Weber, William, Wissel, Lennart, Wittchen, Andreas, and Zweifel, Peter
Subjects: Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
Abstract: Since the 2017 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded for the observation of gravitational waves, it is fair to say that the epoch of gravitational wave astronomy (GWs) has begun. However, a number of interesting sources of GWs can only be observed from space. To demonstrate the feasibility of the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA), a future gravitational wave observatory in space, the LISA Pathfinder satellite was launched on December, 3rd 2015. Measurements of the spurious forces accelerating an otherwise free-falling test mass, and detailed investigations of the individual subsystems needed to achieve the free-fall, have been conducted throughout the mission. This overview article starts with the purpose and aim of the mission, explains satellite hardware and mission operations and ends with a summary of selected important results and an outlook towards LISA. From the LISA Pathfinder experience, we can conclude that the proposed LISA mission is feasible., Comment: Preprint of an article submitted for consideration in Lepton-Photon 2017 conference proceedings \copyright 2019 copyright World Scientific Publishing Company
Published: 2019

16. LISA Pathfinder Platform Stability and Drag-free Performance

Author: Armano, Michele, Audley, Heather, Baird, Jonathon, Binetruy, Pierre, Born, Michael, Bortoluzzi, Daniele, Castelli, Eleanora, Cavalleri, Antonella, Cesarini, Andrea, Cruise, Mike, Danzmann, Karsten, Silva, Marcus de Deus, Diepholz, Igo, Dixon, George, Dolesi, Rita, Ferraioli, Luigi, Ferroni, Valerio, Fitzsimons, Ewan, Freschi, Mario, Gesa, Luis, Gibert, Ferran, Giardini, Domenico, Giusteri, Roberta, Grimani, Catia, Grzymisch, Jonathan, Harrison, Ian, Heinzel, Gerhard, Hewitson, Martin, Hollington, Daniel, Hoyland, David, Hueller, Mauro, Inchauspe, Henri, Jennrich, Oliver, Jetzer, Philippe, Karnesis, Nikolaos, Kaune, Brigitte, Korsakova, Natalia, Killow, Christian J, Lobo, Alberto, Lloro, Ivan, Liu, Li, Lopez-Zaragoza, Juan-Pedro P, Maarschalkerweerd, Rolf, Mance, Davor, Meshksar, Neda, Martın, V, Martin-Polo, L, Martino, Joseph, Martin-Porqueras, Fernando, Mateos, Ignacio, McNamara, Paul, Mendes, Jose, Mendes, Luis, Nofrarias, Miquel, Paczkowski, Sarah, Perreur-Lloyd, Michael, Petiteau, Antoine, Pivato, Paolo, Plagnol, Eric, Ramos-Castro, Jose, Reiche, Jens, Robertson, David, Rivas, Francisco, Russano, Giuliana, Slutsky, Jacob, Sopuerta, Carlos, Sumner, Timothy, Texier, Daniel, Thorpe, Ira, Vetrugno, Daniele, Vitale, Stefano, Wanner, Gudrun, Ward, Harry, Wass, Peter, Weber, William, Wissel, Lennart, Wittchen, Andreas, and Zweifel, Peter
Subjects: Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
Abstract: The science operations of the LISA Pathfinder mission has demonstrated the feasibility of sub-femto-g free-fall of macroscopic test masses necessary to build a LISA-like gravitational wave observatory in space. While the main focus of interest, i.e. the optical axis or the $x$-axis, has been extensively studied, it is also of interest to evaluate the stability of the spacecraft with respect to all the other degrees of freedom. The current paper is dedicated to such a study, with a focus set on an exhaustive and quantitative evaluation of the imperfections and dynamical effects that impact the stability with respect to its local geodesic. A model of the complete closed-loop system provides a comprehensive understanding of each part of the in-loop coordinates spectra. As will be presented, this model gives very good agreements with LISA Pathfinder flight data. It allows one to identify the physical noise source at the origin and the physical phenomena underlying the couplings. From this, the performances of the stability of the spacecraft, with respect to its geodesic, are extracted as a function of frequency. Close to $1 mHz$, the stability of the spacecraft on the $X_{SC}$, $Y_{SC}$ and $Z_{SC}$ degrees of freedom is shown to be of the order of $5.0\ 10^{-15} m\ s^{-2}/\sqrt{Hz}$ for X and $4.0 \ 10^{-14} m\ s^{-2}/\sqrt{Hz}$ for Y and Z. For the angular degrees of freedom, the values are of the order $3\ 10^{-12} rad\ s^{-2}/\sqrt{Hz}$ for $\Theta_{SC}$ and $3\ 10^{-13} rad\ s^{-2}/\sqrt{Hz}$ for $H_{SC}$ and $\Phi_{SC}$., Comment: 16 pages, 10 figures
Published: 2018
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17. Tilt-to-length coupling in LISA Pathfinder: A data analysis

Author: M. Armano, H. Audley, J. Baird, P. Binetruy, M. Born, D. Bortoluzzi, 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, M. Freschi, L. Gesa, D. Giardini, F. Gibert, R. Giusteri, C. Grimani, J. Grzymisch, I. Harrison, M-S. Hartig, G. Heinzel, M. Hewitson, D. Hollington, D. Hoyland, M. Hueller, H. Inchauspé, O. Jennrich, P. Jetzer, U. Johann, B. Johlander, N. Karnesis, B. Kaune, C. J. Killow, N. Korsakova, J. A. Lobo, J. P. López-Zaragoza, R. Maarschalkerweerd, D. Mance, V. Martín, L. Martin-Polo, F. Martin-Porqueras, J. Martino, P. W. McNamara, J. Mendes, L. Mendes, N. Meshksar, M. Nofrarias, S. Paczkowski, M. Perreur-Lloyd, A. Petiteau, E. Plagnol, J. Ramos-Castro, J. Reiche, F. Rivas, D. I. Robertson, G. Russano, J. Sanjuan, J. Slutsky, C. F. Sopuerta, T. Sumner, L. Tevlin, D. Texier, J. I. Thorpe, D. Vetrugno, S. Vitale, G. Wanner, H. Ward, P. J. Wass, W. J. Weber, L. Wissel, A. Wittchen, and P. Zweifel
Published: 2023
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18. Experimental results from the ST7 mission on LISA Pathfinder

Author: Anderson, G, Anderson, J, Anderson, M, Aveni, G, Bame, D, Barela, P, Blackman, K, Carmain, A, Chen, L, Cherng, M, Clark, S, Connally, M, Connolly, W, Conroy, D, Cooper, M, Cutler, C, D'Agostino, J, Demmons, N, Dorantes, E, Dunn, C, Duran, M, Ehrbar, E, Evans, J, Fernandez, J, Franklin, G, Girard, M, Gorelik, J, Hruby, V, Hsu, O, Jackson, D, Javidnia, S, Kern, D, Knopp, M, Kolasinski, R, Kuo, C, Le, T, Li, I, Liepack, O, Littlefield, A, Maghami, P, Malik, S, Markley, L, Martin, R, Marrese-Reading, C, Mehta, J, Mennela, J, Miller, D, Nguyen, D, O'Donnell, J, Parikh, R, Plett, G, Ramsey, T, Randolph, T, Rhodes, S, Romero-Wolf, A, Roy, T, Ruiz, A, Shaw, H, Slutsky, J, Spence, D, Stocky, J, Tallon, J, Thorpe, I, Tolman, W, Umfress, H, Valencia, R, Valerio, C, Warner, W, Wellman, J, Willis, P, Ziemer, J, Zwahlen, J, Armano, M, Audley, H, Baird, J, Binetruy, P, Born, a M, Bortoluzzi, D, Castelli, E, Cavalleri, A, Cesarini, A, Cruise, A M, Danzmann, K, Silva, M de Deus, Diepholz, I, Dixon, G, Dolesi, R, Ferraioli, L, Ferroni, V, Fitzsimons, E D, Freschi, M, Gesa, L, Gibert, F, Giardini, D, Giusteri, R, Grimani, C, Grzymisch, J, Harrison, I, Heinzel, G, Hewitson, M, Hollington, D, Hoyland, D, Hueller, M, Inchauspe, H, Jennrich, O, Jetzer, P, Karnesis, N, Kaune, B, Korsakova, N, Killow, C J, Lobo, J A, Lloro, I, Liu, L, Lopez-Zaragoza, J P, Maarschalkerweerd, R, Mance, D, Meshksar, N, Martin, V, Martin-Polo, L, Martino, J, Martin-Porqueras, F, Mateos, I, McNamara, P W, Mendes, J, Mendes, L, Nofrarias, M, Paczkowski, S, Perreur-Lloyd, M, Petiteau, A, Pivato, P, Plagnol, E, Ramos-Castro, J, Reiche, J, Robertson, D I, Rivas, F, Russano, G, Sopuerta, C F, Sumner, T, Texier, D, Vetrugno, D, Vitale, S, Wanner, G, Ward, H, Wass, P J, Weber, W J, Wissel, L, Wittchen, A, and Zweifel, P
Subjects: Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
Abstract: The Space Technology 7 Disturbance Reduction System (ST7-DRS) is a NASA technology demonstration payload that operated from January 2016 through July of 2017 on the European Space Agency's LISA Pathfinder spacecraft. The joint goal of the NASA and ESA missions was to validate key technologies for a future space-based gravitational wave observatory targeting the source-rich milliHertz band. The two primary components of ST7-DRS are a micropropulsion system based on colloidal micro-Newton thrusters (CMNTs) and a control system that simultaneously controls the attitude and position of the spacecraft and the two free-flying test masses (TMs). This paper presents our main experimental results and summarizes the overall the performance of the CMNTs and control laws. We find that the CMNT performance to be consistent with pre-flight predictions, with a measured system thrust noise on the order of $100\,\textrm{nN}/\sqrt{\textrm{Hz}}$ in the $1\,\textrm{mHz}\leq f \leq 30\,\textrm{mHz}$ band. The control system maintained the TM-spacecraft separation with an RMS error of less than 2$\,$nm and a noise spectral density of less than $3\,\textrm{nm}/\sqrt{\textrm{Hz}}$ in the same band. Thruster calibration measurements yield thrust values consistent with the performance model and ground-based thrust-stand measurements, to within a few percent. We also report a differential acceleration noise between the two test masses with a spectral density of roughly $3\,\textrm{fm}/\textrm{s}^2/\sqrt{\textrm{Hz}}$ in the $1\,\textrm{mHz}\leq f \leq 30\,\textrm{mHz}$ band, slightly less than twice as large as the best performance reported with the baseline LISA Pathfinder configuration and below the current requirements for the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) mission.
Published: 2018
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19. Precision Charge Control for Isolated Free-Falling Test Masses: LISA Pathfinder Results

Author: Armano, M., Audley, H., Baird, J., Binetruy, P., Born, M., Bortoluzzi, D., Castelli, E., Cavalleri, A., Cesarini, A., Cruise, A. M., Danzmann, K., Silva, M. de Deus, Diepholz, I., Dixon, G., Dolesi, R., Ferraioli, L., Ferroni, V., Fitzsimons, E. D., Freschi, M., Gesa, L., Giardini, D., Gibert, F., Giusteri, R., Grimani, C., Grzymisch, J., Harrison, I., Heinzel, G., Hewitson, M., Hollington, D., Hoyland, D., Hueller, M., Inchauspé, H., Jennrich, O., Jetzer, P., Karnesis, N., Kaune, B., Korsakova, N., Killow, C. J., Liu, L., Lloro, I., Lobo, J. A., López-Zaragoza, J. P., Maarschalkerweerd, R., Mailland, F., Mance, D., Martín, V., Martin-Polo, L., Martin-Porqueras, F., Martino, J., Mateos, I., McNamara, P. W., Mendes, J., Mendes, L., Meshskar, N., Nofrarias, M., Paczkowski, S., Perreur-Lloyd, M., Petiteau, A., Pfeil, M., Pivato, P., Plagnol, E., Ramos-Castro, J., Reiche, J., Robertson, D. I., Rivas, F., Russano, G., Santoruvo, G., Sarra, P., Shaul, D., Slutsky, J., Sopuerta, C. F., Sumner, T., Texier, D., Thorpe, J. I., Trenkel, C., Vetrugno, D., Vitale, S., Wanner, G., Ward, H., Waschke, S., Wass, P. J., Weber, W. J., Wissel, L., Wittchen, A., and Zweifel, P.
Subjects: Physics - Instrumentation and Detectors
Abstract: The LISA Pathfinder charge management device was responsible for neutralising the cosmic ray induced electric charge that inevitably accumulated on the free-falling test masses at the heart of the experiment. We present measurements made on ground and in-flight that quantify the performance of this contactless discharge system which was based on photo-emission under UV illumination. In addition, a two-part simulation is described that was developed alongside the hardware. Modelling of the absorbed UV light within the Pathfinder sensor was carried out with the GEANT4 software toolkit and a separate MATLAB charge transfer model calculated the net photocurrent between the test masses and surrounding housing in the presence of AC and DC electric fields. We confront the results of these models with observations and draw conclusions for the design of discharge systems for future experiments like LISA that will also employ free-falling test masses.
Published: 2018
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20. Calibrating the system dynamics of LISA Pathfinder

Author: Armano, M., Audley, H., Baird, J., Binetruy, P., Born, M., Bortoluzzi, D., Castelli, E., Cavalleri, A., Cesarini, A., Cruise, A. M., Danzmann, K., Silva, M. de Deus, Diepholz, I., Dixon, G., Dolesi, R., Ferraioli, L., Ferroni, V., Fitzsimons, E. D., Freschi, M., Gesa, L., Gibert, F., Giardini, D., Giusteri, R., Grimani, C., Grzymisch, J., Harrison, I., Heinzel, G., Hewitson, M., Hollington, D., Hoyland, D., Hueller, M., Inchauspé, H., Jennrich, O., Jetzer, P., Karnesis, N., Kaune, B., Korsakova, N., Killow, C. J., Lobo, J. A., Lloro, I., Liu, L., López-Zaragoza, J. P., Maarschalkerweerd, R., Mance, D., Meshksar, N., Martín, V., Martin-Polo, L., Martino, J., Martin-Porqueras, F., Mateos, I., McNamara, P. W., Mendes, J., Mendes, L., Nofrarias, M., Paczkowski, S., Perreur-Lloyd, M., Petiteau, A., Pivato, P., Plagnol, E., Ramos-Castro, J., Reiche, J., Robertson, D. I., Rivas, F., Russano, G., Slutsky, J., Sopuerta, C. F., Sumner, T., Texier, D., Thorpe, J. I., Vetrugno, D., Vitale, S., Wanner, G., Ward, H., Wass, P., Weber, W. J., Wissel, L., Wittchen, A., and Zweifel, P.
Subjects: Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
Abstract: LISA Pathfinder (LPF) was a European Space Agency mission with the aim to test key technologies for future space-borne gravitational-wave observatories like LISA. The main scientific goal of LPF was to demonstrate measurements of differential acceleration between free-falling test masses at the sub-femto-g level, and to understand the residual acceleration in terms of a physical model of stray forces, and displacement readout noise. A key step toward reaching the LPF goals was the correct calibration of the dynamics of LPF, which was a three-body system composed by two test-masses enclosed in a single spacecraft, and subject to control laws for system stability. In this work, we report on the calibration procedures adopted to calculate the residual differential stray force per unit mass acting on the two test-masses in their nominal positions. The physical parameters of the adopted dynamical model are presented, together with their role on LPF performance. The analysis and results of these experiments show that the dynamics of the system was accurately modeled and the dynamical parameters were stationary throughout the mission. Finally, the impact and importance of calibrating system dynamics for future space-based gravitational wave observatories is discussed.
Published: 2018
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21. Characteristics and energy dependence of recurrent galactic cosmic-ray flux depressions and of a Forbush decrease with LISA Pathfinder

Author: Armano, M., Audley, H., Baird, J., Bassan, M., Benella, S., Binetruy, P., Born, M., Bortoluzzi, D., Cavalleri, A., Cesarini, A., Cruise, A. M., Danzmann, K., Silva, M. de Deus, Diepholz, I., Dixon, G., Dolesi, R., Fabi, M., Ferraioli, L., Ferroni, V., Finetti, N., Fitzsimons, E. D., Freschi, M., Gesa, L., Gibert, F., Giardini, D., Giusteri, R., Grimani, C., Grzymisch, J., Harrison, I., Heinzel, G., Hewitson, M., Hollington, D., Hoyland, D., Hueller, M., Inchauspé, H., Jennrich, O., Jetzer, P., Karnesis, N., Kaune, B., Korsakova, N., Killow, C. J., Laurenza, M., Lobo, J. A., Lloro, I., Liu, L., López-Zaragoza, J. P., Maarschalkerweerd, R., Mance, D., Martín, V., Martin-Polo, L., Martino, J., Martin-Porqueras, F., Mateos, I., McNamara, P. W., Mendes, J., Mendes, L., Nofrarias, M., Paczkowski, S., Perreur-Lloyd, M., Petiteau, A., Pivato, P., Plagnol, E., Ramos-Castro, J., Reiche, J., Robertson, D. I., Rivas, F., Russano, G., Sabbatini, F., Slutsky, J., Sopuerta, C. F., Sumner, T., Telloni, D., Texier, D., Thorpe, J. I., Vetrugno, D., Vitale, S., Wanner, G., Ward, H., Wass, P., Weber, W. J., Wissel, L., Wittchen, A., Zambotti, A., Zanoni, C., and Zweifel, P.
Subjects: Physics - Space Physics, Astrophysics - High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena, Astrophysics - Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
Abstract: Galactic cosmic-ray (GCR) energy spectra observed in the inner heliosphere are modulated by the solar activity, the solar polarity and structures of solar and interplanetary origin. A high counting rate particle detector (PD) aboard LISA Pathfinder (LPF), meant for subsystems diagnostics, was devoted to the measurement of galactic cosmic-ray and solar energetic particle integral fluxes above 70 MeV n$^{-1}$ up to 6500 counts s$^{-1}$. PD data were gathered with a sampling time of 15 s. Characteristics and energy-dependence of GCR flux recurrent depressions and of a Forbush decrease dated August 2, 2016 are reported here. The capability of interplanetary missions, carrying PDs for instrument performance purposes, in monitoring the passage of interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs) is also discussed.
Published: 2018
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22. Measuring the Galactic Cosmic Ray Flux with the LISA Pathfinder Radiation Monitor

Author: Armano, M, Audley, H, Baird, J, Binetruy, P, Born, M, Bortoluzzi, D, Castelli, E, Cavalleri, A, Cesarini, A, Cruise, M, Danzmann, K, Silva, M de Deus, Diepholz, I, Dixon, G, Dolesi, R, Ferraioli, L, Ferroni, V, Finetti, N, Fitzsimons, E D, Freschi, M, Gesa, L, Gibert, F, Giardini, D, Giusteri, R, Grimani, C, Grzymisch, J, Harrison, I, Heinzel, G, Hewitson, M, Hollington, D, Hoyland, D, Hueller, M, Inchauspe, H, Jennrich, O, Jetzer, P, Karnesis, N, Kaune, B, Korsakova, N, Killow, C J, Lobo, J A, Lloro, I, Liu, L, Lopez-Zaragoza, J P, Maarschalkerweerd, R, Mance, D, Meshskar, N, Martin, V, Martin-Polo, L, Martino, J, Martin-Porqueras, F, Mateos, I, McNamara, P W, Mendes, J, Mendes, L, Nofrarias, M, Paczkowski, S, Perreur-Lloyd, M, Petiteau, A, Pivato, P, Plagnol, E, Ramos-Castro, J, Reiche, J, Robertson, D I, Rivas, F, Russano, G, Slutsky, J, Sopuerta, C F, Sumner, T, Texier, D, Thorpe, J I, Vetrugno, D, Vitale, S, Wanner, G, Ward, H, Wass, P, Weber, W J, Wissel, L, Wittchen, A, and Zweifel, P
Subjects: Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
Abstract: Test mass charging caused by cosmic rays will be a significant source of acceleration noise for space-based gravitational wave detectors like LISA. Operating between December 2015 and July 2017, the technology demonstration mission LISA Pathfinder included a bespoke monitor to help characterise the relationship between test mass charging and the local radiation environment. The radiation monitor made in situ measurements of the cosmic ray flux while also providing information about its energy spectrum. We describe the monitor and present measurements which show a gradual 40% increase in count rate coinciding with the declining phase of the solar cycle. Modulations of up to 10% were also observed with periods of 13 and 26 days that are associated with co-rotating interaction regions and heliospheric current sheet crossings. These variations in the flux above the monitor detection threshold (approximately 70 MeV) are shown to be coherent with measurements made by the IREM monitor on-board the Earth orbiting INTEGRAL spacecraft. Finally we use the measured deposited energy spectra, in combination with a GEANT4 model, to estimate the galactic cosmic ray differential energy spectrum over the course of the mission.
Published: 2017
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23. Charge-induced force-noise on free-falling test masses: results from LISA Pathfinder

Author: Armano, M., Audley, H., Auger, G., Baird, J. T., Binetruy, P., Born, M., Bortoluzzi, D., Brandt, N., Bursi, A., Caleno, M., Cavalleri, A., Cesarini, A., Cruise, M., Danzmann, K., Silva, M. de Deus, Diepholz, I., Dolesi, R., Dunbar, N., Ferraioli, L., Ferroni, V., Fitzsimons, E. D., Flatscher, R., Freschi, M., Gallegos, J., Marirrodriga, C. García, Gerndt, R., Gesa, L., Gibert, F., Giardini, D., Giusteri, R., Grimani, C., Grzymisch, J., Harrison, I., Heinzel, G., Hewitson, M., Hollington, D., Hueller, M., Huesler, J., Inchauspé, H., Jennrich, O., Jetzer, P., Johlander, B., Karnesis, N., Kaune, B., Killow, C. J., Korsakova, N., Lloro, I., Liu, L., Maarschalkerweerd, R., Madden, S., Mance, D., Martín, V., Martin-Polo, L., Martino, J., Martin-Porqueras, F., Mateos, I., McNamara, P. W., Mendes, J., Mendes, L., Moroni, A., Nofrarias, M., Paczkowski, S., Perreur-Lloyd, M., Petiteau, A., Pivato, P., Plagnol, E., Prat, P., Ragnit, U., Ramos-Castro, J., Reiche, J., Perez, J. A. Romera, Robertson, D. I., Rozemeijer, H., Rivas, F., Russano, G., Sarra, P., Schleicher, A., Slutsky, J., Sopuerta, C., Sumner, T. J., Texier, D., Thorpe, J. I., Trenkel, C., Vetrugno, D., Vitale, S., Wanner, G., Ward, H., Wass, P. J., Wealthy, D., Weber, W. J., Wittchen, A., Zanoni, C., Ziegler, T., and Zweifel, P.
Subjects: Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
Abstract: We report on electrostatic measurements made on board the European Space Agency mission LISA Pathfinder. Detailed measurements of the charge-induced electrostatic forces exerted on free-falling test masses (TMs) inside the capacitive gravitational reference sensor are the first made in a relevant environment for a space-based gravitational wave detector. Employing a combination of charge control and electric-field compensation, we show that the level of charge-induced acceleration noise on a single TM can be maintained at a level close to 1.0 fm/s^2/sqrt(Hz) across the 0.1-100 mHz frequency band that is crucial to an observatory such as LISA. Using dedicated measurements that detect these effects in the differential acceleration between the two test masses, we resolve the stochastic nature of the TM charge build up due to interplanetary cosmic rays and the TM charge-to-force coupling through stray electric fields in the sensor. All our measurements are in good agreement with predictions based on a relatively simple electrostatic model of the LISA Pathfinder instrument., Comment: 9 Pages, 3 figures
Published: 2017
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24. Laser Interferometer Space Antenna

Author: Amaro-Seoane, Pau, Audley, Heather, Babak, Stanislav, Baker, John, Barausse, Enrico, Bender, Peter, Berti, Emanuele, Binetruy, Pierre, Born, Michael, Bortoluzzi, Daniele, Camp, Jordan, Caprini, Chiara, Cardoso, Vitor, Colpi, Monica, Conklin, John, Cornish, Neil, Cutler, Curt, Danzmann, Karsten, Dolesi, Rita, Ferraioli, Luigi, Ferroni, Valerio, Fitzsimons, Ewan, Gair, Jonathan, Bote, Lluis Gesa, Giardini, Domenico, Gibert, Ferran, Grimani, Catia, Halloin, Hubert, Heinzel, Gerhard, Hertog, Thomas, Hewitson, Martin, Holley-Bockelmann, Kelly, Hollington, Daniel, Hueller, Mauro, Inchauspe, Henri, Jetzer, Philippe, Karnesis, Nikos, Killow, Christian, Klein, Antoine, Klipstein, Bill, Korsakova, Natalia, Larson, Shane L, Livas, Jeffrey, Lloro, Ivan, Man, Nary, Mance, Davor, Martino, Joseph, Mateos, Ignacio, McKenzie, Kirk, McWilliams, Sean T, Miller, Cole, Mueller, Guido, Nardini, Germano, Nelemans, Gijs, Nofrarias, Miquel, Petiteau, Antoine, Pivato, Paolo, Plagnol, Eric, Porter, Ed, Reiche, Jens, Robertson, David, Robertson, Norna, Rossi, Elena, Russano, Giuliana, Schutz, Bernard, Sesana, Alberto, Shoemaker, David, Slutsky, Jacob, Sopuerta, Carlos F., Sumner, Tim, Tamanini, Nicola, Thorpe, Ira, Troebs, Michael, Vallisneri, Michele, Vecchio, Alberto, Vetrugno, Daniele, Vitale, Stefano, Volonteri, Marta, Wanner, Gudrun, Ward, Harry, Wass, Peter, Weber, William, Ziemer, John, and Zweifel, Peter
Subjects: Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
Abstract: Following the selection of The Gravitational Universe by ESA, and the successful flight of LISA Pathfinder, the LISA Consortium now proposes a 4 year mission in response to ESA's call for missions for L3. The observatory will be based on three arms with six active laser links, between three identical spacecraft in a triangular formation separated by 2.5 million km. LISA is an all-sky monitor and will offer a wide view of a dynamic cosmos using Gravitational Waves as new and unique messengers to unveil The Gravitational Universe. It provides the closest ever view of the infant Universe at TeV energy scales, has known sources in the form of verification binaries in the Milky Way, and can probe the entire Universe, from its smallest scales near the horizons of black holes, all the way to cosmological scales. The LISA mission will scan the entire sky as it follows behind the Earth in its orbit, obtaining both polarisations of the Gravitational Waves simultaneously, and will measure source parameters with astrophysically relevant sensitivity in a band from below $10^{-4}\,$Hz to above $10^{-1}\,$Hz., Comment: Submitted to ESA on January 13th in response to the call for missions for the L3 slot in the Cosmic Vision Programme
Published: 2017

25. YELL/TELL: Online Community Platform for Teacher Professional Development

Author: Marenzi, Ivana, Bortoluzzi, Maria, and Kalyani, Rishita
Abstract: The community platform "Young/Teen English Language Learners" (YELL/ TELL), as mentioned by Bortoluzzi and Marenzi (2014) was "developed to respond to the needs of collaboration and sharing among trainee teachers, school teachers, teacher trainers and researchers in the field of language learning for English [as a Foreign or Second Language (FL/SL)]" (p.182). The current study focuses on ethnographic observation and data gathered during a workshop for professional development organised for experienced teachers. We compare the evidence of the teachers' actions, with the analysis of their perception about their professional use of the online environment and their critical reflection about the experience. [For the complete volume of short papers, see ED572005.]
Published: 2016

26. Charging of free-falling test masses in orbit due to cosmic rays: Results from LISA Pathfinder

Author: M. Armano, H. Audley, J. Baird, P. Binetruy, M. Born, D. Bortoluzzi, 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, M. Freschi, L. Gesa, D. Giardini, F. Gibert, R. Giusteri, C. Grimani, J. Grzymisch, I. Harrison, M.-S. Hartig, G. Heinzel, M. Hewitson, D. Hollington, D. Hoyland, M. Hueller, H. Inchauspé, O. Jennrich, P. Jetzer, N. Karnesis, B. Kaune, C. J. Killow, N. Korsakova, J. A. Lobo, J. P. López-Zaragoza, R. Maarschalkerweerd, D. Mance, V. Martín, J. Martino, L. Martin-Polo, F. Martin-Porqueras, P. W. McNamara, J. Mendes, L. Mendes, N. Meshksar, M. Nofrarias, S. Paczkowski, M. Perreur-Lloyd, A. Petiteau, E. Plagnol, J. Ramos-Castro, J. Reiche, F. Rivas, D. I. Robertson, G. Russano, J. Slutsky, C. F. Sopuerta, T. J. Sumner, D. Texier, J. I. Thorpe, D. Vetrugno, S. Vitale, G. Wanner, H. Ward, P. J. Wass, W. J. Weber, L. Wissel, A. Wittchen, and P. Zweifel
Published: 2023
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27. Free-flight experiments in LISA Pathfinder

Author: Armano, M., Audley, H., Auger, G., Baird, J., Binetruy, P., Born, M., Bortoluzzi, D., Brandt, N., Bursi, A., Caleno, M., Cavalleri, A., Cesarini, A., Cruise, M., Cutler, C., Danzmann, K., Diepholz, I., Dolesi, R., Dunbar, N., Ferraioli, L., Ferroni, V., Fitzsimons, E., Freschi, M., Gallegos, J., Marirrodriga, C. Garcia., Gerndt, R., Gesa, LI., Gibert, F., Giardini, D., Giusteri, R., Grimani, C., Harrison, I., Heinzel, G., Hewitson, M., Hollington, D., Hueller, M., Huesler, J., Inchauspe, H., Jennrich, O., Jetzer, P., Johlander, B., Karnesis, N., Kaune, B., Korsakova, N., Killow, C., Lloro, I., Maarschalkerweerd, R., Madden, S., Maghami, P., Mance, D., Martin, V., Martin-Porqueras, F., Mateos, I., McNamara, P., Mendes, J., Mendes, L., Moroni, A., Nofrarias, M., Paczkowski, S., Perreur-Lloyd, M., Petiteau, A., Pivato, P., Plagnol, E., Prat, P., Ragnit, U., Ramos-Castro, J., Reiche, J., Perez, J. A. Romera., Robertson, D., Rozemeijer, H., Russano, G., Sarra, P., Schleicher, A., Slutsky, J., Sopuerta, C. F., Sumner, T., Texier, D., Thorpe, J., Trenkel, C., Tu, H. B., Vetrugno, D., Vitale, S., Wanner, G., Ward, H., Waschke, S., Wass, P., Wealthy, D., Wen, S., Weber, W., Wittchen, A., Zanoni, C., Ziegler, T., and Zweifel, P.
Subjects: General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology, Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
Abstract: The LISA Pathfinder mission will demonstrate the technology of drag-free test masses for use as inertial references in future space-based gravitational wave detectors. To accomplish this, the Pathfinder spacecraft will perform drag-free flight about a test mass while measuring the acceleration of this primary test mass relative to a second reference test mass. Because the reference test mass is contained within the same spacecraft, it is necessary to apply forces on it to maintain its position and attitude relative to the spacecraft. These forces are a potential source of acceleration noise in the LISA Pathfinder system that are not present in the full LISA configuration. While LISA Pathfinder has been designed to meet it's primary mission requirements in the presence of this noise, recent estimates suggest that the on-orbit performance may be limited by this `suspension noise'. The drift-mode or free-flight experiments provide an opportunity to mitigate this noise source and further characterize the underlying disturbances that are of interest to the designers of LISA-like instruments. This article provides a high-level overview of these experiments and the methods under development to analyze the resulting data., Comment: 13 pages, 5 figures. Accepted to Journal Of Physics, Conference Series. Presented at 10th International LISA Symposium, May 2014, Gainesville, FL, USA
Published: 2014
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28. Sensor noise in LISA Pathfinder : An extensive in-flight review of the angular and longitudinal interferometric measurement system

Author: M. Armano, H. Audley, J. Baird, P. Binetruy, 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, O. Jennrich, P. Jetzer, U. Johann, B. Johlander, N. Karnesis, B. Kaune, C. J. Killow, N. Korsakova, J. A. Lobo, J. P. López-Zaragoza, R. Maarschalkerweerd, D. Mance, V. Martín, L. Martin-Polo, F. Martin-Porqueras, J. Martino, P. W. McNamara, J. Mendes, L. Mendes, N. Meshksar, A. Monsky, M. Nofrarias, S. Paczkowski, M. Perreur-Lloyd, A. Petiteau, E. Plagnol, 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, and P. Zweifel
Published: 2022
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29. State space modelling and data analysis exercises in LISA Pathfinder

Author: Nofrarias, M, Antonucci, F, Armano, M, Audley, H, Auger, G, Benedetti, M, Binetruy, P, Bogenstahl, J, Bortoluzzi, D, Brandt, N, Caleno, M, Cavalleri, A, Congedo, G, Cruise, M, Danzmann, K, De Marchi, F, Diaz-Aguilo, M, Diepholz, I, Dixon, G, Dolesi, R, Dunbar, N, Fauste, J, Ferraioli, L, Fichter, V Ferroni W, Fitzsimons, E, Freschi, M, Marirrodriga, C García, Gerndt, R, Gesa, L, Gibert, F, Giardini, D, Grimani, C, Grynagier, A, Guzmán, F, Harrison, I, Heinzel, G, Hewitson, M, Hollington, D, Hoyland, D, Hueller, M, Huesler, J, Jennrich, O, Jetzer, P, Johlander, B, Karnesis, N, Korsakova, N, Killow, C, Llamas, X, Lloro, I, Lobo, A, Maarschalkerweerd, R, Madden, S, Mance, D, Mateos, I, McNamara, P W, Mendes, J, Mitchell, E, Nicolini, D, Nicolodi, D, Perreur-Lloyd, M, Plagnol, E, Prat, P, Ramos-Castro, J, Reiche, J, Perez, J A Romera, Robertson, D, Rozemeijer, H, Russano, G, Schleicher, A, Shaul, D, Sopuerta, CF, Sumner, T J, Taylor, A, Texier, D, Trenkel, C, Tu, H-B, Vitale, S, Wanner, G, Ward, H, Waschke, S, Wass, P, Wealthy, D, Wen, S, Weber, W J, Ziegler, T, and Zweifel, P
Subjects: General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology, Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics, Physics - Data Analysis, Statistics and Probability, Physics - Instrumentation and Detectors
Abstract: LISA Pathfinder is a mission planned by the European Space Agency to test the key technologies that will allow the detection of gravitational waves in space. The instrument on-board, the LISA Technology package, will undergo an exhaustive campaign of calibrations and noise characterisation campaigns in order to fully describe the noise model. Data analysis plays an important role in the mission and for that reason the data analysis team has been developing a toolbox which contains all the functionalities required during operations. In this contribution we give an overview of recent activities, focusing on the improvements in the modelling of the instrument and in the data analysis campaigns performed both with real and simulated data., Comment: Plenary talk presented at the 9th International LISA Symposium, 21-25 May 2012, Paris
Published: 2013

30. The Gravitational Universe

Author: Consortium, The eLISA, Seoane, P. Amaro, Aoudia, S., Audley, H., Auger, G., Babak, S., Baker, J., Barausse, E., Barke, S., Bassan, M., Beckmann, V., Benacquista, M., Bender, P. L., Berti, E., Binétruy, P., Bogenstahl, J., Bonvin, C., Bortoluzzi, D., Brause, N. C., Brossard, J., Buchman, S., Bykov, I., Camp, J., Caprini, C., Cavalleri, A., Cerdonio, M., Ciani, G., Colpi, M., Congedo, G., Conklin, J., Cornish, N., Danzmann, K., de Vine, G., DeBra, D., Freitag, M. Dewi, Di Fiore, L., Aguilo, M. Diaz, Diepholz, I., Dolesi, R., Dotti, M., Barranco, G. Fernández, Ferraioli, L., Ferroni, V., Finetti, N., Fitzsimons, E., Gair, J., Galeazzi, F., Garcia, A., Gerberding, O., Gesa, L., Giardini, D., Gibert, F., Grimani, C., Groot, P., Cervantes, F. Guzman, Haiman, Z., Halloin, H., Heinzel, G., Hewitson, M., Hogan, C., Holz, D., Hornstrup, A., Hoyland, D., Hoyle, C. D., Hueller, M., Hughes, S., Jetzer, P., Kalogera, V., Karnesis, N., Kilic, M., Killow, C., Klipstein, W., Kochkina, E., Korsakova, N., Krolak, A., Larson, S., Lieser, M., Littenberg, T., Livas, J., Lloro, I., Mance, D., Madau, P., Maghami, P., Mahrdt, C., Marsh, T., Mateos, I., Mayer, L., McClelland, D., McKenzie, K., McWilliams, S., Merkowitz, S., Miller, C., Mitryk, S., Moerschell, J., Mohanty, S., Monsky, A., Mueller, G., Müller, V., Nelemans, G., Nicolodi, D., Nissanke, S., Nofrarias, M., Numata, K., Ohme, F., Otto, M., Perreur-Lloyd, M., Petiteau, A., Phinney, E. S., Plagnol, E., Pollack, S., Porter, E., Prat, P., Preston, A., Prince, T., Reiche, J., Richstone, D., Robertson, D., Rossi, E. M., Rosswog, S., Rubbo, L., Ruiter, A., Sanjuan, J., Sathyaprakash, B. S., Schlamminger, S., Schutz, B., Schütze, D., Sesana, A., Shaddock, D., Shah, S., Sheard, B., Sopuerta, C. F., Spector, A., Spero, R., Stanga, R., Stebbins, R., Stede, G., Steier, F., Sumner, T., Sun, K. -X., Sutton, A., Tanaka, T., Tanner, D., Thorpe, I., Tröbs, M., Tinto, M., Tu, H. -B., Vallisneri, M., Vetrugno, D., Vitale, S., Volonteri, M., Wand, V., Wang, Y., Wanner, G., Ward, H., Ware, B., Wass, P., Weber, W. J., Yu, Y., Yunes, N., and Zweifel, P.
Subjects: Astrophysics - Cosmology and Extragalactic Astrophysics, General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
Abstract: The last century has seen enormous progress in our understanding of the Universe. We know the life cycles of stars, the structure of galaxies, the remnants of the big bang, and have a general understanding of how the Universe evolved. We have come remarkably far using electromagnetic radiation as our tool for observing the Universe. However, gravity is the engine behind many of the processes in the Universe, and much of its action is dark. Opening a gravitational window on the Universe will let us go further than any alternative. Gravity has its own messenger: Gravitational waves, ripples in the fabric of spacetime. They travel essentially undisturbed and let us peer deep into the formation of the first seed black holes, exploring redshifts as large as z ~ 20, prior to the epoch of cosmic re-ionisation. Exquisite and unprecedented measurements of black hole masses and spins will make it possible to trace the history of black holes across all stages of galaxy evolution, and at the same time constrain any deviation from the Kerr metric of General Relativity. eLISA will be the first ever mission to study the entire Universe with gravitational waves. eLISA is an all-sky monitor and will offer a wide view of a dynamic cosmos using gravitational waves as new and unique messengers to unveil The Gravitational Universe. It provides the closest ever view of the early processes at TeV energies, has guaranteed sources in the form of verification binaries in the Milky Way, and can probe the entire Universe, from its smallest scales around singularities and black holes, all the way to cosmological dimensions., Comment: 20 pages; submitted to the European Space Agency on May 24th, 2013 for the L2/L3 selection of ESA's Cosmic Vision program
Published: 2013

31. From laboratory experiments to LISA Pathfinder: achieving LISA geodesic motion

Author: Antonucci, F, Armano, M, Audley, H, Auger, G, Benedetti, M, Binetruy, P, Boatella, C, Bogenstahl, J, Bortoluzzi, D, Bosetti, P, Brandt, N, Caleno, M, Cavalleri, A, Cesa, M, Chmeissani, M, Ciani, G, Conchillo, A, Congedo, G, Cristofolini, I, Cruise, M, Danzmann, K, De Marchi, F, Diaz-Aguilo, M, Diepholz, I, Dixon, G, Dolesi, R, Dunbar, N, Fauste, J, Ferraioli, L, Fertin, D, Fichter, W, Fitzsimons, E, Freschi, M, Marin, A García, Marirrodriga, C García, Gerndt, R, Gesa, L, Giardini, D, Gibert, F, Grimani, C, Grynagier, A, Guillaume, B, Guzmán, F, Harrison, I, Heinzel, G, Hewitson, M, Hollington, D, Hough, J, Hoyland, D, Hueller, M, Huesler, J, Jeannin, O, Jennrich, O, Jetzer, P, Johlander, B, Killow, C, Llamas, X, Lloro, I, Lobo, A, Maarschalkerweerd, R, Madden, S, Mance, D, Mateos, I, McNamara, P W, Mendestì, J, Mitchell, E, Monsky, A, Nicolini, D, Nicolodi, D, Nofrarias, M, Pedersen, F, Perreur-Lloyd, M, Perreca, A, Plagnol, E, Prat, P, Racca, G D, Rais, B, Ramos-Castro, J, Reiche, J, Perez, J A Romera, Robertson, D, Rozemeijer, H, Sanjuan, J, Schleicher, A, Schulte, M, Shaul, D, Stagnaro, L, Strandmoe, S, Steier, F, Sumner, T J, Taylor, A, Texier, D, Trenkel, C, Tombolato, D, Vitale, S, Wanner, G, Ward, H, Waschke, S, Wass, P, Weber, W J, and Zweifel, P
Subjects: General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology, Astrophysics - Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
Abstract: This paper presents a quantitative assessment of the performance of the upcoming LISA Pathfinder geodesic explorer mission. The findings are based on the results of extensive ground testing and simulation campaigns using flight hardware and flight control and operations algorithms. The results show that, for the central experiment of measuring the stray differential acceleration between the LISA test masses, LISA Pathfinder will be able to verify the overall acceleration noise to within a factor two of the LISA requirement at 1 mHz and within a factor 6 at 0.1 mHz. We also discuss the key elements of the physical model of disturbances, coming from LISA Pathfinder and ground measurement, that will guarantee the LISA performance., Comment: Proceedings of the 8th LISA Symposium. To appear Class. Quantum Grav. 28 (2011)
Published: 2010
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32. Measuring random force noise for LISA aboard the LISA Pathfinder mission

Author: Bortoluzzi, D., Carbone, L., Cavalleri, A., Da Lio, M., Dolesi, R., Hoyle, C. D., Hueller, M., Vitale, S., and Weber, W. J.
Subjects: General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
Abstract: The LTP (LISA Testflight Package), to be flown aboard the ESA / NASA LISA Pathfinder mission, aims to demonstrate drag-free control for LISA test masses with acceleration noise below 30 fm/s^2/Hz^1/2 from 1-30 mHz. This paper describes the LTP measurement of random, position independent forces acting on the test masses. In addition to putting an overall upper limit for all source of random force noise, LTP will measure the conversion of several key disturbances into acceleration noise and thus allow a more detailed characterization of the drag-free performance to be expected for LISA., Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures. To be published in Classical and Quantum Gravity with the proceedings of the 2003 Amaldi Meeting
Published: 2004
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33. Temperature stability in the sub-milliHertz band with LISA Pathfinder

Author: M Armano, H Audley, J Baird, P Binetruy, M Born, D Bortoluzzi, 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, M Freschi, L Gesa, F Gibert, D Giardini, R Giusteri, C Grimani, J Grzymisch, I Harrison, G Heinzel, M Hewitson, D Hollington, D Hoyland, M Hueller, H Inchauspé, O Jennrich, P Jetzer, N Karnesis, B Kaune, N Korsakova, C J Killow, J A Lobo, I Lloro, L Liu, J P López-Zaragoza, R Maarschalkerweerd, D Mance, C Mansanet, V Martín, L Martin-Polo, J Martino, F Martin-Porqueras, I Mateos, P W McNamara, J Mendes, L Mendes, N Meshksar, M Nofrarias, S Paczkowski, M Perreur-Lloyd, A Petiteau, P Pivato, E Plagnol, J Ramos-Castro, J Reiche, D I Robertson, F Rivas, G Russano, J Sanjuán, J Slutsky, C F Sopuerta, T Sumner, D Texier, J I Thorpe, C Trenkel, D Vetrugno, S Vitale, G Wanner, H Ward, P J Wass, D Wealthy, W J Weber, L Wissel, A Wittchen, and P Zweifel
Published: 2019
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34. Sensor Noise in LISA Pathfinder: In-Flight Performance of the Optical Test Mass Readout

Author: M. Armano, H. Audley, J. Baird, P. Binetruy, 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. Heinzel, J. Slutsky, and J. I. Thorpe
Subjects: Spacecraft Instrumentation And Astrionics, Earth Resources And Remote Sensing
Abstract: We report on the first subpicometer interferometer flown in space. It was part of ESA’s Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) Pathfinder mission and performed the fundamental measurement of the positional and angular motion of two free-falling test masses. The interferometer worked immediately, stably, and reliably from switch on until the end of the mission with exceptionally low residual noise of 32.0 (+2.4, −1.7) fm/(√Hz), significantly better than required. We present an upper limit for the sensor performance at millihertz frequencies and a model for the measured sensitivity above 200 mHz.
Published: 2021
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35. Analysis of the Accuracy of Actuation Electronics in the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna Pathfinder

Author: M. Armano, H. Audley, J. Baird, M. Born, D. Bortoluzzi, N. Cardines, E. Castelli, A. Cavalleri, A. Cesarini, A. M. Cruise, K. Danzmann, M. de Deus Silva, G. Dixon, R. Dolesi, L. Ferraioli, V. Ferroni, M. Freschi, L. Gesa, D. Giardini, F. Gibert, R. Giusteri, C. Grimani, J. Grzymisch, I. Harrison, M.-S. Hartig, G. Heinzel, M. Hewitson, D. Hollington, D. Hoyland, M. Hueller, H. Inchauspe, O. Jennrich, P. Jetzer, N. Karnesis, B. Kaune, C. J. Killow, N. Korsakova, J. P. López-Zaragoza, R. Maarschalkerweerd, D. Mance, V. Martin, L. Martin Polo, J. Martino, F. Martin Porqueras, I. Mateos, P. W. McNamara, J. Mendes, L. Mendes, N. Meshksar, M. Nofrarias, S. Paczkowski, M. Perreur Lloyd, A. Petiteau, P. Pivato, E. Plagnol, J. Ramos Castro, J. Reiche, F. Rivas, D. I. Robertson, G. Russano, J. Slutsky, C. F. Sopuerta, T. Sumner, D. Texier, J. ten Pierick, J. I. Thorpe, D. Vetrugno, S. Vitale, G. Wanner, H. Ward, P. J. Wass, W. J. Weber, L. Wissel, A. Wittchen, and P. Zweifel
Subjects: Instrumentation And Photography
Abstract: The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna Pathfinder (LPF) main observable, labelled∆g, is the differential force per unit mass acting on the two test masses in free fall condition, after the contribution of all non-gravitational forces have been compensated. At low frequencies the differential force is compensated by an applied electrostatic actuation force,which then must be subtracted from the measured acceleration to obtain∆g. Any inaccuracy in the actuation force contaminates the residual acceleration. This study investigates the accuracy of the electrostatic actuation system and its impact on the LPF main observable. It is shown that the inaccuracy is mainly caused by the rounding errors in the waveform processing and also by the random error caused by the analog to digital converter (ADC) random noise in the control loop. Both errors are one order of magnitude smaller than the resolution of the commanded voltages. We developed a simulator based on the LPF design to compute the close-to-reality actuation voltages and consequently, the resulting actuation forces. The simulator is applied in post-processing the LPF data.
Published: 2020
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36. Novel methods to measure the gravitational constant in space

Author: M. Armano, H. Audley, J. Baird, P. Binetruy, M. Born, D. Bortoluzzi, 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, M. Freschi, L. Gesa, F. Gibert, D. Giardini, R. Giusteri, C. Grimani, J. Grzymisch, I. Harrison, M-S Hartig, G. Heinzel, M. Hewitson, D. Hollington, D. Hoyland, M. Hueller, H. Inchauspé, O. Jennrich, P. Jetzer, N. Karnesis, B. Kaune, N. Korsakova, C. J. Killow, J. A. Lobo, L. Liu, J. P. López-Zaragoza, R. Maarschalkerweerd, D. Mance, N. Meshksar, V. Martín, L. Martin-Polo, J. Martino, F. Martin-Porqueras, P. W. McNamara, J. Mendes, L. Mendes, M. Nofrarias, S. Paczkowski, M. Perreur-Lloyd, A. Petiteau, P. Pivato, E. Plagnol, J. Ramos-Castro, J. Reiche, D. I. Robertson, F. Rivas, G. Russano, J. Slutsky, C. F. Sopuerta, T. Sumner, D. Texier, J. I. Thorpe, C. Trenkel, D. Vetrugno, S. Vitale, G. Wanner, H. Ward, P. J. Wass, W. J. Weber, L. Wissel, A. Wittchen, and P. Zweifel
Published: 2019
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37. LISA Pathfinder Performance Confirmed in an Open-Loop Configuration: Results from the Free-Fall Actuation Mode

Author: M. Armano, H. Audley, J. Baird, P. Binetruy, M. Born, D. Bortoluzzi, 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, M. Freschi, L. Gesa, F. Gibert, D. Giardini, R. Giusteri, C. Grimani, J. Grzymisch, I. Harrison, M-S. Hartig, G. Heinzel, M. Hewitson, D. Hollington, D. Hoyland, M. Hueller, H. Inchauspé, O. Jennrich, P. Jetzer, N. Karnesis, B. Kaune, N. Korsakova, C. J. Killow, J. A. Lobo, L. Liu, J. P. López-Zaragoza, R. Maarschalkerweerd, D. Mance, N. Meshksar, V. Martín, L. Martin-Polo, J. Martino, F. Martin-Porqueras, I. Mateos, P. W. McNamara, J. Mendes, L. Mendes, M. Nofrarias, S. Paczkowski, M. Perreur-Lloyd, A. Petiteau, P. Pivato, E. Plagnol, J. Ramos-Castro, J. Reiche, D. I. Robertson, F. Rivas, G. Russano, J. Slutsky, C. F. Sopuerta, T. Sumner, D. Texier, J. I. Thorpe, D. Vetrugno, S. Vitale, G. Wanner, H. Ward, P. J. Wass, W. J. Weber, L. Wissel, A. Wittchen, and P. Zweifel
Published: 2019
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38. LISA Pathfinder micronewton cold gas thrusters: In-flight characterization

Author: M. Armano, H. Audley, J. Baird, P. Binetruy, M. Born, D. Bortoluzzi, 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, M. Freschi, L. Gesa, F. Gibert, D. Giardini, R. Giusteri, C. Grimani, J. Grzymisch, I. Harrison, G. Heinzel, M. Hewitson, D. Hollington, D. Hoyland, M. Hueller, H. Inchauspé, O. Jennrich, P. Jetzer, N. Karnesis, B. Kaune, N. Korsakova, C. J. Killow, J. A. Lobo, I. Lloro, L. Liu, J. P. López-Zaragoza, R. Maarschalkerweerd, D. Mance, N. Meshksar, V. Martín, L. Martin-Polo, J. Martino, F. Martin-Porqueras, I. Mateos, P. W. McNamara, J. Mendes, L. Mendes, M. Nofrarias, S. Paczkowski, M. Perreur-Lloyd, A. Petiteau, P. Pivato, E. Plagnol, J. Ramos-Castro, J. Reiche, D. I. Robertson, F. Rivas, G. Russano, J. Slutsky, C. F. Sopuerta, T. Sumner, D. Texier, J. I. Thorpe, D. Vetrugno, S. Vitale, G. Wanner, H. Ward, P. J. Wass, W. J. Weber, L. Wissel, A. Wittchen, and P. Zweifel
Published: 2019
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39. LISA Pathfinder platform stability and drag-free performance

Author: M. Armano, H. Audley, J. Baird, P. Binetruy, M. Born, D. Bortoluzzi, 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, M. Freschi, L. Gesa, F. Gibert, D. Giardini, R. Giusteri, C. Grimani, J. Grzymisch, I. Harrison, G. Heinzel, M. Hewitson, D. Hollington, D. Hoyland, M. Hueller, H. Inchauspé, O. Jennrich, P. Jetzer, N. Karnesis, B. Kaune, N. Korsakova, C. J. Killow, J. A. Lobo, I. Lloro, L. Liu, J. P. López-Zaragoza, R. Maarschalkerweerd, D. Mance, N. Meshksar, V. Martín, L. Martin-Polo, J. Martino, F. Martin-Porqueras, I. Mateos, P. W. McNamara, J. Mendes, L. Mendes, M. Nofrarias, S. Paczkowski, M. Perreur-Lloyd, A. Petiteau, P. Pivato, E. Plagnol, J. Ramos-Castro, J. Reiche, D. I. Robertson, F. Rivas, G. Russano, J. Slutsky, C. F. Sopuerta, T. Sumner, D. Texier, J. I. Thorpe, D. Vetrugno, S. Vitale, G. Wanner, H. Ward, P. J. Wass, W. J. Weber, L. Wissel, A. Wittchen, and P. Zweifel
Published: 2019
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40. Forbush Decreases and

Author: M Armano, H Audley, J Baird, S Benella, P Binetruy, M Born, D Bortoluzzi, E Castelli, A Cavalleri, A Cesarini, A M Cruise, K Danzmann, M de Deus Silva, I Diepholz, G Dixon, R Dolesi, M Fabi, L Ferraioli, V Ferroni, N Finetti, E D Fitzsimons, M Freschi, L Gesa, F Gibert, D Giardini, R Giusteri, C Grimani, J Grzymisch, I Harrison, G Heinzel, M Hewitson, D Hollington, D Hoyland, M Hueller, H Inchauspé, O Jennrich, P Jetzer, N Karnesis, B Kaune, N Korsakova, C J Killow, K Kudela, M Laurenza, J A Lobo, I Lloro, L Liu, J P López-Zaragoza, R Maarschalkerweerd, D Mance, N Meshksar, V Martín, L Martin-Polo, J Martino, F Martin-Porqueras, I Mateos, P W McNamara, J Mendes, L Mendes, M Nofrarias, S Paczkowski, M Perreur-Lloyd, A Petiteau, P Pivato, E Plagnol, J Ramos-Castro, J Reiche, D I Robertson, F Rivas, G Russano, J Slutsky, C F Sopuerta, T Sumner, D Telloni, D Texier, J I Thorpe, D Vetrugno, M Villani, S Vitale, G Wanner, H Ward, P Wass, W J Weber, L Wissel, A Wittchen, and P Zweifel
Subjects: Astronomy
Abstract: Non-recurrent short-term variations of the galactic cosmic-ray (GCR) flux above 70 MeV n(exp −1) were observed between 2016 February 18 and 2017 July 3 on board the European Space Agency LISA Pathfinder (LPF) mission orbiting around the Lagrange point L1 at 1.5 × 10 (exp 6) km from Earth. The energy dependence of three Forbush decreases is studied and reported here. A comparison of these observations with others carried out in space down to the energy of a few tens of MeV n(exp −1) shows that the same GCR flux parameterization applies to events of different intensity during the main phase. FD observations in L1 with LPF and geomagnetic storm occurrence are also presented. Finally, the characteristics of GCR flux non-recurrent variations (peaks and depressions) of duration <2 days and their association with interplanetary structures are investigated. It is found that, most likely, plasma compression regions between subsequent corotating high-speed streams cause peaks, while heliospheric current sheet crossing causes the majority of the depressions.
Published: 2019
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41. Experimental results from the ST7 mission on LISA Pathfinder

Author: G. Anderson, J. Anderson, M. Anderson, G. Aveni, D. Bame, P. Barela, K. Blackman, A. Carmain, L. Chen, M. Cherng, S. Clark, M. Connally, W. Connolly, D. Conroy, M. Cooper, C. Cutler, J. D’Agostino, N. Demmons, E. Dorantes, C. Dunn, M. Duran, E. Ehrbar, J. Evans, J. Fernandez, G. Franklin, M. Girard, J. Gorelik, V. Hruby, O. Hsu, D. Jackson, S. Javidnia, D. Kern, M. Knopp, R. Kolasinski, C. Kuo, T. Le, I. Li, O. Liepack, A. Littlefield, P. Maghami, S. Malik, L. Markley, R. Martin, C. Marrese-Reading, J. Mehta, J. Mennela, D. Miller, D. Nguyen, J. O’Donnell, R. Parikh, G. Plett, T. Ramsey, T. Randolph, S. Rhodes, A. Romero-Wolf, T. Roy, A. Ruiz, H. Shaw, J. Slutsky, D. Spence, J. Stocky, J. Tallon, I. Thorpe, W. Tolman, H. Umfress, R. Valencia, C. Valerio, W. Warner, J. Wellman, P. Willis, J. Ziemer, J. Zwahlen, M. Armano, H. Audley, J. Baird, P. Binetruy, M. Born, D. Bortoluzzi, 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, M. Freschi, L. Gesa, F. Gibert, D. Giardini, R. Giusteri, C. Grimani, J. Grzymisch, I. Harrison, G. Heinzel, M. Hewitson, D. Hollington, D. Hoyland, M. Hueller, H. Inchauspé, O. Jennrich, P. Jetzer, N. Karnesis, B. Kaune, N. Korsakova, C. J. Killow, J. A. Lobo, I. Lloro, L. Liu, J. P. López-Zaragoza, R. Maarschalkerweerd, D. Mance, N. Meshksar, V. Martín, L. Martin-Polo, J. Martino, F. Martin-Porqueras, I. Mateos, P. W. McNamara, J. Mendes, L. Mendes, M. Nofrarias, S. Paczkowski, M. Perreur-Lloyd, A. Petiteau, P. Pivato, E. Plagnol, J. Ramos-Castro, J. Reiche, D. I. Robertson, F. Rivas, G. Russano, C. F. Sopuerta, T. Sumner, D. Texier, D. Vetrugno, S. Vitale, G. Wanner, H. Ward, P. J. Wass, W. J. Weber, L. Wissel, A. Wittchen, and P. Zweifel
Published: 2018
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42. Precision charge control for isolated free-falling test masses: LISA pathfinder results

Author: M. Armano, H. Audley, J. Baird, P. Binetruy, M. Born, D. Bortoluzzi, 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, M. Freschi, L. Gesa, D. Giardini, F. Gibert, R. Giusteri, C. Grimani, J. Grzymisch, I. Harrison, G. Heinzel, M. Hewitson, D. Hollington, D. Hoyland, M. Hueller, H. Inchauspé, O. Jennrich, P. Jetzer, N. Karnesis, B. Kaune, N. Korsakova, C. J. Killow, L. Liu, I. Lloro, J. A. Lobo, J. P. López-Zaragoza, R. Maarschalkerweerd, F. Mailland, D. Mance, V. Martín, L. Martin-Polo, F. Martin-Porqueras, J. Martino, I. Mateos, P. W. McNamara, J. Mendes, L. Mendes, N. Meshskar, M. Nofrarias, S. Paczkowski, M. Perreur-Lloyd, A. Petiteau, M. Pfeil, P. Pivato, E. Plagnol, J. Ramos-Castro, J. Reiche, D. I. Robertson, F. Rivas, G. Russano, G. Santoruvo, P. Sarra, D. Shaul, J. Slutsky, C. F. Sopuerta, T. Sumner, D. Texier, J. I. Thorpe, C. Trenkel, D. Vetrugno, S. Vitale, G. Wanner, H. Ward, S. Waschke, P. J. Wass, W. J. Weber, L. Wissel, A. Wittchen, and P. Zweifel
Published: 2018
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43. Calibrating the system dynamics of LISA Pathfinder

Author: M. Armano, H. Audley, J. Baird, P. Binetruy, M. Born, D. Bortoluzzi, 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, M. Freschi, L. Gesa, F. Gibert, D. Giardini, R. Giusteri, C. Grimani, J. Grzymisch, I. Harrison, G. Heinzel, M. Hewitson, D. Hollington, D. Hoyland, M. Hueller, H. Inchauspé, O. Jennrich, P. Jetzer, N. Karnesis, B. Kaune, N. Korsakova, C. J. Killow, J. A. Lobo, I. Lloro, L. Liu, J. P. López-Zaragoza, R. Maarschalkerweerd, D. Mance, N. Meshksar, V. Martín, L. Martin-Polo, J. Martino, F. Martin-Porqueras, I. Mateos, P. W. McNamara, J. Mendes, L. Mendes, M. Nofrarias, S. Paczkowski, M. Perreur-Lloyd, A. Petiteau, P. Pivato, E. Plagnol, J. Ramos-Castro, J. Reiche, D. I. Robertson, F. Rivas, G. Russano, J. Slutsky, C. F. Sopuerta, T. Sumner, D. Texier, J. I. Thorpe, D. Vetrugno, S. Vitale, G. Wanner, H. Ward, P. Wass, W. J. Weber, L. Wissel, A. Wittchen, and P. Zweifel
Published: 2018
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44. Beyond the Required LISA Free-Fall Performance: New LISA Pathfinder Results down to 20 μHz

Author: M. Armano, H. Audley, J. Baird, P. Binetruy, M. Born, D. Bortoluzzi, 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, M. Freschi, L. Gesa, F. Gibert, D. Giardini, R. Giusteri, C. Grimani, J. Grzymisch, I. Harrison, G. Heinzel, M. Hewitson, D. Hollington, D. Hoyland, M. Hueller, H. Inchauspé, O. Jennrich, P. Jetzer, N. Karnesis, B. Kaune, N. Korsakova, C. J. Killow, J. A. Lobo, I. Lloro, L. Liu, J. P. López-Zaragoza, R. Maarschalkerweerd, D. Mance, N. Meshksar, V. Martín, L. Martin-Polo, J. Martino, F. Martin-Porqueras, I. Mateos, P. W. McNamara, J. Mendes, L. Mendes, M. Nofrarias, S. Paczkowski, M. Perreur-Lloyd, A. Petiteau, P. Pivato, E. Plagnol, J. Ramos-Castro, J. Reiche, D. I. Robertson, F. Rivas, G. Russano, J. Slutsky, C. F. Sopuerta, T. Sumner, D. Texier, J. I. Thorpe, D. Vetrugno, S. Vitale, G. Wanner, H. Ward, P. J. Wass, W. J. Weber, L. Wissel, A. Wittchen, and P. Zweifel
Published: 2018
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45. Injection of a Body into a Geodesic: Lessons Learnt from the LISA Pathfinder Case

Author: Bortoluzzi, Daniele, Armano, M, Audley, H, Auger, G, Baird, J, Binetruy, P, Born, M, Bortoluzzi, D, Brandt, N, Bursi, A, Caleno, M, Cavalleri, A, Cesarini, A, Conklin, J, Cruise, M, Danzmann, K, Diepholz, I, Dolesi, R, Dunbar, N, Ferraioli, L, Ferroni, V, Fitzsimons, E, Freschi, M, Slutsky, J, and Thorpe, J
Subjects: Mechanical Engineering
Abstract: Launch lock and release mechanisms constitute a common space business, however, some science missions due to very challenging functional and performance requirements need the development and testing of dedicated systems. In the LISA Pathfinder mission, a gold-coated 2-kg test mass must be injected into a nearly pure geodesic trajectory with a minimal residual velocity with respect to the spacecraft. This task is performed by the Grabbing Positioning and Release Mechanism, which has been tested on-ground to provide the required qualification. In this paper, we describe the test method that analyzes the main contributions to the mechanism performance and focuses on the critical parameters affecting the residual test mass velocity at the injection into the geodesic trajectory. The test results are also presented and discussed.
Published: 2016

46. Capacitive sensing of test mass motion with nanometer precision over millimeter-wide sensing gaps for space-borne gravitational reference sensors

Author: M. Armano, H. Audley, G. Auger, J. Baird, M. Bassan, P. Binetruy, M. Born, D. Bortoluzzi, N. Brandt, M. Caleno, A. Cavalleri, A. Cesarini, A. M. Cruise, K. Danzmann, M. de Deus Silva, R. De Rosa, L. Di Fiore, I. Diepholz, G. Dixon, R. Dolesi, N. Dunbar, L. Ferraioli, V. Ferroni, E. D. Fitzsimons, R. Flatscher, M. Freschi, C. García Marirrodriga, R. Gerndt, L. Gesa, F. Gibert, D. Giardini, R. Giusteri, A. Grado, C. Grimani, J. Grzymisch, I. Harrison, G. Heinzel, M. Hewitson, D. Hollington, D. Hoyland, M. Hueller, H. Inchauspé, O. Jennrich, P. Jetzer, B. Johlander, N. Karnesis, B. Kaune, N. Korsakova, C. J. Killow, J. A. Lobo, I. Lloro, L. Liu, J. P. López-Zaragoza, R. Maarschalkerweerd, D. Mance, V. Martín, L. Martin-Polo, J. Martino, F. Martin-Porqueras, S. Madden, I. Mateos, P. W. McNamara, J. Mendes, L. Mendes, N. Meshksar, M. Nofrarias, S. Paczkowski, M. Perreur-Lloyd, A. Petiteau, P. Pivato, E. Plagnol, P. Prat, U. Ragnit, J. Ramos-Castro, J. Reiche, D. I. Robertson, H. Rozemeijer, F. Rivas, G. Russano, P. Sarra, A. Schleicher, J. Slutsky, C. F. Sopuerta, R. Stanga, T. J. Sumner, D. Texier, J. I. Thorpe, C. Trenkel, M. Tröbs, D. Vetrugno, S. Vitale, G. Wanner, H. Ward, P. J. Wass, D. Wealthy, W. J. Weber, L. Wissel, A. Wittchen, A. Zambotti, C. Zanoni, T. Ziegler, and P. Zweifel
Published: 2017
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47. Charge-Induced Force Noise on Free-Falling Test Masses: Results from LISA Pathfinder

Author: M. Armano, H. Audley, G. Auger, J. T. Baird, P. Binetruy, M. Born, D. Bortoluzzi, N. Brandt, A. Bursi, M. Caleno, A. Cavalleri, A. Cesarini, M. Cruise, K. Danzmann, M. de Deus Silva, I. Diepholz, R. Dolesi, N. Dunbar, L. Ferraioli, V. Ferroni, E. D. Fitzsimons, R. Flatscher, M. Freschi, J. Gallegos, C. García Marirrodriga, R. Gerndt, L. Gesa, F. Gibert, D. Giardini, R. Giusteri, C. Grimani, J. Grzymisch, I. Harrison, G. Heinzel, M. Hewitson, D. Hollington, M. Hueller, J. Huesler, H. Inchauspé, O. Jennrich, P. Jetzer, B. Johlander, N. Karnesis, B. Kaune, C. J. Killow, N. Korsakova, I. Lloro, L. Liu, J. P. López-Zaragoza, R. Maarschalkerweerd, S. Madden, D. Mance, V. Martín, L. Martin-Polo, J. Martino, F. Martin-Porqueras, I. Mateos, P. W. McNamara, J. Mendes, L. Mendes, A. Moroni, M. Nofrarias, S. Paczkowski, M. Perreur-Lloyd, A. Petiteau, P. Pivato, E. Plagnol, P. Prat, U. Ragnit, J. Ramos-Castro, J. Reiche, J. A. Romera Perez, D. I. Robertson, H. Rozemeijer, F. Rivas, G. Russano, P. Sarra, A. Schleicher, J. Slutsky, C. Sopuerta, T. J. Sumner, D. Texier, J. I. Thorpe, C. Trenkel, D. Vetrugno, S. Vitale, G. Wanner, H. Ward, P. J. Wass, D. Wealthy, W. J. Weber, A. Wittchen, C. Zanoni, T. Ziegler, and P. Zweifel
Published: 2017
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48. Constraints on LISA Pathfinder's Self-Gravity: Design Requirements, Estimates and Testing Procedures

Author: Armano, M, Audley, H, Auger, G, Baird, J, Binetruy, P, Born, M, Bortoluzzi, M, Brandt, Nico, Bursi, Alessandro, Slutsky. J, and Thorpe, J. I
Subjects: Astrophysics
Abstract: LISA Pathfinder satellite was launched on 3 December 2015 toward the Sun Earth first Lagrangian point (L1) where the LISA Technology Package (LTP), which is the main science payload, will be tested. LTP achieves measurements of differential acceleration of free-falling test masses (TMs) with sensitivity below 3 x 10(exp -14) m s(exp -2) Hz(exp - 1/2) within the 130 mHz frequency band in one dimension. The spacecraft itself is responsible for the dominant differential gravitational field acting on the two TMs. Such a force interaction could contribute a significant amount of noise and thus threaten the achievement of the targeted free-fall level. We prevented this by balancing the gravitational forces to the sub nm s(exp -2) level, guided by a protocol based on measurements of the position and the mass of all parts that constitute the satellite, via finite element calculation tool estimates. In this paper, we will introduce the gravitational balance requirements and design, and then discuss our predictions for the balance that will be achieved in flight.
Published: 2016
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49. Sub-Femto-g Free Fall for Space-Based Gravitational Wave Observatories: LISA Pathfinder Results

Author: Armano, M, Audley, H, Auger, G, Baird, J. T, Bassan, M, Binetruy, P, Born, M, Bortoluzzi, D, Brandt, N, and Thorpe, J. I
Subjects: Astrophysics
Abstract: We report the first results of the LISA Pathfinder in-flight experiment. The results demonstrate that two free-falling reference test masses, such as those needed for a space-based gravitational wave observatory like LISA, can be put in free fall with a relative acceleration noise with a square root of the power spectral density of 5.2 +/- 0.1 fm s(exp -2)/square root of Hz, or (0.54 +/- 0.01) x 10(exp -15) g/square root of Hz, with g the standard gravity, for frequencies between 0.7 and 20 mHz. This value is lower than the LISA Pathfinder requirement by more than a factor 5 and within a factor 1.25 of the requirement for the LISA mission, and is compatible with Brownian noise from viscous damping due to the residual gas surrounding the test masses. Above 60 mHz the acceleration noise is dominated by interferometer displacement readout noise at a level of (34.8 +/- 0.3) fm square root of Hz, about 2 orders of magnitude better than requirements. At f less than or equal to 0.5 mHz we observe a low-frequency tail that stays below 12 fm s(exp -2)/square root of Hz down to 0.1 mHz. This performance would allow for a space-based gravitational wave observatory with a sensitivity close to what was originally foreseen for LISA.
Published: 2016
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50. Sub-Femto-gFree Fall for Space-Based Gravitational Wave Observatories: LISA Pathfinder Results

Author: M. Armano, H. Audley, G. Auger, J. T. Baird, M. Bassan, P. Binetruy, M. Born, D. Bortoluzzi, N. Brandt, M. Caleno, L. Carbone, A. Cavalleri, A. Cesarini, G. Ciani, G. Congedo, A. M. Cruise, K. Danzmann, M. de Deus Silva, R. De Rosa, M. Diaz-Aguiló, L. Di Fiore, I. Diepholz, G. Dixon, R. Dolesi, N. Dunbar, L. Ferraioli, V. Ferroni, W. Fichter, E. D. Fitzsimons, R. Flatscher, M. Freschi, A. F. García Marín, C. García Marirrodriga, R. Gerndt, L. Gesa, F. Gibert, D. Giardini, R. Giusteri, F. Guzmán, A. Grado, C. Grimani, A. Grynagier, J. Grzymisch, I. Harrison, G. Heinzel, M. Hewitson, D. Hollington, D. Hoyland, M. Hueller, H. Inchauspé, O. Jennrich, P. Jetzer, U. Johann, B. Johlander, N. Karnesis, B. Kaune, N. Korsakova, C. J. Killow, J. A. Lobo, I. Lloro, L. Liu, J. P. López-Zaragoza, R. Maarschalkerweerd, D. Mance, V. Martín, L. Martin-Polo, J. Martino, F. Martin-Porqueras, S. Madden, I. Mateos, P. W. McNamara, J. Mendes, L. Mendes, A. Monsky, D. Nicolodi, M. Nofrarias, S. Paczkowski, M. Perreur-Lloyd, A. Petiteau, P. Pivato, E. Plagnol, P. Prat, U. Ragnit, B. Raïs, J. Ramos-Castro, J. Reiche, D. I. Robertson, H. Rozemeijer, F. Rivas, G. Russano, J. Sanjuán, P. Sarra, A. Schleicher, D. Shaul, J. Slutsky, C. F. Sopuerta, R. Stanga, F. Steier, T. Sumner, D. Texier, J. I. Thorpe, C. Trenkel, M. Tröbs, H. B. Tu, D. Vetrugno, S. Vitale, V. Wand, G. Wanner, H. Ward, C. Warren, P. J. Wass, D. Wealthy, W. J. Weber, L. Wissel, A. Wittchen, A. Zambotti, C. Zanoni, T. Ziegler, and P. Zweifel
Published: 2016
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