GRS electronics for a space-borne gravitational wave observatory

Mance, D.; Zweifel, P.; Ferraioli, L.; Ten Pierick, J.; Meshksar, N.; Giardini, D.; Armano, M.; Audley, H.; Auger, G.; Baird, J.; Bassan, M.; Binetruy, P.; Born, M.; Bortoluzzi, D.; Brandt, N.; Caleno, M.; Cavalleri, A.; Cesarini, A.; Cruise, M.; Danzmann, K.; de Deus Silva, M.; De Rosa, R.; Di Fiore, L.; Diepholz, I.; Dolesi, R.; Dunbar, N.; Ferraioli, L.; Ferroni, V.; Fitzsimons, E.; Flatscher, R.; Freschi, M.; Marrirodriga, C. Garcia; Gerndt, R.; Gesa, L.; Gibert, F.; Giardini, D.; Giusteri, R.; Grado, A.; Grimani, C.; Grzymisch, 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, 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.; Mendel, L.; Nofrarias, M.; Paczkowski, S.; Perreur-Lloyd, M.; Petiteau, A.; Pivato, P.; Plagnol, E.; Prat, P.; Ragnit, U.; Ramos-Castro, J.; Reiche, J.; Robertson, D. I.; Rozemeijer, H.; Rivas, F.; Russano, G.; Sarra, P.; Schleicher, A.; Shaul, D.; Slutsky, J.; Sopuerta, C. F.; Stanga, R.; Sumner, T.; Texier, D.; Thorpe, J. I.; Trenke, C.; Troebs, M.; Vetrugno, D.; Vitale, S.; Wanner, G.; Ward, H.; Wass, P.; Wealthy, D.; Weber, W. J.; Wissel, L.; Wittchen, A.; Zambotti, A.; Zanoni, C.; Ziegler, T.; Zweifel, P.

doi:10.1088/1742-6596/840/1/012040

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

GRS electronics for a space-borne gravitational wave observatory / Mance, D.; Zweifel, P.; Ferraioli, L.; Ten Pierick, J.; Meshksar, N.; Giardini, D.; Armano, M.; Audley, H.; Auger, G.; Baird, J.; Bassan, M.; Binetruy, P.; Born, M.; Bortoluzzi, D.; Brandt, N.; Caleno, M.; Cavalleri, A.; Cesarini, A.; Cruise, M.; Danzmann, K.; de Deus Silva, M.; De Rosa, R.; Di Fiore, L.; Diepholz, I.; Dolesi, R.; Dunbar, N.; Ferraioli, L.; Ferroni, V.; Fitzsimons, E.; Flatscher, R.; Freschi, M.; Marrirodriga, C. Garcia; Gerndt, R.; Gesa, L.; Gibert, F.; Giardini, D.; Giusteri, R.; Grado, A.; Grimani, C.; Grzymisch, 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, 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.; Mendel, L.; Nofrarias, M.; Paczkowski, S.; Perreur-Lloyd, M.; Petiteau, A.; Pivato, P.; Plagnol, E.; Prat, P.; Ragnit, U.; Ramos-Castro, J.; Reiche, J.; Robertson, D. I.; Rozemeijer, H.; Rivas, F.; Russano, G.; Sarra, P.; Schleicher, A.; Shaul, D.; Slutsky, J.; Sopuerta, C. F.; Stanga, R.; Sumner, T.; Texier, D.; Thorpe, J. I.; Trenke, C.; Troebs, M.; Vetrugno, D.; Vitale, S.; Wanner, G.; Ward, H.; Wass, P.; Wealthy, D.; Weber, W. J.; Wissel, L.; Wittchen, A.; Zambotti, A.; Zanoni, C.; Ziegler, T.; Zweifel, P.. - In: JOURNAL OF PHYSICS. CONFERENCE SERIES. - ISSN 1742-6588. - 840:1(2017), p. 012040. [10.1088/1742-6596/840/1/012040]