We present an experimental analysis of force noise caused by stray electrostatic fields acting on a charged test mass inside a conducting enclosure, a key problem for precise gravitational experiments. Measurement of the average field that couples to the test mass charge, and its fluctuations, is performed with two independent torsion pendulum techniques, including direct measurement of the forces caused by a change in electrostatic charge. We analyze the problem with an improved electrostatic model that, coupled with the experimental data, also indicates how to correctly measure and null the stray field that iinteracts with the test mass charge. Our measurements allow a conservative upper limit on acceleration noise, of 2 fm/s^2/Hz^1/2 for frequencies above 0.1 mHz, for the interaction between stray fields and charge in the LISA gravitational wave mission.

Interaction between stray electrostatic fields and a charged free-falling test mass

Antonucci, Federica;Dolesi, Rita;Hueller, Mauro;Nicolodi, Daniele;Tu, Haibo;Vitale, Stefano;Weber, William Joseph
2012-01-01

Abstract

We present an experimental analysis of force noise caused by stray electrostatic fields acting on a charged test mass inside a conducting enclosure, a key problem for precise gravitational experiments. Measurement of the average field that couples to the test mass charge, and its fluctuations, is performed with two independent torsion pendulum techniques, including direct measurement of the forces caused by a change in electrostatic charge. We analyze the problem with an improved electrostatic model that, coupled with the experimental data, also indicates how to correctly measure and null the stray field that iinteracts with the test mass charge. Our measurements allow a conservative upper limit on acceleration noise, of 2 fm/s^2/Hz^1/2 for frequencies above 0.1 mHz, for the interaction between stray fields and charge in the LISA gravitational wave mission.
2012
18
Antonucci, Federica; A., Cavalleri; Dolesi, Rita; Hueller, Mauro; Nicolodi, Daniele; Tu, Haibo; Vitale, Stefano; Weber, William Joseph
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11572/91591
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