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

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: (1) The evolution of the Brownian noise that dominates the acceleration amplitude spectral density (ASD), for frequencies $f\ensuremath{\gtrsim}1\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{mHz}$, is consistent with the decaying pressure due to the outgassing of a single gaseous species. (2) Between $f=36\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{\ensuremath{\mu}}\mathrm{Hz}$ and 1 mHz, the acceleration ASD shows a $1/f$ tail in excess of the Brownian noise of almost constant amplitude, with $\ensuremath{\simeq}20%$ 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 $f=18\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{\ensuremath{\mu}}\mathrm{Hz}$, the ASD significantly deviates from the $1/f$ behavior, because of temperature fluctuations that appear to modulate a quasistatic 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.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Physical review. D/Physical review. D.
Published
2024-08-21
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevd.110.042004
Citations
25
Primary Topic
Radio Astronomy Observations and Technology
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
7.96

Funders

Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

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

Gerhard Heinzel, Carlos F. Sopuerta, D. Vetrugno, M. Born et al.
25 citations
Physical review. D/Physical review. D.
Radio Astronomy Observations and Technology
7.96
article

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

Gerhard Heinzel, Carlos F. Sopuerta, D. Vetrugno, M. Born, F. Gibert, I. Harrison, D. Hollington, V. Chiavegato, D. Dal Bosco, James Ira Thorpe, E. Plagnol, N. Meshksar, S. Paczkowski, O. Jennrich, H. Audley, G. Russano, M. De Deus Silva, A. Cavalleri, M. Freschi, R. Dolesi, D. Bortoluzzi, J. Martino, M. Nofrarías, J. P. López-Zaragoza, H. Inchauspé, F. Rivas, R. Giusteri, C. Grimani, L. Ferraioli, Pierre Binétruy, D. I. Robertson, B. Kaune, L. Sala, F Martin-Porqueras, J. A. Lobo, C. J. Killow, I. Diepholz, L. Martin-Polo, Natalia Korsakova, A. M. Cruise, George Dixon, J. Ramos-Castro, José F. G. Mendes, Peter Wass, P. W. McNamara, A. Wittchen, Marie-Sophie Hartig, L. Wissel, Nikolaos Karnesis, J. Grzymisch, J. Baird, S. Vitale, E. Castelli, B. Johlander, M. Hewitson, A. Cesarini, Carlo Zanoni, M. Perreur-Lloyd, T. J. Sumner, P. Zweifel, H. Ward, W. J. Weber, L. Mendes, P. Jetzer, D. Texier, G Wanner, M. Hueller, M. Armano, D. Hoyland, D. Giardini, D. Mance, V. Ferroni, K. Danzmann, E. D. Fitzsimons, L. Gesa, J. Slutsky, R. Maarschalkerweerd, J. Reiche, A. Petiteau, V. Martín
article en
25 citations

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: (1) The evolution of the Brownian noise that dominates the acceleration amplitude spectral density (ASD), for frequencies $f\ensuremath{\gtrsim}1\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{mHz}$, is consistent with the decaying pressure due to the outgassing of a single gaseous species. (2) Between $f=36\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{\ensuremath{\mu}}\mathrm{Hz}$ and 1 mHz, the acceleration ASD shows a $1/f$ tail in excess of the Brownian noise of almost constant amplitude, with $\ensuremath{\simeq}20%$ 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 $f=18\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{\ensuremath{\mu}}\mathrm{Hz}$, the ASD significantly deviates from the $1/f$ behavior, because of temperature fluctuations that appear to modulate a quasistatic 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.

Physical review. D/Physical review. D.Vol. 110(4)
Leibniz University Hannover (DE), Goddard Space Flight Center (US), European Space Operations Centre (DE), Institute of Space Sciences (ES), University of Urbino (IT), University of Trento (IT), University of Zurich (CH), Université Paris Cité (FR), Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives (FR), Université Paris-Saclay (FR), University of Florida (US), Institut d'Estudis Espacials de Catalunya (ES), European Space Astronomy Centre (ES), Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Trento Institute for Fundamental Physics And Applications (IT), Technology Centre Prague (CZ), Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (DE), CEA Paris-Saclay (FR), Istituto di Fotonica e Nanotecnologie (IT), Institut de Recherche sur les Lois Fondamentales de l'Univers (FR), Imperial College London (GB), UK Astronomy Technology Centre (GB), University of Glasgow (GB), University of Birmingham (GB), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (ES)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, UK Space Agency, CERN, European Space Agency, Scottish Universities Physics Alliance, Imperial College London, University of Glasgow, University of Birmingham, Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung, Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich, Agenzia Spaziale Italiana, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Université Paris Diderot, Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie, Université Sorbonne Paris Cité, Ministerio de Asuntos Económicos y Transformación Digital, Gobierno de España, Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Observatoire de Paris, Université de Recherche Paris Sciences et Lettres, Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca, Instituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Agencia Estatal de Investigación
Openalex Percentile: Top 2%
Radio Astronomy Observations and Technology
7.96
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.