Precision measurements of the magnetic parameters of LISA Pathfinder test masses

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 $(0.245\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.081)\text{ }\text{ }{\mathrm{nAm}}^{2}$, the x-component of the background magnetic field within the test masses position was measured to be $(414\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}74)\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{nT}$ and its gradient had a value of $(\ensuremath{-}7.4\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2.1)\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{\ensuremath{\mu}}\mathrm{T}/\mathrm{m}$. Finally, we also measured the test mass magnetic susceptibility at 5 mHz to be $(\ensuremath{-}3.3723\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.0069)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}5}$. All results are in agreement with on-ground estimates.

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Journal
Physical review. D/Physical review. D.
Published
2025-02-18
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevd.111.042007
Citations
10
Primary Topic
Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism Studies
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
8.06

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article

Precision measurements of the magnetic parameters of LISA Pathfinder test masses

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10 citations
Physical review. D/Physical review. D.
Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism Studies
8.06
article

Precision measurements of the magnetic parameters of LISA Pathfinder test masses

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

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 $(0.245\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.081)\text{ }\text{ }{\mathrm{nAm}}^{2}$, the x-component of the background magnetic field within the test masses position was measured to be $(414\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}74)\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{nT}$ and its gradient had a value of $(\ensuremath{-}7.4\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2.1)\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{\ensuremath{\mu}}\mathrm{T}/\mathrm{m}$. Finally, we also measured the test mass magnetic susceptibility at 5 mHz to be $(\ensuremath{-}3.3723\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.0069)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}5}$. All results are in agreement with on-ground estimates.

Physical review. D/Physical review. D.Vol. 111(4)
Leibniz University Hannover (DE), Goddard Space Flight Center (US), European Space Operations Centre (DE), Institute of Space Sciences (ES), Délégation Paris 7 (FR), University of Urbino (IT), University of Trento (IT), University of Zurich (CH), Université Paris Cité (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), Observatoire de la Côte d’Azur (FR), Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (DE), Istituto di Fotonica e Nanotecnologie (IT), Barcelona Activa (ES), Imperial College London (GB), UK Astronomy Technology Centre (GB), University of Birmingham (GB), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (ES)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, UK Space Agency, 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, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, 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, Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca, Instituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Labex UnivEarthS
Openalex Percentile: Top 2%
Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism Studies
8.06
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