L Carbone et al 2005 Class. Quantum Grav. 22 S509 doi:10.1088/0264-9381/22/10/051
L Carbone1, A Cavalleri2, R Dolesi1, C D Hoyle1,3, M Hueller1, S Vitale1 and W J Weber1
Show affiliationsA torsion pendulum allows ground-based investigation of the purity of free fall for the LISA test masses inside their capacitive position sensor. This paper presents recent improvements in our torsion pendulum facility that have both increased the pendulum sensitivity and allowed detailed characterization of several important sources of acceleration noise for the LISA test masses. We discuss here an improved upper limit on random force noise originating in the sensor. Additionally, we present new measurement techniques and preliminary results for characterizing the forces caused by the sensor's residual electrostatic fields, dielectric losses, residual spring-like coupling and temperature gradients.
04.80.Nn Gravitational wave detectors and experiments
07.10.Pz Instruments for strain, force, and torque
07.07.Df Sensors (chemical, optical, electrical, movement, gas, etc.); remote sensing
Issue 10 (21 May 2005)
Received 15 November 2004
Published 28 April 2005
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