Hannover 2010 – scientific programme

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Q: Fachverband Quantenoptik und Photonik

Q 68: Laser Applications: Optical Measurement Technology II

Q 68.4: Talk

Friday, March 12, 2010, 14:45–15:00, F 342

LISA Pathfinder - An interferometric drag-free sensor with picometer accuracy in space — •Frank Steier¹, Antonio Garcia Marin¹, Heather Audley¹, Miquel Nofrarias¹, Gerhard Heinzel¹, Karsten Danzmann¹, Vinzenz Wand², Peter Lützow-Wentzky², Gerald Hechenblaikner², and Domenico Gerardi² — ¹Albert-Einstein-Institut Hannover: Max-Planck-Institut für Gravitationsphysik und Universität Hannover, Deutschland — ²EADS Astrium Satellites GmbH, Friedrichshafen, Deutschland

LISA Pathfinder is a drag-free system that will be able to measure a differential acceleration of two freely falling test masses with an accuracy of a few fN/√Hz in the mHz range. It is a technology demonstration mission for the planned gravitational wave detector LISA.

We present the recent progress in the project. The entire optical measurement system has undergone performance tests with so-called Engineering Models that are copies of the real flight hardware. These units have already been verified to be compatible with space applications. The same tests are presently being repeated on the Flight Models at the AEI Hannover.