Heidelberg 2015 – scientific programme

Parts | Days | Selection | Search | Updates | Downloads | Help

Q: Fachverband Quantenoptik und Photonik

Q 22: Precision Measurements and Metrology III (with A)

Q 22.3: Talk

Tuesday, March 24, 2015, 11:45–12:00, G/gHS

An optical testbed for the eLISA Phasemeter — •Thomas Schwarze, Germán Fernández Barranco, Gerhard Heinzel, and Karsten Danzmann — Max-Planck-Institut für Gravitationsphysik (Albert-Einstein-Institut) und Institut für Gravitationsphysik der Leibniz Universität Hannover

The planned spaceborne gravitational wave detector eLISA will allow the detection of gravitational waves at frequencies between 0.1 mHz and 1 Hz. It uses high-precision heterodyne laser interferometry as the main measurement technology. A breadboard model for the phase readout system of these interferometers (Phasemeter) was developed in the scope of an ESA technology development project by a collaboration between the Albert Einstein Institute, the Technical University of Denmark and the Danish industry partner Axcon Aps. This project was completed successfully fulfilling all performance requirements in an electrical two-signal test. Here we present the planning and advances in the implementation of an optical testbed for the Phasemeter. It is based on an ultra-stable hexagonal optical bench. This bench allows the generation of three unequal heterodyne beatnotes, thus providing the possibility to probe the Phasemeter for non-linearites in an optical three-signal test. The final goal is to show 1 microcycle/sqrt(Hz) performance between 2 and 25 MHz with a dynamic range of 10 orders of magnitude. Furthermore, other components of the eLISA metrology chain can be tested in this setup. This includes clock noise transfer and removal, inter-satellite ranging and communication, as well as laser frequency control and acquisition.