Mainz 2017 – scientific programme

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A: Fachverband Atomphysik

A 5: Precision Measurements and Metrology: Gravity (with Q)

A 5.2: Talk

Monday, March 6, 2017, 15:00–15:15, P 104

Precise measurement of pW laser powers for inter-satellite laser interferometry applications — •Sebastian Schreiber, Alexander Görth, Christoph Vorndamme, Nils Christopher Brause, Oliver Gerberding, Thomas Schwarze, Gerhard Heinzel, and Karsten Danzmann — Albert-Einstein-Institut Leibniz Universität Hannover

Future space missions like the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) or the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow-on mission (GRACE-FO) will make use of laser interferometry to measure precise distance changes between the spacecraft.

The huge distances between the SC reduce the received laser power to a few nW or even pW. To ease the alignment procedure of the SC an acquisition sensor will be installed on each SC.

To ensure the correct functionality of those sensors it is necessary to measure such light intensities on ground. Noise sources such as residual, scattered or reflected light as well as electronic readout noise are actually limiting the achievable results from common instruments.

This talk will present a general overview and first ideas of building a measuring instrument which is able to directly measure such low intensities. The focus lies on AC measurement techniques that involve optical chopper wheels or heterodyne interferometey