Hannover 2020 – scientific programme

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Q: Fachverband Quantenoptik und Photonik

Q 28: Precision Measurements and Metrology (Gravity)

Q 28.3: Talk

Wednesday, March 11, 2020, 11:30–11:45, f435

A phase reference distribution system for LISA: Building the optical benches of the Three-Backlink Experiment — •Nicole Knust, Lea Bischof, Stefan Ast, Max Rohr, Daniel Penkert, Juliane von Wrangel, Katharina-Sophie Isleif, Oliver Gerberding, Karsten Danzmann, and Gerhard Heinzel — Leibniz Universität Hannover, Institute for Gravitational Physics, Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics, Albert Einstein Institute, Callinstr. 38, 30167 Hannover, Germany

LISA is planned to be a space-based observatory for gravitational waves. It will consist of three satellites arranged in a triangle, connected via laser links. To compensate the breathing of the angles between these links, each spacecraft contains two optical benches that can be actuated by so-called moving optical sub-assemblies. For exchanging the phase between both benches a flexible bi-directional link is necessary. The Three-Backlink Experiment is currently build to test different designs for such a phase reference distribution system. Beam tracing simulations using the C++ library IfoCAD were done for optimizing the set-up in terms of mitigation of spurious light. A fiber connection will be compared to a steered free beam and a fiber backlink, which is utilizing additional frequencies for the light exchange. To ensure stability and precise adjustments, the optical components are glued to the base plates. A pair of calibrated quadrant photo diodes is used in combination with a coordinate measurement machine to build the complex set-up. The talk will cover the construction process as well as results of the characterization of one of the benches.