Using DWS Optical Readout to Improve the Sensitivity of Torsion Pendulum
Shaoxin Wang,
Heshan Liu,
Lei Dai,
Ziren Luo,
Peng Xu,
Pan Li,
Ruihong Gao,
Dayu Li,
Keqi Qi
Affiliations
Shaoxin Wang
Center for Gravitational Wave Experiment, National Microgravity Laboratory, Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing 100190, China
Heshan Liu
Center for Gravitational Wave Experiment, National Microgravity Laboratory, Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing 100190, China
Lei Dai
Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Changchun 130033, China
Ziren Luo
Center for Gravitational Wave Experiment, National Microgravity Laboratory, Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing 100190, China
Peng Xu
Center for Gravitational Wave Experiment, National Microgravity Laboratory, Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing 100190, China
Pan Li
Center for Gravitational Wave Experiment, National Microgravity Laboratory, Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing 100190, China
Ruihong Gao
Center for Gravitational Wave Experiment, National Microgravity Laboratory, Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing 100190, China
Dayu Li
Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Changchun 130033, China
Keqi Qi
Center for Gravitational Wave Experiment, National Microgravity Laboratory, Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing 100190, China
In space gravitational wave detection missions, a drag-free system is used to keep the test mass (TM) free-falling in an ultralow-noise environment. Ground verification experiments should be carried out to clarify the shielding and compensating capabilities of the system for multiple stray force noises. A hybrid apparatus was designed and analyzed based on the traditional torsion pendulum, and a technique for enhancing the sensitivity of the torsion pendulum system by employing the differential wavefront sensing (DWS) optical readout was proposed. The readout resolution experiment was then carried out on an optical bench that was designed and established. The results indicate that the angular resolution of the DWS signal in optical readout mode can reach the level of 10 nrad/Hz1/2 over the full measurement band. Compared with the autocollimator, the sensitivity of the torsional pendulum is noticeably improved, and the background noise is expected to reach 4.5 × 10−15 Nm/Hz1/2@10 mHz. This method could also be applied to future upgrades of similar systems.
