Reducing tilt-to-length coupling for the LISA test mass interferometer. (9th April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tröbs, M; Schuster, S; Lieser, M; Zwetz, M; Chwalla, M; Danzmann, K; Barránco, G Fernández; Fitzsimons, E D; Gerberding, O; Heinzel, G; Killow, C J; Perreur-Lloyd, M; Robertson, D I; Schwarze, T S; Wanner, G; Ward, H
• Is Part Of: Classical and quantum gravity. Volume 35:Number 10(2018:May)
• Publication Date: 2018-04-09
• Subjects: test-mass interferometer -- Laser Interferometer Space Antenna -- tilt-to-length coupling; Quantum gravity -- Periodicals; Gravitation -- Periodicals; Relativity (Physics) -- Periodicals; Space and time -- Periodicals; Periodicals; 521.1
• DOI: 10.1088/1361-6382/aab86c
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0264-9381

Abstract

Abstract: Objects sensed by laser interferometers are usually not stable in position or orientation. This angular instability can lead to a coupling of angular tilt to apparent longitudinal displacement—tilt-to-length coupling (TTL). In LISA this is a potential noise source for both the test mass interferometer and the long-arm interferometer. We have experimentally investigated TTL coupling in a setup representative for the LISA test mass interferometer and used this system to characterise two different imaging systems (a two-lens design and a four-lens design) both designed to minimise TTL coupling. We show that both imaging systems meet the LISA requirement of ±25 μ m rad −1 for interfering beams with relative angles of up to ±300 μ rad. Furthermore, we found a dependency of the TTL coupling on beam properties such as the waist size and location, which we characterised both theoretically and experimentally.