On-ground demonstration of laser-link construction for space-based detection of gravitational waves. (January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gao, Ruihong; Wang, Yikun; Cui, Zhao; Liu, Heshan; Liu, Anwei; Qian, Xingguang; Wang, Xue; Yao, Zhixiong; Yang, Qiujie; Jia, Jianjun; Qi, Keqi; Wang, Shaoxin; Luo, Ziren; Jin, Gang; Wang, Jianyu
• Is Part Of: Optics and lasers in engineering. Volume 160(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-01
• Subjects: Gravitational wave detection -- Interferometer -- Laser acquisition -- Differential wavefront sensing -- Experimental demonstration system; Lasers in engineering -- Periodicals; Optical measurements -- Periodicals; Optics -- Periodicals; Lasers en ingénierie -- Périodiques; Mesures optiques -- Périodiques; Optique -- Périodiques; 621.36605
• DOI: 10.1016/j.optlaseng.2022.107287
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0143-8166

Abstract

Highlights: An experimental system is established to simulate the whole laser link construction process in space-based gravitational wave detection. We comprehensively considered the simulation of actual optical system, actual process and critical working condition. The on-ground acquisition precision as well as the laser pointing precision can fulfill the requirement. We fully verify the feasibility of the proposed three-stages link construction scheme and resolve the relevant technique problems based on experimental method. Abstract: Laser acquisition and pointing system is subject to establish a 10 6 km magnitude inter-satellite laser link with ultra-high pointing precision of 10 nrad / Hz (1 mHz-1 Hz) in space-based gravitational wave detection missions. For the unprecedented challenge, a dedicated laser link construction scheme with three different detectors is proposed. After initial pointing with star trackers, CMOS/CCD cameras intend to suppress the laser pointing error to 1 μ rad . QPDs are subsequently used to achieve the final requirement. With various detectors and technologies, the scheme need intensive verification and study. We first design and build an on-ground laser link construction experimental system, which can simulate the whole process and recreate the actual critical working condition as realistic as possible by comprehensively considering the simulation of optical system, far field beam receiving characteristics and target precision. Results are well in agreement with the requirements and confirm the scheme under realistic conditions, which have not yet been fully tested experimentally.