Readout for intersatellite laser interferometry: Measuring low frequency phase fluctuations of HF signals with microradian precision

Abstract

Precision phase readout of optical beat note signals is one of the core techniques required for intersatellite laser interferometry. Future space based gravitational wave detectors like eLISA require such a readout over a wide range of MHz frequencies, due to orbit induced Doppler shifts, with a precision in the order of $\mu \text{rad}/\sqrt{\text{Hz}}$ at frequencies between $0.1\text{mHz}$ and $1\text{Hz}$. In this paper, we present phase readout systems, so-called phasemeters, that are able to achieve such precisions and we discuss various means that have been employed to reduce noise in the analogue circuit domain and during digitisation. We also discuss the influence of some non-linear noise sources in the analogue domain of such phasemeters. And finally, we present the performance that was achieved during testing of the elegant breadboard model of the LISA phasemeter, that was developed in the scope of an ESA technology development activity.

submitted to Review of Scientific Instruments on April 30th 2015

References in corpus (5)

• The Gravitational Universe
• Phasemeter core for intersatellite laser heterodyne interferometry: modelling, simulations and experiments
• Characterization of photoreceivers for LISA
• Arm locking for space-based laser interferometry gravitational wave observatories
• Common mode noise rejection properties of amplitude and phase noise in a heterodyne interferometer

Cited by in corpus (12)

• Picometer-stable hexagonal optical bench to verify LISA phase extraction linearity and precision
• Design and construction of an optical test bed for LISA imaging systems and tilt-to-length coupling
• Experimental verification of intersatellite clock synchronization at LISA performance levels
• Laser-Frequency Stabilization via a Quasimonolithic Mach-Zehnder Interferometer with Arms of Unequal Length and Balanced dc Readout
• Simple digital phase-measuring algorithm for low-noise heterodyne interferometry
• Investigation and mitigation of noise contributions in a compact heterodyne interferometer
• Frequency planning for LISA
• Quasi-monolithic heterodyne laser interferometer for inertial sensing
• Single-element dual-interferometer for precision inertial sensing
• Towards the LISA Backlink: Experiment design for comparing optical phase reference distribution systems
• Performance analysis of sequential carrier- and code-tracking receivers in the context of high-precision space-borne metrology systems
• Space-based Gravitational Wave Observatories