Flight phasemeter on the Laser Ranging Interferometer on the GRACE Follow-On mission

As the first inter-spacecraft laser interferometer, the Laser Ranging Interferometer (LRI) on the GRACE Follow-On Mission will demonstrate interferometry technology relevant to the LISA mission. This paper focuses on the completed LRI Laser Ranging Processor (LRP), which includes heterodyne signal phase tracking at

\mu {\rm{cycle/}}\sqrt{{\rm{Hz}}}

precision, differential wavefront sensing, offset frequency phase locking and Pound-Drever-Hall laser stabilization. The LRI design has characteristics that are similar to those for LISA: 1064 nm NPRO laser source, science bandwidth in the mHz range, MHz-range intermediate frequency and Doppler shift, detected optical power of tens of picoWatts. Laser frequency stabilization has been demonstrated at a level below

30{\rm{Hz/}}\sqrt{{\rm{Hz}}}

, better than the LISA requirement of

300{\rm{Hz/}}\sqrt{{\rm{Hz}}}

. The LRP has completed all performance testing and environmental qualification and has been delivered to the GRACE Follow-On spacecraft. The LRI is poised to test the LISA techniques of tone-assisted time delay interferometry and arm-locking. GRACE Follow-On launches in 2017.

laser: interferometer
LISA
performance
electronics: design
stability

References(20)

Figures(0)

[1]

Crossref:

Tapley B
,
Bettadpur S
,
Ries J
,
Thompson P
,
Watkins M

- Science 305 (2004) 503
•
DOI:
- 10.1126/science.1099192

[2]

LISA Pre-Phase A Report 2 (MPQ) 233

Bender P

[3]

Crossref:

Sheard B
,
Heinzel G
,
Danzmann K
,
Shaddock D
,
Klipstein W

et al.

- J.Geod. 86 (2012) 1083
•
DOI:
- 10.1007/s00190-012-0566-3

[4]

Armstrong J
,
Estabrook F
,
Tinto M

- Astrophys.J. 527 (1999) 814
•
DOI:
- 10.1088/0004-637X/527/2/814

[5]

Post-processed time-delay interferometry for LISA

- Phys.Rev.D 70 (2004) 081101
•
e-Print:
- gr-qc/0406106
•
DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevD.70.081101

[6]

Phys Lett A 320

Sheard B
,
Gray M
,
McClelland D
,
Shaddock D

[7]

The Performance of arm locking in LISA

- Phys.Rev.D 80 (2009) 102003
•
e-Print:
- 0908.0290
•
DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevD.80.102003

[8]

Data combinations accounting for LISA spacecraft motion

- Phys.Rev.D 68 (2003) 061303
•
e-Print:
- gr-qc/0307080
•
DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevD.68.061303

[9]

US Patent 7411469

Halverson P
,
Ware B
,
Shaddock D
,
Spero R

[10]

LIMAS-002, LISA Project document updated 2009

Shaddock D
,
Ware B
,
Spero R
,
Klipstein W

[11]

Overview of the LISA phasemeter

- AIP Conf.Proc. 873 (2006) 1, 654-660
•
DOI:
- 10.1063/1.2405113

[12]

Experimental Demonstration of Time-Delay Interferometry for the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna

et al.

- Phys.Rev.Lett. 104 (2010) 211103
•
e-Print:
- 1005.2176
•
DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevLett.104.211103

[13]

Crossref:

Sutton A
,
McKenzie B
,
Ware B
,
Shaddock D

- Opt.Express 18 (2010) 20759
•
DOI:
- 10.1364/OE.18.020759

[14]

Earth Science Technology Forum (Arlington VA)

Folkner W

[15]

Phys Rev D accepted for publication

Thorpe J
,
McKenzie K

[16]

Tone-assisted time delay interferometry on GRACE Follow-On

Samuel P. Francis
(
- Australian Natl. U., Canberra
)
,
Daniel A. Shaddock
(
- Australian Natl. U., Canberra
)
,
Andrew J. Sutton
(
- Caltech, JPL
)
,
Glenn de Vine
(
- Caltech, JPL
)
,
Brent Ware
(
- Caltech, JPL
)

et al.

- Phys.Rev.D 92 (2015) 1, 012005
•
DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevD.92.012005

[17]

Crossref:

Wolf M

- J.Geophys.Res. 74 (1969) 5295
•
DOI:
- 10.1029/JB074i022p05295

[18]

Proc 15th Int. Tech Meeting of Satellite Division of Institute of Navigation (Portland, OR) 724

Dunn C

[19]

Crossref:

Klipstein W
,
Arnold W
,
Enzer D
,
Ruiz A
,
Tien J

et al.

- Space Sci.Rev. 178 (2013) 57
•
DOI:
- 10.1007/s11214-013-9973-x

[20]

Crossref:

Sheard B
,
Heinzel G
,
Danzmann K
,
Shaddock D
,
Klipstein W

et al.

- J.Geod. 86 (2012) 1083
•
DOI:
- 10.1007/s00190-012-0566-3