TY - JOUR
T1 - An interferometric sensor for satellite drag-free control
AU - Speake, Clive
AU - Aston, Stuart
PY - 2005/4/26
Y1 - 2005/4/26
N2 - We describe a compact interferometer, under development at the University of Birmingham, that could be employed as a zero-stiffness sensor for drag-free satellites. A prototype bench-top polarization-based homodyne interferometer is discussed that achieves a shot-noise limited displacement sensitivity of 3 x 10(-12) In Hz(1/2) above 60 Hz. We discuss a wavelength modulation technique that will render the interferometer more robust as it enables the absolute difference in interferometric armlengths to be determined.
AB - We describe a compact interferometer, under development at the University of Birmingham, that could be employed as a zero-stiffness sensor for drag-free satellites. A prototype bench-top polarization-based homodyne interferometer is discussed that achieves a shot-noise limited displacement sensitivity of 3 x 10(-12) In Hz(1/2) above 60 Hz. We discuss a wavelength modulation technique that will render the interferometer more robust as it enables the absolute difference in interferometric armlengths to be determined.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=21244465936&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1088/0264-9381/22/10/019
DO - 10.1088/0264-9381/22/10/019
M3 - Article
SN - 1361-6382
VL - 22
SP - S269-S277
JO - Classical and Quantum Gravity
JF - Classical and Quantum Gravity
ER -