A torsion balance as a weak-force testbed for novel optical inertial sensors

authored by: Gerald Bergmann, Carolin Cordes, Christoph Gentemann, Vitus Händchen, Wang Qinglan, Hao Yan, Karsten Danzmann, Gerhard Heinzel, Moritz Mehmet
Abstract: Torsion balances (TBs) are versatile instruments known for their ability to measure tiny forces and accelerations with high precision. We are currently commissioning a new TB facility to support the development and testing of novel optical inertial sensor units for future gravity-related space missions. Here, we report on the status of our apparatus and present first sensitivity curves that demonstrate acceleration and torque sensitivities of 5 ⋅ 10 − 11 m s − 2 and 1 ⋅ 10 − 12 N m H z − 1 at frequencies around 4 m H z , respectively. Capacitive sensors and optical levers measure the dynamics of the system with a displacement sensitivity of down to 9 ⋅ 10 − 10 m H z − 1 for the former and 2 ⋅ 10 − 11 m H z − 1 for the latter. Combining the readout of the suspended inertial member (IM) with environmental sensor signals, the system is characterized, and limiting noise sources are identified. We find that, in particular, the coupling of ambient seismic motion is limiting over a broad frequency range and show that due to its high susceptibility to ground motion, our TB is also a promising platform for exploring ground motion sensing in multiple degrees of freedom. Future upgrades will focus on mitigating seismic noise by controlling the torsion fiber suspension point using piezoelectric actuators and the integration of precision interferometric readout of the IM. These improvements will further increase the sensitivity towards the thermal noise limit which constrains the performance to 1 ⋅ 10 − 13 m s − 2 H z − 1 at 4 m H z .
Organisation(s): Institute of Gravitation Physics
QuantumFrontiers
CRC 1464: Relativistic and Quantum-Based Geodesy (TerraQ)
External Organisation(s): Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute)
Type: Article
Journal: Classical and quantum gravity
Volume: 41
No. of pages: 16
ISSN: 0264-9381
Publication date: 05.03.2024
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous)
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6382/ad29e8 (Access: Open)

BibTeX

@article{30196773d0f14515b6b7783695cbfcb4,
title = "A torsion balance as a weak-force testbed for novel optical inertial sensors",
abstract = "Torsion balances (TBs) are versatile instruments known for their ability to measure tiny forces and accelerations with high precision. We are currently commissioning a new TB facility to support the development and testing of novel optical inertial sensor units for future gravity-related space missions. Here, we report on the status of our apparatus and present first sensitivity curves that demonstrate acceleration and torque sensitivities of 5 ⋅ 10 − 11 m s − 2 and 1 ⋅ 10 − 12 N m H z − 1 at frequencies around 4 m H z , respectively. Capacitive sensors and optical levers measure the dynamics of the system with a displacement sensitivity of down to 9 ⋅ 10 − 10 m H z − 1 for the former and 2 ⋅ 10 − 11 m H z − 1 for the latter. Combining the readout of the suspended inertial member (IM) with environmental sensor signals, the system is characterized, and limiting noise sources are identified. We find that, in particular, the coupling of ambient seismic motion is limiting over a broad frequency range and show that due to its high susceptibility to ground motion, our TB is also a promising platform for exploring ground motion sensing in multiple degrees of freedom. Future upgrades will focus on mitigating seismic noise by controlling the torsion fiber suspension point using piezoelectric actuators and the integration of precision interferometric readout of the IM. These improvements will further increase the sensitivity towards the thermal noise limit which constrains the performance to 1 ⋅ 10 − 13 m s − 2 H z − 1 at 4 m H z .",
keywords = "capacitive readout, inertial sensing, optical lever, seismic sensing, torsion balance",
author = "Gerald Bergmann and Carolin Cordes and Christoph Gentemann and Vitus H{\"a}ndchen and Wang Qinglan and Hao Yan and Karsten Danzmann and Gerhard Heinzel and Moritz Mehmet",
note = "Funding Information: The authors acknowledge funding and support by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) - Project-ID 434617780 - SFB 1464, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) - Project-ID 239994235 - SFB 1128, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) under Germany{\textquoteright}s Excellence Strategy—EXC-2123 QuantumFrontiers - 390837967, and the Max Planck Society (MPG) in the framework of the LEGACY cooperation on low-frequency gravitational wave astronomy (M.IF.A.QOP18098). ",
year = "2024",
month = mar,
day = "5",
doi = "10.1088/1361-6382/ad29e8",
language = "English",
volume = "41",
journal = "Classical and quantum gravity",
issn = "0264-9381",
publisher = "IOP Publishing Ltd.",
number = "7",
}