Orbit optimization for ASTROD-GW and its time delay interferometry with two arms using CGC ephemeris

TL;DR

This paper presents an orbit optimization and TDI analysis for the ASTROD-GW mission, demonstrating that the proposed orbits maintain low arm length variation and Doppler velocities, ensuring TDI effectiveness over 20 years.

Contribution

It introduces a 20-year optimized orbit plan for ASTROD-GW spacecraft using CGC ephemeris and evaluates TDI residuals to confirm mission feasibility.

Findings

Arm length changes are less than 0.0003 AU over 20 years.

Relative Doppler velocities are below 3 m/s.

Second generation TDI satisfies ASTROD-GW requirements.

Abstract

ASTROD-GW (ASTROD [Astrodynamical Space Test of Relativity using Optical Devices] optimized for Gravitation Wave detection) is an optimization of ASTROD to focus on the goal of detection of gravitation waves. The detection sensitivity is shifted 52 times toward larger wavelength compared to that of LISA. The mission orbits of the 3 spacecraft forming a nearly equilateral triangular array are chosen to be near the Sun-Earth Lagrange points L3, L4 and L5. The 3 spacecraft range interferometrically with one another with arm length about 260 million kilometers. In order to attain the requisite sensitivity for ASTROD-GW, laser frequency noise must be suppressed below the secondary noises such as the optical path noise, acceleration noise etc. For suppressing laser frequency noise, we need to use time delay interferometry (TDI) to match the two different optical paths (times of travel). Since planets and other solar-system bodies perturb the orbits of ASTROD-GW spacecraft and affect the (TDI), we simulate the time delay numerically using CGC 2.7 ephemeris framework. To conform to the ASTROD-GW planning, we work out a set of 20-year optimized mission orbits of ASTROD-GW spacecraft starting at June 21, 2028, and calculate the residual optical path differences in the first and second generation TDI for one-detector case. In our optimized mission orbits for 20 years, changes of arm length are less than 0.0003 AU; the relative Doppler velocities are less than 3m/s. All the second generation TDI for one-detector case satisfies the ASTROD-GW requirement.