# Nonlinear vibration transfer in torsion pendulums

## TL;DR

This paper investigates the nonlinear transfer of ground vibrations to torsion pendulums, crucial for improving their sensitivity in low-frequency gravity measurements, and proposes methods to mitigate this noise.

## Contribution

It provides an evaluation of nonlinear vibration noise in torsion pendulums and discusses strategies for its reduction, enhancing their application in precision gravity experiments.

## Key findings

- Nonlinear vibration transfer can significantly affect torsion pendulum sensitivity.
- Evaluation methods for vibration noise levels are developed.
- Strategies for reducing nonlinear vibration noise are discussed.

## Abstract

Torsion pendulums have been widely used in physical experiments, because their small restoring forces are suitable for tiny force measurement. Recently, some applications such as low-frequency gravity gradiometers have been proposed by focusing on their low resonant frequencies. Torsion pendulums with low resonant frequencies enable the suspended masses to be isolated from the ground, allowing for good response to the fluctuation of local gravity field at low frequencies. However, translational ground vibration can be transferred to the horizontal rotation of the torsion pendulum nonlinearly. This effect can have a non-negligible contribution to the sensitivity of torsion pendulums as gravity gradiometers. This paper evaluates the amount of nonlinear vibration noise, and discusses how to reduce it.