Charge Induced Acceleration Noise in the LISA Gravitational Reference Sensor

TL;DR

This paper analyzes how free charge on proof-masses causes acceleration noise in space-based gravitational sensors, evaluating its impact on the LISA mission using Pathfinder data and emphasizing the importance of comprehensive noise budgeting.

Contribution

It provides a complete analysis of charge-induced forces and their acceleration noise contributions, highlighting the dominant term and the need for thorough noise management in LISA.

Findings

Charge-induced forces significantly affect acceleration noise.

One dominant noise term identified in the analysis.

A comprehensive noise budget is essential for future missions.

Abstract

The presence of free charge on isolated proof-masses, such as those within space-borne gravitational reference sensors, causes a number of spurious forces which will give rise to associated acceleration noise. A complete discusssion of each charge induced force and its linear acceleration noise is presented. The resulting charge acceleration noise contributions to the LISA mission are evaluated using the LISA Pathfinder performance and design. It is shown that one term is largely dominant but that a full budget should be maintained for LISA and future missions due to the large number of possible contributions and their dependence on different sensor parameters.