Bridging the gap between Monte Carlo simulations and measurements of the LISA Pathfinder test-mass charging for LISA

TL;DR

This paper improves Monte Carlo simulations of test-mass charging in space-based gravitational wave detectors, aligning them more closely with actual measurements from the LISA Pathfinder mission, and assesses charging noise levels during solar events.

Contribution

It introduces enhanced Monte Carlo simulations using FLUKA/LEI that accurately match observed charging noise, bridging the gap between previous models and measurements.

Findings

Simulations agree with measurements within errors.

Charging noise is about 1000 charges/sec from Galactic cosmic rays.

Solar energetic particle events increase charging to tens of thousands charges/sec.

Abstract

Cubic gold-platinum free-falling test masses (TMs) constitute the mirrors of future LISA and LISA-like interferometers for low-frequency gravitational wave detection in space. High-energy particles of Galactic and solar origin charge the TMs and thus induce spurious electrostatic and magnetic forces that limit the sensitivity of these interferometers. Prelaunch Monte Carlo simulations of the TM charging were carried out for the LISA Pathfinder (LPF) mission, that was planned to test the LISA instrumentation. Measurements and simulations were compared during the mission operations. The measured net TM charging agreed with simulation estimates, while the charging noise was three to four times higher. We aim to bridge the gap between LPF TM charging noise simulations and observations. New Monte Carlo simulations of the LPF TM charging due to both Galactic and solar particles were carried out with the FLUKA/LEI toolkit. This allowed propagating low-energy electrons down to a few electronvolt. These improved FLUKA/LEI simulations agree with observations gathered during the mission operations within statistical and Monte Carlo errors. The charging noise induced by Galactic cosmic rays is about one thousand charges per second. This value increases to tens of thousands charges per second during solar energetic particle events. Similar results are expected for the LISA TM charging.