Data Processing for LISA's Laser Interferometer Tracking System (LITS)

TL;DR

This paper discusses data processing algorithms for LISA's laser interferometer tracking system, focusing on noise elimination and data averaging, and advocates for a system with independent lasers for simplicity.

Contribution

It presents recent algorithms for clock jitter noise removal and data averaging, and argues for a simpler independent laser configuration in LISA's LITS.

Findings

Effective clock jitter noise elimination algorithms developed

Data averaging methods suitable for telemetry implementation

Independent laser configuration is preferable for system simplicity

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, we will present recent results on the data processing for LISA, including algorithms for elimination of clock jitter noise and discussion of the generation of the data averages that will eventually need to be telemetered to the ground. Second, we will argue, based partly on these results, that a laser interferometer tracking system (LITS) that employs independent lasers in each spacecraft is preferable for reasons of simplicity to that in which the lasers in two of the spacecraft are locked to the incoming beam from the third.