Uploaded August 2020 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
A distributed chip-scale magnetic diagnostic subsystem for LISA
C. Sierra, V. Martín, M. Nofrarias, J. Ramos, D. Roma
Gravitational wave detectors, both from space and on-ground, require a precise knowledge of all non-gravitational forces applied on the test masses.
In LISA, one of the main contributors to the total acceleration noise budget is the surrounding magnetic field inside the spacecraft, created by the interplanetary magnetic field, electronic units and other components such as the micro-thrusters, batteries, solar panel cells, etc.
These elements can produce DC and fluctuating magnetic fields and gradients which must be kept below certain values in order to ensure proper science operation of the GW observatory.
The magnetic diagnostic subsystem on board LISA requires sensitivities below 10nT/√Hz down to the very stable measuring bandwidth of 0.1 mHz. On top of that, the sensors need to be located close to the free-falling test mass —a condition that can not be achieved with fluxgate sensors, the ones used in LISA Pathfinder. For that reason, our group already started the development of a magnetic diagnostic subsystem by means of Anisotropic Magnetoresistors (AMR). This would allow several improvements when compared to fluxgate sensors, including a more compact design and hence a better spatial resolution of the magnetic field close to the test masses.
In this contribution we describe a setup to test the LISA magnetic diagnostics subsystem in a realistic distribution, ie. with the sensors in a configuration close to the one that could be implemented in LISA.
A distributed chip-scale magnetic diagnostic subsystem for LISA
C. Sierra, V. Martín, M. Nofrarias, J. Ramos, D. Roma
Gravitational wave detectors, both from space and on-ground, require a precise knowledge of all non-gravitational forces applied on the test masses.
In LISA, one of the main contributors to the total acceleration noise budget is the surrounding magnetic field inside the spacecraft, created by the interplanetary magnetic field, electronic units and other components such as the micro-thrusters, batteries, solar panel cells, etc.
These elements can produce DC and fluctuating magnetic fields and gradients which must be kept below certain values in order to ensure proper science operation of the GW observatory.
The magnetic diagnostic subsystem on board LISA requires sensitivities below 10nT/√Hz down to the very stable measuring bandwidth of 0.1 mHz. On top of that, the sensors need to be located close to the free-falling test mass —a condition that can not be achieved with fluxgate sensors, the ones used in LISA Pathfinder. For that reason, our group already started the development of a magnetic diagnostic subsystem by means of Anisotropic Magnetoresistors (AMR). This would allow several improvements when compared to fluxgate sensors, including a more compact design and hence a better spatial resolution of the magnetic field close to the test masses.
In this contribution we describe a setup to test the LISA magnetic diagnostics subsystem in a realistic distribution, ie. with the sensors in a configuration close to the one that could be implemented in LISA.
