The Charge Management System for LISA and LISA Pathfinder
Author(s)
Hollington, Daniel
Type
Thesis
Abstract
The test masses at the heart of the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA)
and LISA: Pathfinder experiments will experience charging caused by incident ionising
radiation. This thesis describes work carried out in developing, testing and
understanding the performance of the hardware used to characterise and counteract
this test mass charging.
Work will be presented that describes the simulation and testing of a radiation monitor
to be flown on board Pathfinder. The Charge Management System will then
be introduced and the results from testing at the Trento torsion pendulum facility
discussed. Several measurements of individual properties that affect discharging are
made and these are then incorporated into simulations of the discharging system as
a whole. Finally, initial studies are conducted into the suitability of UV-LEDs as the
discharging light source for LISA, with particular focus on their spectral stability.
and LISA: Pathfinder experiments will experience charging caused by incident ionising
radiation. This thesis describes work carried out in developing, testing and
understanding the performance of the hardware used to characterise and counteract
this test mass charging.
Work will be presented that describes the simulation and testing of a radiation monitor
to be flown on board Pathfinder. The Charge Management System will then
be introduced and the results from testing at the Trento torsion pendulum facility
discussed. Several measurements of individual properties that affect discharging are
made and these are then incorporated into simulations of the discharging system as
a whole. Finally, initial studies are conducted into the suitability of UV-LEDs as the
discharging light source for LISA, with particular focus on their spectral stability.
Date Issued
2011
Date Awarded
2011-11
Copyright Statement
Attribution NoDerivatives 4.0 International Licence (CC BY-ND)
Advisor
Sumner, Timothy
Creator
Hollington, Daniel
Publisher Department
Physics
Publisher Institution
Imperial College London
Qualification Level
Doctoral
Qualification Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)