37,537 research outputs found
Upper limits on stray force noise for LISA
We have developed a torsion pendulum facility for LISA gravitational
reference sensor ground testing that allows us to put significant upper limits
on residual stray forces exerted by LISA-like position sensors on a
representative test mass and to characterize specific sources of disturbances
for LISA. We present here the details of the facility, the experimental
procedures used to maximize its sensitivity, and the techniques used to
characterize the pendulum itself that allowed us to reach a torque sensitivity
below 20 fNm /sqrt{Hz} from 0.3 to 10 mHz. We also discuss the implications of
the obtained results for LISA.Comment: To be published in Classical and Quantum Gravity, special issue on
Amaldi5 2003 conference proceedings (10 pages, 6 figures
Achieving geodetic motion for LISA test masses: ground testing result
The low-frequency resolution of space-based gravitational wave observatories
such as LISA (Laser Interferometry Space Antenna) hinges on the orbital purity
of a free-falling reference test mass inside a satellite shield. We present
here a torsion pendulum study of the forces that will disturb an orbiting test
mass inside a LISA capacitive position sensor. The pendulum, with a measured
torque noise floor below 10 fNm/sqrt{Hz} from 0.6 to 10 mHz, has allowed
placement of an upper limit on sensor force noise contributions, measurement of
the sensor electrostatic stiffness at the 5% level, and detection and
compensation of stray DC electrostatic biases at the mV level.Comment: 4 pages (revtex4) with 4 figure
The SoLid anti-neutrino detector's readout system
The SoLid collaboration have developed an intelligent readout system to
reduce their 3200 silicon photomultiplier detector's data rate by a factor of
10000 whilst maintaining high efficiency for storing data from anti-neutrino
interactions. The system employs an FPGA-level waveform characterisation to
trigger on neutron signals. Following a trigger, data from a space time region
of interest around the neutron will be read out using the IPbus protocol. In
these proceedings the design of the readout system is explained and results
showing the performance of a prototype version of the system are presented
Measuring random force noise for LISA aboard the LISA Pathfinder mission
The LTP (LISA Testflight Package), to be flown aboard the ESA / NASA LISA
Pathfinder mission, aims to demonstrate drag-free control for LISA test masses
with acceleration noise below 30 fm/s^2/Hz^1/2 from 1-30 mHz. This paper
describes the LTP measurement of random, position independent forces acting on
the test masses. In addition to putting an overall upper limit for all source
of random force noise, LTP will measure the conversion of several key
disturbances into acceleration noise and thus allow a more detailed
characterization of the drag-free performance to be expected for LISA.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures. To be published in Classical and Quantum Gravity
with the proceedings of the 2003 Amaldi Meetin
Propagation of optical excitations by dipolar interactions in metal nanoparticle chains
Dispersion relations for dipolar modes propagating along a chain of metal
nanoparticles are calculated by solving the full Maxwell equations, including
radiation damping. The nanoparticles are treated as point dipoles, which means
the results are valid only for a/d <= 1/3, where a is the particle radius and d
the spacing. The discrete modes for a finite chain are first calculated, then
these are mapped onto the dispersion relations appropriate for the infinite
chain. Computed results are given for a chain of 50-nm diameter Ag spheres
spaced by 75 nm. We find large deviations from previous quasistatic results:
Transverse modes interact strongly with the light line. Longitudinal modes
develop a bandwidth more than twice as large, resulting in a group velocity
that is more than doubled. All modes for which k_mode <= w/c show strongly
enhanced decay due to radiation damping.Comment: 26 pages, 7 figures, 2 tables. to appear in Phys. Rev.
The Microscopic Approach to Nuclear Matter and Neutron Star Matter
We review a variety of theoretical and experimental investigations aimed at
improving our knowledge of the nuclear matter equation of state. Of particular
interest are nuclear matter extreme states in terms of density and/or isospin
asymmetry. The equation of state of matter with unequal concentrations of
protons and neutrons has numerous applications. These include heavy-ion
collisions, the physics of rare, short-lived nuclei and, on a dramatically
different scale, the physics of neutron stars. The "common denominator" among
these (seemingly) very different systems is the symmetry energy, which plays a
crucial role in both the formation of the neutron skin in neutron-rich nuclei
and the radius of a neutron star (a system 18 orders of magnitude larger and 55
orders of magnitude heavier). The details of the density dependence of the
symmetry energy are not yet sufficiently constrained. Throughout this article,
our emphasis will be on the importance of adopting a microscopic approach to
the many-body problem, which we believe to be the one with true predictive
power.Comment: 56 pages, review article to appear in the International Journal of
Modern Physics
Four-terminal resistance of an interacting quantum wire with weakly invasive contacts
We analyze the behavior of the four-terminal resistance, relative to the
two-terminal resistance of an interacting quantum wire with an impurity, taking
into account the invasiveness of the voltage probes. We consider a
one-dimensional Luttinger model of spinless fermions for the wire. We treat the
coupling to the voltage probes perturbatively, within the framework of
non-equilibrium Green function techniques. Our investigation unveils the
combined effect of impurities, electron-electron interactions and invasiveness
of the probes on the possible occurrence of negative resistance.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figure
Improved Torsion Pendulum for Ground Testing of LISA Displacement Sensors
We discuss a new torsion pendulum design for ground testing of prototype LISA
(Laser Interferometer Space Antenna) displacement sensors. This new design is
directly sensitive to net forces and therefore provides a more representative
test of the noisy forces and parasitic stiffnesses acting on the test mass as
compared to previous ground-based experiments. We also discuss a specific
application to the measurement of thermal gradient effects.Comment: 4 pages 1 figure, to appear in the Proceedings of the 10th Marcel
Grossmann Meeting on General Relativit
Dimensionality effects on non-equilibrium electronic transport in Cu nanobridges
We report on non-equilibrium electronic transport through normal-metal (Cu)
nanobridges coupled to large reservoirs at low temperatures. We observe a
logarithmic temperature dependence of the zero-bias conductance, as well as a
universal scaling behavior of the differential conductance. Our results are
explained by electron-electron interactions in diffusive metals in the
zero-dimensional limit.Comment: RevTex, 4 page
Torsion pendulum facility for direct force measurements of LISA GRS related disturbances
A four mass torsion pendulum facility for testing of the LISA GRS is under
development in Trento. With a LISA-like test mass suspended off-axis with
respect to the pendulum fiber, the facility allows for a direct measurement of
surface force disturbances arising in the GRS. We present here results with a
prototype pendulum integrated with very large-gap sensors, which allows an
estimate of the intrinsic pendulum noise floor in the absence of sensor related
force noise. The apparatus has shown a torque noise near to its mechanical
thermal noise limit, and would allow to place upper limits on GRS related
disturbances with a best sensitivity of 300 fN/Hz^(1/2) at 1mHz, a factor 50
from the LISA goal. Also, we discuss the characterization of the gravity
gradient noise, one environmental noise source that could limit the apparatus
performances, and report on the status of development of the facility.Comment: Submitted to Proceedings of the 6th International LISA Symposium, AIP
Conference Proceedings 200
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