Charging of free-falling test masses in orbit due to cosmic rays: results from 
LISA Pathfinder

LISA Pathfinder Collaboration; Armano, M.; Audley, H.; Baird, J.; Binetruy, P.; Born, M.; Bortoluzzi, D.; Castelli, E.; Cesarini, A. Cavalleri A.; Cruise, A. M; Danzmann, K.; Silva, M. de Deus; Diepholz, I.; Dixon, G.; Dolesi, R.; Ferraioli, L.; Ferroni, V.; Fitzsimons, E. D.; Freschi, M.; Gesa, L.; Giardini, D.; Gibert, F.; Giusteri, R.; Grimani, C.; Grzymisch, J.; Harrison, I.; Hartig, M.-S.; Heinzel, G.; Hewitson, M.; Hollington, D.; Hoyland, D.; Hueller, M.; Inchauspé, H.; Jennrich, O.; Jetzer, P.; Karnesis, N.; Kaune, B.; Killow, C. J.; Korsakova, N.; Lobo, J. A.; López-Zaragoza, J. P.; Maarschalkerweerd, R.; Mance, D.; Martín, V.; Martino, J.; Martin-Polo, L.; Martin-Porqueras, F.; McNamara, P. W.; Mendes, J.; Mendes, L.; Meshksar, N.; Nofrarias, M.; Paczkowski, S.; Perreur-Lloyd, M.; Petiteau, A.; Plagnol, E.; Ramos-Castro, J.; Reiche, J.; Rivas, F.; Robertson, D. I.; Russano, G.; Slutsky, J.; Sopuerta, C. F.; Sumner, T. J.; Texier, D.; Thorpe, J. I.; Vetrugno, D.; Vitale, S.; Wanner, G.; Ward, H.; Wass, P. J.; Weber, W. J.; Wissel, L.; Wittchen, A.; Zweifel, P.

doi:10.1103/PhysRevD.107.062007

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Charging of free-falling test masses in orbit due to cosmic rays: results from LISA Pathfinder

MPS-Authors

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Audley, H.
Laser Interferometry & Gravitational Wave Astronomy, AEI-Hannover, MPI for Gravitational Physics, Max Planck Society;

/persons/resource/persons40430

Born, M.
Laser Interferometry & Gravitational Wave Astronomy, AEI-Hannover, MPI for Gravitational Physics, Max Planck Society;

/persons/resource/persons40437

Danzmann, K.
Laser Interferometry & Gravitational Wave Astronomy, AEI-Hannover, MPI for Gravitational Physics, Max Planck Society;

/persons/resource/persons231085

Giusteri, R.
Laser Interferometry & Gravitational Wave Astronomy, AEI-Hannover, MPI for Gravitational Physics, Max Planck Society;

/persons/resource/persons231095

Hartig, M.-S.
Laser Interferometry & Gravitational Wave Astronomy, AEI-Hannover, MPI for Gravitational Physics, Max Planck Society;

/persons/resource/persons40460

Heinzel, G.
Laser Interferometry & Gravitational Wave Astronomy, AEI-Hannover, MPI for Gravitational Physics, Max Planck Society;

/persons/resource/persons40525

Hewitson, M.
Laser Interferometry & Gravitational Wave Astronomy, AEI-Hannover, MPI for Gravitational Physics, Max Planck Society;

/persons/resource/persons215671

Kaune, B.
Laser Interferometry & Gravitational Wave Astronomy, AEI-Hannover, MPI for Gravitational Physics, Max Planck Society;

/persons/resource/persons215675

Paczkowski, S.
Laser Interferometry & Gravitational Wave Astronomy, AEI-Hannover, MPI for Gravitational Physics, Max Planck Society;

/persons/resource/persons40486

Reiche, J.
Laser Interferometry & Gravitational Wave Astronomy, AEI-Hannover, MPI for Gravitational Physics, Max Planck Society;

/persons/resource/persons40507

Wanner, G.
Laser Interferometry & Gravitational Wave Astronomy, AEI-Hannover, MPI for Gravitational Physics, Max Planck Society;

/persons/resource/persons231196

Wissel, L.
Laser Interferometry & Gravitational Wave Astronomy, AEI-Hannover, MPI for Gravitational Physics, Max Planck Society;

/persons/resource/persons231198

Wittchen, A.
Laser Interferometry & Gravitational Wave Astronomy, AEI-Hannover, MPI for Gravitational Physics, Max Planck Society;

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Citation

LISA Pathfinder Collaboration, Armano, M., Audley, H., Baird, J., Binetruy, P., Born, M., et al. (2023). Charging of free-falling test masses in orbit due to cosmic rays: results from LISA Pathfinder. Physical Review D, 107(6): 062007. doi:10.1103/PhysRevD.107.062007.

Cite as: https://hdl.handle.net/21.11116/0000-000C-F54C-B

Abstract

A comprehensive summary of the measurements made to characterize test mass
charging due to the space environment during the LISA Pathfinder mission is
presented. Measurements of the residual charge of the test mass after release
by the grabbing and positioning mechanism, show that the initial charge of the
test masses was negative after all releases, leaving the test mass with a
potential in the range $-12$ mV to $-512$ mV. Variations in the neutral test
mass charging rate between $21.7$ e s$^{-1}$ and $30.7$ e s$^{-1}$ were
observed over the course of the 17-month science operations produced by cosmic
ray flux changes including a Forbush decrease associated with a small solar
energetic particle event. A dependence of the cosmic ray charging rate on the
test mass potential between $-30.2$ e s$^{-1}$ V$^{-1}$ and $-40.3$ e s$^{-1}$
V$^{-1}$ was observed and this is attributed to a contribution to charging from
low-energy electrons emitted from the gold surfaces of the gravitational
reference sensor. Data from the on-board particle detector show a reliable
correlation with the charging rate and with other environmental monitors of the
cosmic ray flux. This correlation is exploited to extrapolate test mass
charging rates to a 20-year period giving useful insight into the expected
range of charging rate that may be observed in the LISA mission.