Opto-Electronic Engineering, Volume. 51, Issue 2, 230134(2024)

Comparative study of detection modes for space-based gravitational wave observation

Jingui Wu1...2,3, Xiaoyong Wang1, Shaojun Bai1, Kailan Wu1,3, Zhongkai Guo1, Yongchao Zheng1, Yun Wang1, and Xuling Lin13,* |Show fewer author(s)
Author Affiliations
  • 1Beijing Institute of Space Mechanics & Electricity, Beijing 100094, China
  • 2School of Mathematical Science, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China
  • 3School of Physical Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China
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    In order to achieve the measurement of gravitational wave signals in the millihertz frequency band, the space-based gravitational wave detection projects such as LISA, TianQin, and Taiji projects, which are based on laser interference systems, require the hardware noise floor of the interferometers to be lower than the interstellar weak light shot noise limit. This imposes stringent engineering specifications on the optical-mechanical design and the corresponding interferometer payload. This paper approaches the issue from the perspective of detection mode selection and derives the expressions of readout noise and stray light noise in the interference signal under the single detector mode and the balanced mode. Furthermore, a detailed discussion is provided on the weak-light interference process of the scientific interferometer. The results demonstrate that the balanced mode is capable of suppressing the interference phase noise caused by laser power fluctuations and backscattered stray light across multiple orders of magnitude. However, the suppression capability is constrained by the unequal splitting property of the beam combiner. To address this, a relative gain factor is introduced to compensate for the unequal splitting property of the beam combiner. Further analysis reveals that electronic gain compensation can only eliminate the impact of unequal splitting on one of the two noises rather than both simultaneously. Therefore, a balance must be struck in selecting gain compensation between the suppression of laser power fluctuation noise and stray light noise. Even with this consideration, the balanced mode still offers significant noise suppression capabilities at a magnitude difference, thus potentially reducing the engineering requirements for laser power fluctuations and telescope backscattered stray light.

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    Jingui Wu, Xiaoyong Wang, Shaojun Bai, Kailan Wu, Zhongkai Guo, Yongchao Zheng, Yun Wang, Xuling Lin. Comparative study of detection modes for space-based gravitational wave observation[J]. Opto-Electronic Engineering, 2024, 51(2): 230134

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    Paper Information

    Category: Article

    Received: Jun. 12, 2023

    Accepted: Nov. 9, 2023

    Published Online: Apr. 26, 2024

    The Author Email: Lin Xuling (林栩凌)

    DOI:10.12086/oee.2024.230134

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