Magazine Article

Optical Displacement Sensor for Sub- Hertz Applications

TBMG-2547

01/01/2008

Abstract
Content

A document discusses a sensor made from off-the-shelf electro-optical photodiodes and electronics that achieves 20 nm/(Hz)1/2 displacement sensitivity at 1 mHz. This innovation was created using a fiber-coupled laser diode (or Nd:YAG) through a collimator and an aperture as the illumination source. Together with a germanium quad photodiode, the above-mentioned displacement sensor sensitivities have been achieved. This system was designed to aid the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) with microthruster tests and to be a backup sensor for monitoring the relative position between a proof mass and a spacecraft for drag-free navigation. The optical displacement sensor can be used to monitor any small displacement from a remote location with minimal invasion on the system.

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Citation
"Optical Displacement Sensor for Sub- Hertz Applications," Mobility Engineering, January 1, 2008.
Additional Details
Publisher
Published
Jan 1, 2008
Product Code
TBMG-2547
Content Type
Magazine Article
Language
English