LISA telescope assembly optical stability characterization for ESA

摘要

The LISA Optical Stability Characterization project is part of the LISA CTP activities to achieve the requiredTechnonlogy Readiness Level (TRL) for all of the LISA technologies used. This activity aims demonstration of theTelescope Assembly (TA), with a structure based on CFRP technology, that a CTE of 10sup-7 /sup 1/K can be achieved withmeasures to tune the CTE to this level. In addition the demonstration is required to prove that the structure exhibitshighly predictable mechanical distortion characteristics when cooling down to -90°C, during outgassing in space andwhen going from 1g environment to 0g.This paper describes the test facilities as well as the first test results. A dedicated test setup is designed and realized toallow monitoring dimensional variations of the TA using three interferometers, while varying the temperature in athermal vacuum chamber. Critical parameters of the verification setup are the length metrology accuracy in thermalvacuum and the thermal vacuum flexibility and stability. The test programme includes Telescope Assembly CTEmeasurements and thermal gradient characterization.© (2012) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.