Complete Catalog of Laser Locking Configurations for LISA

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Heinzel, Gerhard, Álvarez-Vizoso, Javier, Dovale-Álvarez, Miguel
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Heinzel, Gerhard
Álvarez-Vizoso, Javier
Dovale-Álvarez, Miguel
author_facet Heinzel, Gerhard
Álvarez-Vizoso, Javier
Dovale-Álvarez, Miguel
contents The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) will enable direct observations of low-frequency gravitational waves, offering unprecedented insight into astrophysical and cosmological phenomena. LISA's heterodyne interferometric measurement system requires phase-locking five of its six onboard lasers with tunable frequency offsets to ensure that all beatnotes remain within the metrology system's operational range, despite Doppler-induced frequency shifts. The selection of these offset frequencies -- collectively forming a frequency plan -- is a complex optimization problem constrained by the spacecraft's orbital dynamics and instrument limitations. While previous work established an algorithmic solution for deriving time-dependent frequency plans, this study takes a complementary approach by systematically analyzing and cataloging all possible laser locking configurations. We present an automated method to explore, validate, and classify viable locking schemes, identifying 36 unique non-frequency-swapping configurations and 72 additional frequency-swapping configurations for an arbitrary choice of primary laser. This exhaustive classification provides a foundation for frequency planning across the full range of operational scenarios.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2505_22406
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Complete Catalog of Laser Locking Configurations for LISA
Heinzel, Gerhard
Álvarez-Vizoso, Javier
Dovale-Álvarez, Miguel
Instrumentation and Detectors
Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
Space Physics
The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) will enable direct observations of low-frequency gravitational waves, offering unprecedented insight into astrophysical and cosmological phenomena. LISA's heterodyne interferometric measurement system requires phase-locking five of its six onboard lasers with tunable frequency offsets to ensure that all beatnotes remain within the metrology system's operational range, despite Doppler-induced frequency shifts. The selection of these offset frequencies -- collectively forming a frequency plan -- is a complex optimization problem constrained by the spacecraft's orbital dynamics and instrument limitations. While previous work established an algorithmic solution for deriving time-dependent frequency plans, this study takes a complementary approach by systematically analyzing and cataloging all possible laser locking configurations. We present an automated method to explore, validate, and classify viable locking schemes, identifying 36 unique non-frequency-swapping configurations and 72 additional frequency-swapping configurations for an arbitrary choice of primary laser. This exhaustive classification provides a foundation for frequency planning across the full range of operational scenarios.
title Complete Catalog of Laser Locking Configurations for LISA
topic Instrumentation and Detectors
Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
Space Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2505.22406