Experimental characterisation of a combined LVDT position sensor and voice-coil actuator for gravitational wave detectors
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arXiv
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| Auteurs principaux: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Preprint |
| Publié: |
2026
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| _version_ | 1866910043635449856 |
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| author | Kukkadapu, K. A. Li, P. Van Haevermaet, H. Koushik, A. N. Beaumont, W. van Remortel, N. |
| author_facet | Kukkadapu, K. A. Li, P. Van Haevermaet, H. Koushik, A. N. Beaumont, W. van Remortel, N. |
| contents | A detailed characterisation of a combined Linear Variable Differential Transformer (LVDT) position sensor and voice-coil (VC) actuator designed for seismic isolation systems in gravitational wave detectors is presented. A dedicated experimental setup and a FEMM-based finite-element simulation framework were developed to measure and model a representative ETpathfinder Type-A LVDT+VC assembly. The setup employs a precision translation stage and balance to quantify LVDT displacement response and VC force output under controlled conditions. We found good agreement between experiment and simulation: the measured LVDT response was determined with an uncertainty of 0.5% and differed by only 1.3% from the FEMM model prediction, demonstrating high linearity over a +/- 5 mm range. In addition, the VC force measurements agreed within the total uncertainty: the maximum normalised force was determined with a precision of 2.3% and matched the simulated value with only a 0.6% discrepancy. These results validate the combined sensor-actuator design and our measurement methodology. The demonstrated linear response and stable actuation confirm that this LVDT+VC device can be used for low-frequency suspension control. Our framework therefore provides a validated tool to optimise existing sensor and actuator designs and to study novel prototypes for next-generation gravitational wave detectors. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2603_06209 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Experimental characterisation of a combined LVDT position sensor and voice-coil actuator for gravitational wave detectors Kukkadapu, K. A. Li, P. Van Haevermaet, H. Koushik, A. N. Beaumont, W. van Remortel, N. Instrumentation and Detectors A detailed characterisation of a combined Linear Variable Differential Transformer (LVDT) position sensor and voice-coil (VC) actuator designed for seismic isolation systems in gravitational wave detectors is presented. A dedicated experimental setup and a FEMM-based finite-element simulation framework were developed to measure and model a representative ETpathfinder Type-A LVDT+VC assembly. The setup employs a precision translation stage and balance to quantify LVDT displacement response and VC force output under controlled conditions. We found good agreement between experiment and simulation: the measured LVDT response was determined with an uncertainty of 0.5% and differed by only 1.3% from the FEMM model prediction, demonstrating high linearity over a +/- 5 mm range. In addition, the VC force measurements agreed within the total uncertainty: the maximum normalised force was determined with a precision of 2.3% and matched the simulated value with only a 0.6% discrepancy. These results validate the combined sensor-actuator design and our measurement methodology. The demonstrated linear response and stable actuation confirm that this LVDT+VC device can be used for low-frequency suspension control. Our framework therefore provides a validated tool to optimise existing sensor and actuator designs and to study novel prototypes for next-generation gravitational wave detectors. |
| title | Experimental characterisation of a combined LVDT position sensor and voice-coil actuator for gravitational wave detectors |
| topic | Instrumentation and Detectors |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.06209 |