Related papers: MICROSCOPE instrument description and validation
We propose an experiment, the Cosmic Accelerometer, designed to yield velocity precision of $\leq 1$ cm/s with measurement stability over years to decades. The first-phase Cosmic Accelerometer, which is at the scale of the Astro2020 Small…
Gyroscopes are inertial sensors that measure the angular velocity of the platforms to which they are attached. To estimate the gyroscope deterministic error terms prior mission start, a calibration procedure is performed. When considering…
In this paper we examine the possibility of testing the equivalence principle, in its weak form, by analyzing the orbital motion of a pair of artificial satellites of different composition moving along orbits of identical shape and size in…
The motion of electrons in or near solids, liquids and gases can be tracked by forcing their ejection with attosecond x-ray pulses, derived from femtosecond lasers. The momentum of these emitted electrons carries the imprint of the…
Inertial sensors based on cold atom interferometry exhibit many interesting features for applications related to inertial navigation, particularly in terms of sensitivity and long-term stability. However, at present the typical atom…
We describe a single fingertip-mounted sensing system for robot manipulation that provides proximity (pre-touch), contact detection (touch), and force sensing (post-touch). The sensor system consists of optical time-of-flight range…
We describe the use of optically levitated microspheres as test masses in experiments aimed at reaching and potentially exceeding the standard quantum limit for position measurements. Optically levitated microspheres have low mass and are…
Deformable mirrors (DMs) are a critical technology to enable coronagraphic direct imaging of exoplanets with current and planned ground - and space-based telescopes as well as future mission concepts that aim to image exoplanet types…
Described is an experiment in which a smartphone was caused to move at steady state in a vertical plane, on a path that was nearly circular. During a time interval of data acquisition that encompassed multiple orbits, the acceleration of…
Space-based stellar coronagraph instruments aim to directly image exoplanets that are a fraction of an arcsecond separation and ten billion times fainter than their host star. To achieve this, one or more deformable mirrors (DMs) are used…
Launch of the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) has been followed by an extensive period of calibration and characterization as part of the preparation for normal satellite operations. Major tasks carried out during this period…
While offering unprecedented resolution of atomic and electronic structure, Scanning Probe Microscopy techniques have found greater challenges in providing reliable electrostatic characterization at the same scale. In this work, we…
This thesis is organized into four chapters: Chapter 1 provides an overview of previous missions focused on monitoring earthquake precursors from space and highlights popular theories connecting space-measured seismic precursors to…
Micro-vibration has been a dominant factor impairing the performance of scientific experiments which are expected to be deployed in a micro-gravity environment such as Spacelab. The micro-vibration has a serious impact on scientific…
The Full-disk magnetograph is a main scientific payload onboard the Advanced Space based Solar Observatory (ASO-S/FMG) that through Stokes parameter observation to measures the vector magnetic field. The accuracy of magnetic-field values is…
We demonstrate a z-axis accelerometer which uses waveguided light to sense proof mass displacement. The accelerometer consists of two stacked rings (one fixed and one suspended above it) forming an optical ring resonator. As the upper ring…
A novel method is presented for measuring impulsive forces generated by devices which are fed with medium power microwave signals. The forces are measured with a torsion balance or weighing scale, as usual, but the microwave signal is…
Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) allows to reconstruct the topography of surface with a resolution in the nanometer range. The exceptional resolution attainable with the AFM makes this instrument a key tool in nanoscience and technology. The…
A fault detection and isolation method for satellite rate gyros is proposed based on using the satellite-to-satellite measurements such as relative position beside orbit parameters of the primary satellite. By finding a constant of motion,…
The spatial dependence of magnetic fields in simple configurations is an usual topic in introductory electromagnetism lessons, both in high school and in university courses. In typical experiments, magnetic fields are obtained taking…