Open AccessPrototype of an ultra-stable optical cavity for space applications
Author(s) -
Bérengère Argence,
Eddie Prevost,
Thomas Lévèque,
Ronan Le Goff,
S. Bize,
P. Lemonde,
G. Santarelli
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.20.025409
Subject(s) - decoupling (probability) , optics , enclosure , vibration isolation , vibration , materials science , thermal , shields , finite element method , acceleration , sensitivity (control systems) , acoustics , physics , electromagnetic shielding , composite material , electronic engineering , electrical engineering , engineering , classical mechanics , control engineering , meteorology , thermodynamics
We report the main features and performances of a prototype of an ultra-stable cavity designed and realized by industry for space applications with the aim of space missions. The cavity is a 100 mm long cylinder rigidly held at its midplane by a engineered mechanical interface providing an efficient decoupling from thermal and vibration perturbations. Intensive finite element modeling was performed in order to optimize thermal and vibration sensitivities while getting a high fundamental resonance frequency. The system was designed to be transportable, acceleration tolerant (up to several g) and temperature range compliant [-33°C ; 73°C]. Thermal isolation is ensured by gold coated Aluminum shields inside a stainless steel enclosure for vacuum. The axial vibration sensitivity was evaluated at (4 ± 0.5) × 10(-11)/(m.s(-2)), while the transverse one is < 1 × 10(-11)/(m.s(-2)). The fractional frequency instability is </~ 1×10(-15) from 0.1 to a few seconds and reaches 5-6×10(-16) at 1s.