FURTHER TEST MASS CHARGING SIMULATIONS FOR ASTROD I

DOI10.1142/S0218271808012632zbMATH Open1153.83307arXiv0707.1930MaRDI QIDQ3534089FDOQ3534089

Authors: Gang Bao, Wei-Tou Ni, Diana N. A. Shaul, H. M. Araújo, Lei Liu, Timothy J. Sumner 

Publication date: 3 November 2008

Published in: International Journal of Modern Physics D (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: The electrostatic charging of the test mass in ASTROD I (Astrodynamical Space Test of Relativity using Optical Devices I) mission can affect the quality of the science data as a result of spurious Coulomb and Lorentz forces. To estimate the size of the resultant disturbances, credible predictions of charging rates and the charging noise are required. Using the GEANT4 software toolkit, we present a detailed Monte Carlo simulation of the ASTROD I test mass charging due to exposure of the spacecraft to galactic cosmic-ray (GCR) protons and alpha particles (3He, 4He) in the space environment. A positive charging rate of 33.3 e+/s at solar minimum is obtained. This figure reduces by 50% at solar maximum. Based on this charging rate and factoring in the contribution of minor cosmic-ray components, we calculate the acceleration noise and stiffness associated with charging. We conclude that the acceleration noise arising from Coulomb and Lorentz effects are well below the ASTROD I acceleration noise limit at 0.1 mHz both at solar minimum and maximum. The coherent Fourier components due to charging are investigated, it needs to be studied carefully in order to ensure that these do not compromise the quality of science data in the ASTROD I mission.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/0707.1930

Recommendations

• Acceleration disturbances and requirements for ASTROD I
• COHERENT FOURIER COMPONENTS IN THE LISA MEASUREMENT BANDWIDTH FROM TEST MASS CHARGING: ESTIMATES AND SUPPRESSION
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zbMATH Keywords

disturbanceschargingASTROD IGEANT4

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Equations of motion in general relativity and gravitational theory (83C10) Galactic and stellar dynamics (85A05) Observational and experimental questions in relativity and gravitational theory (83B05)

Cites Work

• Electrostatic charging of cubic test masses in the LISA mission
• COHERENT FOURIER COMPONENTS IN THE LISA MEASUREMENT BANDWIDTH FROM TEST MASS CHARGING: ESTIMATES AND SUPPRESSION
• Acceleration disturbances and requirements for ASTROD I

Cited In (3)

• ASTROD AND ASTROD I — OVERVIEW AND PROGRESS
• Laser altimeter for the deep space mission aster modeling and simulation of the instrument operation above a surface with crater
• Acceleration disturbances and requirements for ASTROD I

Uses Software

• GEANT4

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