V. Ferroni
A5065675967- Pulsars and Gravitational Waves Research
- Geophysics and Gravity Measurements
- Radio Astronomy Observations and Technology
- Cosmology and Gravitation Theories
- Advanced Frequency and Time Standards
- Computational Physics and Python Applications
- Astrophysics and Cosmic Phenomena
- Dark Matter and Cosmic Phenomena
- Scientific Measurement and Uncertainty Evaluation
- Solar and Space Plasma Dynamics
- Scientific Research and Discoveries
- Particle Detector Development and Performance
- Astronomical Observations and Instrumentation
- Particle physics theoretical and experimental studies
- Geophysics and Sensor Technology
- Superconducting and THz Device Technology
- Particle accelerators and beam dynamics
- Particle Accelerators and Free-Electron Lasers
- Ionosphere and magnetosphere dynamics
- Superconducting Materials and Applications
- Soil Moisture and Remote Sensing
- Planetary Science and Exploration
- Electromagnetic Launch and Propulsion Technology
- Advanced Electrical Measurement Techniques
- Astro and Planetary Science
University of Trento
2015-2024
Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Trento Institute for Fundamental Physics And Applications
2015-2024
Stanford University
2011-2012
International Center for Relativistic Astrophysics
2011
Sapienza University of Rome
2011
Following the selection of The Gravitational Universe by ESA, and successful flight LISA Pathfinder, Consortium now proposes a 4 year mission in response to ESA's call for missions L3. observatory will be based on three arms with six active laser links, between identical spacecraft triangular formation separated 2.5 million km. is an all-sky monitor offer wide view dynamic cosmos using Waves as new unique messengers unveil Universe. It provides closest ever infant at TeV energy scales, has...
We report the first results of LISA Pathfinder in-flight experiment. The demonstrate that two free-falling reference test masses, such as those needed for a space-based gravitational wave observatory like LISA, can be put in free fall with relative acceleration noise square root power spectral density 5.2±0.1 fm s^{-2}/sqrt[Hz], or (0.54±0.01)×10^{-15} g/sqrt[Hz], g standard gravity, frequencies between 0.7 and 20 mHz. This value is lower than requirement by more factor 5 within 1.25...
In the months since publication of first results, noise performance LISA Pathfinder has improved because reduced Brownian due to continued decrease in pressure around test masses, from a better correction noninertial effects, and calibration electrostatic force actuation. addition, availability numerous long measurement runs, during which no perturbation is purposely applied allowed with good statistics down 20 μHz. The Letter presents measured differential acceleration figure, at...
The last century has seen enormous progress in our understanding of the Universe. We know life cycles stars, structure galaxies, remnants big bang, and have a general how Universe evolved. come remarkably far using electromagnetic radiation as tool for observing However, gravity is engine behind many processes Universe, much its action dark. Opening gravitational window on will let us go further than any alternative. Gravity own messenger: Gravitational waves, ripples fabric spacetime. They...
Measurements of electrostatic forces on free-falling test masses--2 kg metal cubes--are carried out for the first time in an environment constructed space-based gravitational wave detectors (a spacecraft 1.5 million km away from Earth).
The Space Technology 7 Disturbance Reduction System (ST7-DRS) is a NASA technology demonstration payload that operated from January 2016 through July 2017 on the European Agency's (ESA) LISA Pathfinder spacecraft. joint goal of and ESA missions was to validate key technologies for future space-based gravitational wave observatory targeting source-rich millihertz band. two primary components ST7-DRS are micropropulsion system based colloidal micro-Newton thrusters (CMNTs) control...
The science operations of the LISA Pathfinder mission have demonstrated feasibility sub-femto-g free fall macroscopic test masses necessary to build a gravitational wave observatory in space such as LISA. While main focus interest, i.e., optical axis or $x$-axis, has been extensively studied, it is also great importance evaluate stability spacecraft with respect all other degrees freedom (d.o.f.). current paper dedicated study: exhaustive and quantitative evaluation imperfections dynamical...
We report on the first subpicometer interferometer flown in space. It was part of ESA's Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) Pathfinder mission and performed fundamental measurement positional angular motion two free-falling test masses. The worked immediately, stably, reliably from switch until end with exceptionally low residual noise ${32.0}_{\ensuremath{-}1.7}^{+2.4}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{fm}/\sqrt{\mathrm{Hz}}$, significantly better than required. present an upper limit for sensor...
Abstract The estimate of the total electron yield is fundamental for our understanding test-mass charging associated with cosmic rays in Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) Pathfinder mission and forthcoming gravitational wave observatory LISA. To unveil role low energy electrons this process owing to galactic solar energetic particle events, work we study interaction keV sub-keV a gold slab using mixed Monte Carlo (MC) ab-initio framework. We determine spectrum emerging from such hit...
The (LPF) mission successfully demonstrated the feasibility of technology needed for future space borne gravitational wave observatory LISA. A key subsystem under study was laser interferometer, which measured changes in relative distance between two test masses (TMs). It achieved a sensitivity <a:math xmlns:a="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"...
Electrostatic force actuation is a key component of the system geodesic reference test masses (TM) for LISA orbiting gravitational wave observatory and in particular performance at low frequencies, below 1 mHz, where sensitivity limited by stray noise. The needs to apply forces order 10−9 N while limiting fluctuations measurement band levels approaching 10−15 N/Hz1/2. We present here design, based on audio-frequency voltage carrier signals, results its in-flight with Pathfinder mission. In...
We report on the performance of capacitive gap-sensing system Gravitational Reference Sensor board LISA Pathfinder spacecraft. From in-flight measurements, has demonstrated a performance, down to 1 mHz, that is ranging between 0.7 and $1.8\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{aF}\text{ }{\mathrm{Hz}}^{\ensuremath{-}1/2}$. That translates into sensing noise test mass motion within 1.2 $2.4\text{ }\mathrm{nm}\text{ }{\mathrm{Hz}}^{\ensuremath{-}1/2}$ in displacement 83 $170\text{ }\mathrm{nrad}\text{...
In a previous article [1], we have reported on the first subpicometer interferometer flown in space as part of ESA's LISA Pathfinder mission, and shown residual sensor noise to be level ${32.0}_{\ensuremath{-}1.7}^{+2.4}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{fm}/\sqrt{\mathrm{Hz}}$. This review provides deeper more complete overview full system its interferometric mission performance under varying operational conditions, allowing much detailed view model. We also include optical measurements rotations...
We present an in depth analysis of the transient events, or glitches, detected at a rate about one per day differential acceleration data LISA Pathfinder. show that these glitches fall two rather distinct categories: fast transients interferometric motion readout on side, and true force events other. The former are rare ordinary conditions. second may last from seconds to hours constitute majority glitches. physical statistical properties both categories, including cross-analysis with other...
A comprehensive summary of the measurements made to characterize test-mass charging due space environment during LISA Pathfinder mission is presented. Measurements residual charge test mass after release by grabbing and positioning mechanism show that initial masses was negative all releases, leaving with a potential in range from $\ensuremath{-}12$ $\ensuremath{-}512$. Variations neutral rate between 21.7 $30.7\text{ }\text{ }e\text{ }{\mathrm{s}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ were observed over...
LISA Pathfinder (LPF), the second of European Space Agency's Small Missions for Advanced Research in Technology (SMART), is a dedicated technology validation mission future spaceborne gravitational wave detectors, such as proposed eLISA mission. Pathfinder, and its scientific payload - Package will test, flight, critical technologies required low frequency detection: it put two test masses near-perfect free-fall control measure their motion with unprecedented accuracy. This achieved through...
The LISA Pathfinder charge management device was responsible for neutralising the cosmic ray induced electric that inevitably accumulated on free-falling test masses at heart of experiment. We present measurements made ground and in-flight quantify performance this contactless discharge system which based photo-emission under UV illumination. In addition, a two-part simulation is described developed alongside hardware. Modelling absorbed light within sensor carried out with GEANT4 software...
LISA Pathfinder (LPF) was a technology pioneering mission designed to test key technologies required for gravitational wave detection in space. In the low frequency regime (milli-Hertz and below), where space-based observatories will operate, temperature fluctuations play crucial role since they can couple into interferometric measurement masses' free-fall accuracy many ways. A dedicated subsystem, with noise levels 10$\,\mu$K$\,$Hz$^{-1/2}$ down $1\,$mHz part of diagnostics unit on board...
Abstract Galactic cosmic-ray (GCR) energy spectra observed in the inner heliosphere are modulated by solar activity, polarity and structures of interplanetary origin. A high counting rate particle detector (PD) aboard LISA Pathfinder , meant for subsystems diagnostics, was devoted to measurement GCR energetic integral fluxes above 70 MeV n −1 up 6500 counts s . PD data were gathered with a sampling time 15 s. Characteristics dependence flux recurrent depressions Forbush decrease dated 2016...
The LISA Pathfinder (LPF) mission has demonstrated the ability to limit and measure fluctuations in acceleration between two free falling test masses down sub-femto-g levels. One of key elements achieve such a level residual is drag control. In this scheme spacecraft used as shield against any external disturbances by adjusting its relative position reference mass. actuators move are cold gas micropropulsion thrusters. paper, we report in-flight characterization these thrusters term noise...
LISA Pathfinder (LPF) was a European Space Agency mission with the aim to test key technologies for future space-borne gravitational-wave observatories like LISA. The main scientific goal of LPF demonstrate measurements differential acceleration between free-falling masses at sub-femto-$g$ level, and understand residual in terms physical model stray forces, displacement readout noise. A step toward reaching goals correct calibration dynamics LPF, which three-body system composed by two...
We present a study of the tilt-to-length coupling noise during LISA Pathfinder mission and how it depended on system's alignment. Tilt-to-length is unwanted angular lateral spacecraft or test mass motion into primary interferometric displacement readout. It was one major sources in likewise expected to be source LISA. demonstrate here that recently derived published analytical model describes dependency alignment two freely falling masses. This verified with data taken before after...
The future Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) for gravitational wave detection in space and the precursor LISA Pathfinder missions rely on metal test masses (TMs) playing role of free-falling geodesic-reference interferometer end mirrors. Charge deposited TMs by high-energy particles galactic solar origin couples with stray electric fields thus perturbing geodesic motion. In previous works it has been shown that sub-keV electrons play a relevant TM charging. particular, energies below...
LISA Pathfinder (LPF), the precursor mission to a gravitational wave observatory of European Space Agency, will measure degree which two test masses can be put into free fall, aiming demonstrate suppression disturbance forces corresponding residual relative acceleration with power spectral density (PSD) below $(30\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{fm}/{\mathrm{s}}^{2}/\sqrt{\mathrm{Hz}}{)}^{2}$ around 1 mHz. In LPF data analysis, are obtained as difference between and linear combination other measured...