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Nanobalance: an automated interferometric balance for micro-thrust measurement.
1Politecnico di Torino, Dipartimento di Automatica e Informatica, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy. enrico.canuto@polito.it
ISA Transactions
|April 22, 2004
Summary
A new nanobalance instrument precisely measures space micro-thruster thrust and noise. This innovation is crucial for future drag-free space missions requiring highly accurate propulsion systems.
Area of Science:
- Spacecraft propulsion
- Precision measurement instrumentation
- Optical physics
Background:
- Low-noise micro-thrusters are critical for advanced space missions (e.g., GOCE, LISA).
- Existing thrust measurement methods have limitations for micro-thruster applications.
- Submicronewton accuracy is required for drag-free and formation-flying missions.
Purpose of the Study:
- Introduce and validate the nanobalance, a novel instrument for measuring micro-thruster performance.
- Demonstrate the nanobalance's capability to measure thrust and noise with submicronewton accuracy.
- Detail the instrument's design principles, error analysis, and automation for practical use.
Main Methods:
- Utilized in-vacuum Fabry-Pérot interferometers sensitive to subnanometric displacements.
- Employed a dual-pendulum system with an optical cavity to detect thrust-induced path length changes.
- Measured thrust by detecting frequency variations that restore a laser beam standing wave.
Main Results:
- The nanobalance achieves submicronewton accuracy in measuring thrust (0-1 mN range).
- Presented a detailed error budget based on recent experimental tests.
- Demonstrated instrument automation for efficient setup and repeatable measurements.
Conclusions:
- The nanobalance offers a breakthrough in precise micro-thruster characterization.
- This instrument is essential for the development of low-noise thrusters for future space missions.
- Automation significantly enhances the usability and adaptability of the nanobalance.