The Mechanical Technology department at Nikhef has produced the first series of six camera housings for the planned LISA gravitational wave detector in space.
Instrument makers used computer-controlled milling machines at the workshop in Amsterdam to manufacture the components for the camera housings from aluminium and titanium. These components consist of the 6 by 6 centimeter housing, two covers with connections and a bracket for mounting in one of the LISA spacecraft.
LISA is a future gravitational wave detector from ESA. The instrument will consist of three spacecraft with optical equipment, moving in a fixed triangular formation at a distance of 2.5 million kilometres from each other. SRON and Nikhef are collaborating on this project in the Netherlands.
According to ESA plans, LISA could be launched into space around 2035. The instrument will then be a valuable addition to the gravitational wave detectors on Earth, such as LIGO and Virgo and the future Einstein Telescope.
The Detector R&D research group at Nikhef and SRON is working on the so-called “eyes of LISA”, cameras that help maintain the shape of the triangular formation. These cameras observe the laser signals between the three LISA stations, thereby monitoring their relative positions.
The cameras are so-called QPRs, quadrant sensors that can register changes in the direction of a laser signal. Each camera ultimately contains a so-called QPD light sensor on a chip.
By definition, space travel places high demands on the accuracy of components and parts and their resistance to vibrations, vacuum and temperature variations. The housing will ultimately be tested at ESA for installation in LISA.
A video of the manufacturing process for the housings can be viewed on YouTube.
