Elisa optical sensing developments

This article summarises an experiment that is underway to demonstrate optical metrology systems that have been identified as being crucial for eLISA. The optical sensing to be used for eLISA metrology is based on that developed for the technology demonstrator mission, LISA Pathfinder. The ground-based experiment described will also benefit from the use of ultra­ stable optical benches and will replicate a single link between two spacecraft in a spaceborne gravitational detector. The interferometer will be used to characterise and demonstrate the mitigation of potential noise sources, such as tilt-to-piston coupling.