title: Phase stability of photoreceivers in intersatellite laser interferometers.
abstract: A photoreceiver (PR) is required for the opto-electrical conversion of signals in intersatellite laser interferometers. Noise sources that originate or couple in the PR reduce the system carrier-to-noise-density, which is often represented by its phase noise density. In this work, we analyze the common noise sources in a PR used for space-based interferometry. Additionally, we present the results from the characterization of the PRs in GRACE-FO, a mission which will pioneer intersatellite laser interferometry. The estimated phase noise is shot-noise limited at 10-4rad/Hz1/2down to 10-2Hz, almost 4 orders of magnitude below the instrument top level requirement (0.5 rad/Hz1/2). Below 10-2Hz, the PR finite phase response noise dominates but the levels still comply with the instrument requirement. The sub-mHz noise levels and the PR electronic noise have been identified as key design factors for the LISA PR.
authors.forename: Germán Fernández
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Barranco
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gerberding
authors.forename: Thomas S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Schwarze
authors.forename: Benjamin S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Sheard
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dahl
authors.forename: Bernd
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zender
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Heinzel