Library science

Gravitational acceleration

Detector

Demography

Engineering

Transient (computer programming)

Gravitation

Pathfinder

Meteoroid

Operating system

Computer science

Classical mechanics

Glitch

Physics

Optics

Astronomy

Interferometry

Electronic engineering

Population

Sociology

Gravitational wave

Sensitivity (control systems)

Gravitational-wave observatory

Acceleration

Physical review. D/Physical review. D.

The LISA Pathfinder (LPF) mission succeeded outstandingly in demonstrating key technological aspects of future space-borne gravitational-wave detectors, such as the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA). Specifically, LPF demonstrated with unprecedented sensitivity the measurement of the relative acceleration of two free-falling cubic test masses. Although most disruptive nongravitational forces have been identified and their effects mitigated through a series of calibration processes, some faint transient signals of yet unexplained origin remain in the measurements. If they appear in the LISA data, these perturbations (also called glitches) could skew the characterization of gravitational-wave sources or even be confused with gravitational-wave bursts. For the first time, we provide a comprehensive census of LPF transient events. Our analysis is based on a phenomenological shapelet model allowing us to derive simple statistics about the physical features of the glitch population. We then implement a generator of synthetic glitches designed to be used for subsequent LISA studies, and perform a preliminary evaluation of the effect of the glitches on future LISA data analyses.

Detection and characterization of instrumental transients in <i>LISA Pathfinder</i> and their projection to LISA

Detection and characterization of instrumental transients in LISA Pathfinder and their projection to LISA