Photodiode Preamplifiers

We investigate low-noise preamplifier solutions for LISA which help convert the laser signals into electrical signals.

In LISA, the laser signals used for picometer-precision metrology are converted into electrical signals by photodiodes. The faint, picowatt-level amplitudes of those laser signals set stringent constraints on the photodiode preamplifier noise.

We investigate preamplifier solutions based on low-noise, discrete transistors that outperform their OpAmp-based counterparts in terms of noise, bandwidth and power consumption. A transistor-based preamplifier is currently being used in prototype units for the LISA Mission.

The goal of the current prototypes is to achieve a Technology Readiness Level of 6, which means reaching the desired preamplifier performance in realistic mission conditions (thermal-vacuum, vibration, irradiation). Once this readiness level is achieved, our efforts will focus on supporting the design and test of the engineering and flight models of the LISA photodiode preamplifiers.

Literature

Fernandez Barranco, G.; Heinzel, G.: A dc-coupled, HBT-based transimpedance amplifier for the LISA quadrant photoreceivers. IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems, 3068437 (2021)
Fernandez Barranco, G.; Sheard, B.; Dahl, C.; Mathis, W.; Heinzel, G.: A low-power, low-noise 37-MHz photoreceiver for intersatellite laser interferometers using discrete heterojunction bipolar transistors. IEEE Sensors Journal 18 (18 ), pp. 7414 - 7420 (2018)
Fernández Barranco, G.; Gerberding, O.; Schwarze, T. S.; Sheard, B.; Dahl, C.; Zender, B.; Heinzel, G.: Phase stability of photoreceivers in intersatellite laser interferometers. Optics Express 25 (7), pp. 7999 - 8010 (2017)
Fernández Barranco, G.; Tröbs, M.; Müller, V.; Gerberding, O.; Seifert, F.; Heinzel, G.: Spatially resolved photodiode response for simulating precise interferometers. Applied Optics 55 (24), pp. 6688 - 6693 (2016)

Other Interesting Articles

Go to Editor View