Electrostatic-control performance measurement of the inertial sensor with a torsion pendulum

Abstract

An electrostatic-controlled torsion pendulum was used to simulate the operation of the inertial sensor in flight. The twist motion of the proof mass was monitored by a capacitance transducer and was controlled by an electrostatic actuator. The influences of the parasitic coupling of the capacitance transducer, the magnetic field, and the translation motion coupling were measured. The torque noise of the controlled pendulum came to about 6×10-13 N m Hz-1/2 from 2 mHz to 0.1 Hz, mainly limited by the translation-rotation coupling and the back action of the capacitance sensor, which could be suppressed by extending the gap of the capacitance sensor. © 2009 IOP Publishing Ltd.