Title: Optomechanical accelerometers for space geodesy
Presenting Author: Felipe Guzman
Organization: University of Arizona
Co-Author(s): -

Abstract:
We introduce a novel optomechanical triaxial accelerometer tailored for low-frequency inertial sensing applications. The accelerometer is characterized by its compact size, lightweight design, reduced power consumption, and exceptional immunity to environmental variables originating from electromagnetic sources. Our innovative optomechanical accelerometer comprises two orthogonal mechanical resonators meticulously fabricated on a single fused-silica wafer and a third resonator with a motion plane perpendicular to the other two. It is integrated with highly sensitive compact heterodyne laser interferometers serving as optical readouts to precisely monitor the motion of the three individual test masses. The accelerometer's design showcases a resonant frequency around 6 Hz, a high mechanical quality factor on the order of 10^6, a test mass weighing less than 3 g, and a low acceleration noise floor on the order of 10^-11 ms^−2/√Hz at 1 Hz. The combination of these outstanding features renders our accelerometer well-suited for a diverse array of applications, particularly in space geodesy missions, planetary exploration, gravimetry studies, and seismic noise monitoring within gravitational-wave observatories. We will present the latest sensitivity measurements and provide insights into the prototype development. This includes a comprehensive examination of the fiber injectors used for the input laser, as well as the incorporation of a reliable launch-lock mechanism to safeguard the sensor during transportation and deployment.