Analysis and elimination of translation disturbance for patch effect measurement with a torsion pendulum

Abstract

Abstract Patch effect on conductive surfaces is one of the critical noise sources in many scientific experiments like space gravity programs and gravitational wave detection missions. A high-precision probe-torsion instrument has been developed on ground for measuring patch effect. However, the translation mode of the probe resulting from the environmental disturbance will inevitably affect the measurement in the concerned torsion degree of freedom. In this paper, combining the theoretical analysis as well as the confirmatory experiment, the method based on data analysis is adopted to eliminate the translation effect, finally realizing the best surface potential resolution level of 20 µV Hz − 1 / 2 .