About LASSO

About LASSO

Laboratory of Space Systems and Optomechanics

About LASSO2025-12-07T23:44:45+00:00
What we do

Laboratory of Space Systems and Optomechanics (LASSO)

In the Laboratory of Space Systems and Optomechanics (LASSO) at the University of Arizona, we focus on designing and developing inertial sensors with application in distinct fields such as gravitational-wave astronomy and space geodesy.

Our group research is centered in:

  • Novel optomechanical inertial sensing technologies.
  • Optical precision measurements.
  • System characterization and signal processing.

The accelerometer is comprised mainly of two parts:

Opto-mechanical resonator

Optomechanics

Resonator is a core sensing element of the accelerometer vibrating at certain frequency according to acceleration.

  • For our lab prototype, we have achieved test mass of 1g, total sensor mass <30 g,
  • Higher the quality-factor, higher is the accelerations sensitivity. We have achieved a Q-factor up to few millions.
  • We have measured displacement resolution in 10-16 m / √Hz at higher frequencies., which translates to acceleration resolution <100 ng/ √Hz over a bandwidth of 10 kHz.
  • We study new materials and fabrication methods for resonators; design, model and fabricate the resonators for compact sensing technologies.
Interferometer

Laser Interferometer

Interferometer including beam splitter, quarter wave plate & prisms

  • Interferometer is type of device which uses LASER to measure test mass displacement of resonators.
  • We design and fabricate compact and highly sensitive interferometers.
  • Optical interferometer avoids the induction of electric signal noise that is common in accelerometers and MEMS with a capacitive electrostatic readout.
  • We also work on system characterization and signal processing of the signals and noise reduction for optical precision measurements
Laboratory of Space Systems and Optomechanics (LASSO)

Members

Meet our amazing team

LASSO members are also part of international collaborations such as the Laser Interferometer Space Antena – LISA Consortium and the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory – LIGO Scientific Collaboration, where we contribute to the characterization and development of ground and space-based observatories.

Faculty Members

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Postdoctoral Research Associates

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Graduate Students

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Past Members

  • Guillermo Valdés – Research scientist, 2024 – Currently working as Optical scientist at Apple.
  • Adam Hines – PhD student, 2022 – Currently working as Scientist at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory
  • Yanqi Zhang – PhD student, 2022 – Currently working as Optical scientist at Meta
  • Logan Richardson – Postdoctoral researcher, 2021-Currently working as Optical research physicist at U.S. Naval Research Laboratory
  • Erin Clark – MS student, 2020 – Currently working as optical engineer at Lawrence Livermore National laboratory

Frequently asked questions

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