Short-term forecasting of solar energetic ions on board LISA

Abstract

LISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna) and LISA Pathfinder (LISA-PF) free-falling test-masses are charged by galactic and solar energetic particles. This process generates spurious forces on the test masses which appear as noise in the experiments. It was shown that relativistic solar electron detection can be used for up-to-one-hour forecasting of incoming energetic ions at 1 AU. Warning of incoming solar energetic particle events could allow us to optimize the test-mass discharging. The current LISA-PF radiation monitor design needs to be upgraded if solar electron detection is to be implemented in LISA.