Non-Smooth Multi-Objective Controller Synthesis for Test-Mass Actuation in Gravitational-Wave Detectors

Sander K. Sijtsma; Pooya Saffarieh; Nathan A. Holland; Sil T. Spanjer; Wouter B.J. Hakvoort; Conor M. Mow-Lowry

doi:10.3390/galaxies13060134

Non-Smooth Multi-Objective Controller Synthesis for Test-Mass Actuation in Gravitational-Wave Detectors

Sander K. Sijtsma^*
, Pooya Saffarieh
, Nathan A. Holland
, Sil T. Spanjer
, Wouter B.J. Hakvoort
, Conor M. Mow-Lowry

^*Corresponding author for this work

(Astro)-Particles Physics

Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

This paper proposes a non-smooth controller optimization method and shows the results of ongoing research on the implementation of this method for gravitational-wave applications. Typical performance requirements concerning these type of suspensions are defined in terms of both (Formula presented.) - and (Formula presented.) -type constraints. A non-smooth optimization approach is investigated, which allows the use of non-convex cost functions that are often a result of mixed (Formula presented.) optimization problems. Besides the controller, the distribution of the actuation is integrated with the optimization to investigate the feasibility of simultaneous controller and actuator optimization. The results demonstrate that the proposed non-smooth optimization method is able to find suitable solutions for the control and actuator distribution that satisfy all required performance and design constraints.

Original language	English
Article number	134
Pages (from-to)	1-13
Number of pages	13
Journal	Galaxies
Volume	13
Issue number	6
Early online date	9 Dec 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3390/galaxies13060134
Publication status	Published - Dec 2025

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 by the authors.

Funding

The authors thank M. Valentini for useful discussions and input. This project has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (grant agreement No. 865816).

Funders	Funder number
European Research Council
Horizon 2020 Framework Programme	865816

Keywords

Einstein telescope
gravitational waves
non-smooth controller optimization
optimal control
payload suspension
vibration isolation

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10.3390/galaxies13060134Licence: CC BY

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title = "Non-Smooth Multi-Objective Controller Synthesis for Test-Mass Actuation in Gravitational-Wave Detectors",

abstract = "This paper proposes a non-smooth controller optimization method and shows the results of ongoing research on the implementation of this method for gravitational-wave applications. Typical performance requirements concerning these type of suspensions are defined in terms of both (Formula presented.) - and (Formula presented.) -type constraints. A non-smooth optimization approach is investigated, which allows the use of non-convex cost functions that are often a result of mixed (Formula presented.) optimization problems. Besides the controller, the distribution of the actuation is integrated with the optimization to investigate the feasibility of simultaneous controller and actuator optimization. The results demonstrate that the proposed non-smooth optimization method is able to find suitable solutions for the control and actuator distribution that satisfy all required performance and design constraints.",

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AU - Sijtsma, Sander K.

AU - Saffarieh, Pooya

AU - Holland, Nathan A.

AU - Spanjer, Sil T.

AU - Hakvoort, Wouter B.J.

AU - Mow-Lowry, Conor M.

PY - 2025/12

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AB - This paper proposes a non-smooth controller optimization method and shows the results of ongoing research on the implementation of this method for gravitational-wave applications. Typical performance requirements concerning these type of suspensions are defined in terms of both (Formula presented.) - and (Formula presented.) -type constraints. A non-smooth optimization approach is investigated, which allows the use of non-convex cost functions that are often a result of mixed (Formula presented.) optimization problems. Besides the controller, the distribution of the actuation is integrated with the optimization to investigate the feasibility of simultaneous controller and actuator optimization. The results demonstrate that the proposed non-smooth optimization method is able to find suitable solutions for the control and actuator distribution that satisfy all required performance and design constraints.

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KW - optimal control

KW - payload suspension

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Non-Smooth Multi-Objective Controller Synthesis for Test-Mass Actuation in Gravitational-Wave Detectors

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Keywords

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