Exail awarded CNES contract to deliver ultra-stable laser system for the LISA mission ground qualifications

LISA, for Laser Interferometer Space Antenna, is a challenging mission aiming at deploying a space-based observatory to study gravitational waves produced by neutron stars or small black holes/ photo Simulating eXtreme Spacetimes (SXS) collaboration

Exail announces it was awarded a contract with CNES (French Space Agency) to develop and deliver an ultra-stable laser system for the ground operations of the LISA mission, one of the most fascinating and challenging space mission ever, set to launch in mid-2030’s. Exail was selected following a European call for proposals, which highlights Exail unique capabilities to develop extremely innovative industrial solutions offering performances similar to the best academic experimental setups.

“With this ultra-stable laser system delivered by Exail, CNES will be able to validate the most critical sub-assemblies of the LISA mission with extreme precision." said Bruno Desruelle, head of photonics activities at Exail. “Exail leverages a strong expertise in the development of its flagship intelligent laser system (ILS) for the manipulation of quantum systems, and years of collaboration with academic researchers from SYRTE lab on ultra-stable instrument for time and frequency reference applications. Exail will push the performances of this new laser a step further to meet CNES’ requirements in terms of frequency and power stability."

LISA, for Laser Interferometer Space Antenna, is a space mission jointly funded by ESA and NASA aiming at deploying a space-based gravitational wave observatory. LISA is expected to make groundbreaking discoveries in cosmology and fundamental physics thanks to its sensitivity to gravitational waves at low frequencies, between 0,1 mHz and 1 Hz, where a rich and diverse spectrum of astrophysical sources are expected.

CNES is responsible for the ground qualification tests (AIVT tests for Assembly, Integration, Verification and Testing) of LISA instrument’s metrological core, a sub-assembly called IDS (Interferometric Detection System). Exail’s ultra-stable laser system will equip CNES’s Optical Ground Support Equipment (in Toulouse, France). With one master laser, and four slave lasers phase-locked to it, Exail’s complex laser system will generate the ultra-stable laser radiations required for the optical test bench involved in these operations.

“With their strong and long-term involvement and expertise on laser systems for high precision instruments, Exail shows once again they are keen on being part of a challenging project.” says François-Xavier Esnault, optical architect of the LISA project at CNES “Building on the experience gained during the prototyping phase, Exail team involved in the LISA Laser project do not hesitate to bring innovative ideas and technological concepts used in other applications to improve compacity and reliability without sacrificing performances.”

These developments will help further strengthen Exail’s expertise in the field of time-frequency metrology where the company is becoming a global expert.



Exail prototype of iodine spectroscopy module. Exail will leverage its expertise in micro-optic assemblies to develop a complex iodine spectroscopy module which will allow to stabilize the ultra-stable laser system on the physical properties of iodine vapor.