Samuel Francis

I am an optical engineer working on laser interferometry and phasemeter algorithms for the GRACE Follow-on and LISA missions.


Education: 
  • Ph.D., Laser Interferometry, The Australian National University
  • B.S., Engineering (Research & Development)/Science, The Australian National University

Research Interests: 
  • Laser interferometry
  • Metrology
  • Free Space Optical Communications
  • Digital Signal Processing
  • Field Programmable Gate Arrays

Professional Experience: 
  • Optical Engineer at Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Feb. 2018 – Oct. 2019

  • Caltech Postdoctoral Scholar at Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Feb. 2018 – Oct. 2019

  • Postdoctoral Fellow at The Centre for Gravitational Physics, The Australian National University, Jun. 2017 – Feb. 2018

  • Engineer at Liquid Instruments, Mar. 2014 - Feb. 2018



Selected Publications: 
  1. Goswami, S., Francis, S. P., et al. “Analysis of GRACE Follow-On Laser Ranging Interferometer derived inter-satellite pointing angles.” IEEE Sensors Journal. (2021)

  2. Abich, K, …, Francis, S, et al. "In-orbit performance of the GRACE follow-on laser ranging interferometer." Physical review letters 123.3 (2019): 031101.

  3. Francis S, Lam T, McClelland D, Shaddock D, Multi-link laser interferometry architecture for interspacecraft displacement metrology, Journal of Geodesy Online(2017) 1-11
  4. Roberts L, Ward R, Francis S, Sibley P, Fleddermann R, Sutton A, Smith C, McClelland D, Shaddock D, High power compatible internally sensed optical phased array, Optics Express 24, 12(2016) 13467-13479
  5. Francis S, Shaddock D, Sutton A, de Vine G, Ware B, Spero R, Klipstein W, McKenzie K, Tone-assisted time delay interferometry on GRACE Follow-On, Physical Review D-Particles, Fields, Gravitation and Cosmology 92, 1(2015)
  6. Ward R, Fleddermann R, Francis S, et al., The design and construction of a prototype lateral-transfer retro-reflector for inter- satellite laser ranging, Classical and Quantum Gravity, 31 095015 (2014)
  7. Wuchenich D, Mahrdt C, Sheard B, Francis S, Spero R, Miller J, Mow-Lowry C, Ward R, Klipstein W, Heinzel G, Danzmann K, McClelland D, Shaddock D, Laser link acquisition demonstration for the GRACE Follow-On mission, Optics Express 22, 9(2014) 11351-11366
  8. Francis S, Lam T, McKenzie K, Sutton A, Ward R, McClelland D, Shaddock D, Weak-light phase tracking with a low cycle slip rate, Optics Letters 39, 18(2014) 5251-5254
Address: 
4800 Oak Grove Drive
Pasadena, CA 91109