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eLISA (or NGO):
the New LISA
Gijs Nelemans
Radboud University Nijmegen
Some history on GW detector in space
‣Low-frequency gravitational wave mission
first proposed in '80s (LAGOS)
‣'90s: LISA as joint NASA/ESA mission
‣In the end LISA became (1 of 3) L1
candidate for ESA Cosmic Vision program
(decision foreseen in 2011)
‣Early 2011, NASA: no money to contribute
to any ESA L1 mission......
‣Rapid definition teams for all L1 candidates
to ESA-led mission. New mission
(eLISA/NGO) developed, significant cost
reduction, science still strong
‣Next step: April 2012, ESA will select 1 of 3
L1 candidates for launch ~2020
LISA
eLISA
‣Affordable mission: smaller arms, closer
to Earth (save on launcher)
‣Mother-daughter system
links only)
(i.e. 4
‣Reuse much of LISA Pathfinder
components
‣Pay-load simpler and cheaper, telescopes
smaller
‣Member state contribution: pay load (as
in all candidate L1 missions)
‣ Consortium to be formed (NL role?)
What is different from LISA?
eLISA
LISA
‣ 1 million km arms
5 million km arms
‣ 4 laser links
6 laser links
‣ Smaller distance to Earth
Larger distance to Earth
‣ 2 Soyuz launch
Ariane 5 launch
‣ Member state contributions
No member state contribution
Overview eLISA science
‣Precision test of strong-field gravity
‣Detect SMBH mergers at high redshift
‣Trace merger history of BHs over large
redshift and mass range
‣Characterise environment of galaxy
central objects and test if are
GR
Kerr BH
‣Measure spectrum or set limits on
backgrounds (probe inflation)
‣Detect thousands of Galactic binaries
(tests binary evolution, type Ia
supernovae, tides, mass transfer, Galactic
structure)
‣http://arxiv.org/abs/1201.3621
Dutch role/interest in eLISA
‣ Work on LISA Pathfinder by SRON in past
‣ Interest in Galactic compact binaries since
'90s (UU then RU)
‣ Interest in EMRIs at Nikhef
‣ Increase in astronomy research related to
eLISA science (Leiden, Groningen)
‣ Poll showed interest also from other people,
including theoretical physics
‣ TNO interested in eLISA hardware
(presentation later today)
‣ Maybe enough interest to join member state
contribution consortium (data access,
funding opportunities)
Galactic binaries
Galactic binaries
- Verification
- Simulated pop.
Super-massive black hole mergers
10
20
50
100
300
500
1000
SMBH signal-to-noise ratio as function redshift
Trace structure formation
SNR of simulated merger tries.
Can distinguish different models (seed mass,
time first BH formation)
Extreme mass-ratio inspirals (trace BH, test GR)
Maximum redshift for different
models (template, SMBH spin)
SNR as function of redshift
(Strategic) plans
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(Adv)Virgo/LIGO (Nikhef, RU)
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FOM programma, Nikhef, NWO-G proposal (Nikhef)
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Proposal dedicated optical follow-up telescope + triggering (RU)
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NS studies (UvA, GRAPPA), AARTFARC, LOFAR (ASTRON)
Pulsar Timing Arrays (ASTRON)
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EPTA, LEAP
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Plans for SKA
ELISA
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(Astro)physics (RU, Leiden, Nikhef, Groningen), small scale
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Hardware? Join pay-load consortium (TNO)
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Minigrail
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SRON? Other parties?
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New strategic plan astroparticle physics
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Astroparticle program NWO? National coordination?