Observing Gravitational Waves: A Feasible Mission Baseline Design
- Paper number
IAC-10.A3.4.3
- Author
Dr. Peter Gath, Astrium GmbH, Germany
- Coauthor
Mr. Marcel Berger, Astrium GmbH, Germany
- Coauthor
Dr. Dennis Weise, Astrium GmbH, Germany
- Coauthor
Mr. Wolfram Lork, Astrium GmbH, Germany
- Coauthor
Dr. Ulrich Johann, Astrium GmbH, Germany
- Year
2010
- Abstract
The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna LISA is a joint ESA/NASA mission for the observation of the universe by detecting gravitational waves. The LISA Mission Formulation Study has just passed the Design Consolidation Review in January 2010 and identifies a feasible mission baseline design. This paper describes the selected baseline concept in detail and puts it into the overall programmatic context also in connection with on-going and planned technology activities. The compatibility of the design with the scientific requirements is shown and the most challenging elements of the mission are discussed. This includes the latest results for the mechanical design, optical layout, on-board laser frequency stabilization, and data post-processing on ground. Where applicable, the relation of these developments to the on-going and planned technology development program are shown. The most recent results in the mechanical design are involving a harness routing strategy that minimizes the disturbances on the gravitational reference sensor measurements. In addition, advances in the coupling between the mechanical configuration and the optical design of the telescope have been made and are now further analyzed in a detailed technology program. The optical bench layout has also been updated and is now further refined in the context of the optical bench core technology program. A status of these developments is also given in this paper. As a last major topic, the latest results for the required on-board laser frequency stabilization are reported. This is discussed in the context of the limitations of data post-processing on ground, also known as Time Delayed Interferometry (TDI). These developments yielded a relaxation in the original frequency stability requirement and at the same time illustrate the limitations that are present in the overall system. In conclusion, this paper presents a feasible design baseline for the LISA mission that meets the scientific performance requirements.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-10.A3.4.3.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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