Lisa Pathfinder

authored by

M. Armano, H. Audley, J. Baird, P. Binetruy, M. Born, D. Bortoluzzi, E. Castelli, A. Cavalleri, A. Cesarini, A. M. Cruise, K. Danzmann, M. De Deus Silva, I. Diepholz, G. Dixon, R. Dolesi, L. Ferraioli, V. Ferroni, E. D. Fitzsimons, M. Freschi, L. Gesa, F. Gibert, D. Giardini, R. Giusteri, C. Grimani, J. Grzymisch, I. Harrison, G. Heinzel, M. Hewitson, D. Hollington, D. Hoyland, M. Hueller, H. Inchauspé, O. Jennrich, P. Jetzer, N. Karnesis, B. Kaune, N. Korsakova, C. J. Killow, J. A. Lobo, I. Lloro, L. Liu, J. P. López-Zaragoza, R. Maarschalkerweerd, D. Mance, N. Meshskar, V. Martín, L. Martin-Polo, J. Martino, F. Martin-Porqueras, I. Mateos, P. W. McNamara, J. Mendes, L. Mendes, M. Nofrarias, S. Paczkowski, M. Perreur-Lloyd, A. Petiteau, P. Pivato, E. Plagnol, J. Ramos-Castro, J. Reiche, D. I. Robertson, F. Rivas, G. Russano, J. Slutsky, C. F. Sopuerta, T. Sumner, D. Texier, J. I. Thorpe, D. Vetrugno, S. Vitale, G. Wanner, H. Ward, P. Wass, W. J. Weber, L. Wissel, A. Wittchen, P. Zweifel

Abstract

Since the 2017 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded for the observation of gravitational waves, it is fair to say that the epoch of gravitational wave astronomy (GWs) has begun. However, a number of interesting sources of GWs can only be observed from space. To demonstrate the feasibility of the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA), a future gravitational wave observatory in space, the LISA Pathfinder satellite was launched on December, 3rd 2015. Measurements of the spurious forces accelerating an otherwise free-falling test mass, and detailed investigations of the individual subsystems needed to achieve the free-fall, have been conducted throughout the mission. This overview article starts with the purpose and aim of the mission, explains satellite hardware and mission operations and ends with a summary of selected important results and an outlook towards LISA. From the LISA Pathfinder experience, we can conclude that the proposed LISA mission is feasible.

Organisation(s)

Institute of Gravitation Physics
Quest: Centre for Quantum Engineering and Space-Time Research
PhoenixD: Photonics, Optics, and Engineering - Innovation Across Disciplines

External Organisation(s)

European Space Astronomy Centre
Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute)
Imperial College London
Université de Paris
University of Trento
Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN)
University of Urbino "Carlo Bo"
University of Birmingham
ETH Zurich
Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB)
European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC)
European Space Operation Center (ESOC)
Universität Zürich (UZH)
University of Glasgow
Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (NASA-GSFC)
University of Florida

Type

Paper

Publication date

2017

Publication status

Published

Peer reviewed

Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Nuclear and High Energy Physics

Electronic version(s)

https://doi.org/10.1142/9789811207402_0013 (Access: Closed)