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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



(Adv)Virgo/LIGO (Nikhef, RU)

FOM programma, Nikhef, NWO-G proposal (Nikhef)

Proposal dedicated optical follow-up telescope + triggering (RU)

NS studies (UvA, GRAPPA), AARTFARC, LOFAR (ASTRON)
Pulsar Timing Arrays (ASTRON)

EPTA, LEAP

Plans for SKA
ELISA

(Astro)physics (RU, Leiden, Nikhef, Groningen), small scale

Hardware? Join pay-load consortium (TNO)

Minigrail

SRON? Other parties?

New strategic plan astroparticle physics

Astroparticle program NWO? National coordination?