LISA and LISA PathFinder, the endeavour to detect low frequency GWs

Abstract

This is a review about LISA and its technology demonstrator, LISA PathFinder. We first describe the conceptual problems which need to be overcome in order to set up a working interferometric detector of low frequency Gravitational Waves (GW), then summarise the solutions to them as currently conceived by the LISA mission team. This will show that some of these solutions require new technological abilities which are still under development, and which need proper test before being fully implemented. LISA PathFinder (LPF) is the the testbed for such technologies. The final part of the paper will address the ideas and concepts behind the PathFinder as well as their impact on LISA.

25 pages, 21 figures, presented at the Spanish Relativity Meeting, Mallorca September 2006. Will be published in Journal of Physics: Conference Series, IOP. To be published in Journal of Physics: Conference Series, IOP

References in corpus (6)

• First Year Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) Observations: Preliminary Maps and Basic Results
• Time-Delay Interferometry
• Detailed Calculation of Test-Mass Charging in the LISA Mission
• Achieving geodetic motion for LISA test masses: ground testing result
• Upper limits on gravitational waves emission in association with the Dec 27 2004 giant flare of SGR1806-20
• On-ground tests of LISA PathFinder thermal diagnostics system

Cited by in corpus (4)

• The diagnostics subsystem on board LISA PathFinder and LISA
• Theory and modeling of the magnetic field measurement in LISA PathFinder
• Interpolation of the magnetic field at the test masses in eLISA
• Extension of the LTP temperature diagnostics to the LISA band: first results