Credit: University of Florida / Simon Barke (CC BY 4.0)
To the point:
- Preparations for LISA: LISA is a space-based observatory for gravitational waves and a mission of the European Space Agency (ESA) with contributions from NASA. It is scheduled to launch into space in the 2030s and will gather entirely new information about the Universe. The satellites and their high-precision measurement instruments are currently being developed.
- Scientific expertise: The AEI is receiving a grant from the DLR. Under this grant, the institute is entrusted with leading the development of key LISA instruments as well as the investigation and verification of additional components through 2030. The grant totals 35 million euros.
- Next steps for the phasemeter: On behalf of and under the leadership of the AEI, OHB Systems AG will develop and manufacture the engineering models, qualification models, and flight hardware for one component of the phasemeter. The phasemeter is LISA’s central measuring instrument.
The AEI receives a grant totaling 35 million euros from the DLR to develop key components of the instruments for the satellite mission
"This grant underscores the leading role of our institute and that of the Max Planck Society in the development of LISA, the European Space Agency’s gravitational-wave observatory
"This grant underscores the leading role of our institute and that of the Max Planck Society in the development of LISA, the European Space Agency’s gravitational-wave observatory
Guido Müller, director at the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute, AEI)
Scientific expertise at the AEI
“The grant strengthens the scientific expertise – grown over decades – at the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics in the development, investigation, and verification of methods and instruments for gravitational-wave observation in space,” says Jens Reiche Program Manager for space projects at the AEI.
With this latest grant of 35 million euros, the German Space Agency at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) is funding the next phase of development of instruments for LISA’s optical measurement system at the AEI. Additional funding for subsequent project phases has already been planned.
The funding is being provided as part of the implementation phase: The AEI is initially responsible for developing and providing the engineering models of the phasemeter – which is classified as mission-critical – and its signal processing within the optical measurement system. This includes extensive testing, encompassing all relevant interfaces
With this latest grant of 35 million euros, the German Space Agency at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) is funding the next phase of development of instruments for LISA’s optical measurement system at the AEI. Additional funding for subsequent project phases has already been planned.
The funding is being provided as part of the implementation phase: The AEI is initially responsible for developing and providing the engineering models of the phasemeter – which is classified as mission-critical – and its signal processing within the optical measurement system. This includes extensive testing, encompassing all relevant interfaces
Next steps for the phasemeter
The LISA phasemeter is the heart of this measurement system. It will measure the minute changes in the laser light imprinted by gravitational waves in the laser beams as they travel back and forth over millions of kilometers between the three LISA satellites. Therefore, the phasemeter is the instrument that will detect gravitational waves and thereby enable a new era of astronomy.
The AEI is responsible for the phasemeter’s hardware and software and their verification. To this end, the institute will develop and operate mathematical models, simulators, and experiments.
“On our behalf and under our leadership, our industry partner OHB Systems AG is developing and manufacturing the engineering models, qualification models, and flight hardware for one of the two components of the phase meter,” says Kanioar Karan, the project manager for phasemeter development at AEI.
The institute also organizes and supports the verification of the LISA measurement system and manages its interaction with other components of the satellite hardware. To this end, the AEI develops and operates technical models of the instruments and simulators, as well as various experimental setups. Using these setups, scientists at the AEI will test the functionality of several components of the satellite hardware and verify whether they meet the strict requirements for measurement accuracy. These experimental setups in the institute’s laboratories could also help during commissioning of LISA in space following its launch in the 2030s.
The AEI is responsible for the phasemeter’s hardware and software and their verification. To this end, the institute will develop and operate mathematical models, simulators, and experiments.
“On our behalf and under our leadership, our industry partner OHB Systems AG is developing and manufacturing the engineering models, qualification models, and flight hardware for one of the two components of the phase meter,” says Kanioar Karan, the project manager for phasemeter development at AEI.
The institute also organizes and supports the verification of the LISA measurement system and manages its interaction with other components of the satellite hardware. To this end, the AEI develops and operates technical models of the instruments and simulators, as well as various experimental setups. Using these setups, scientists at the AEI will test the functionality of several components of the satellite hardware and verify whether they meet the strict requirements for measurement accuracy. These experimental setups in the institute’s laboratories could also help during commissioning of LISA in space following its launch in the 2030s.
Preparing for LISA measurements
In addition, researchers at the AEI will work with ESA to further develop methods for LISA’s science operations. The goal is to analyze the LISA measurement data after launch and commissioning in the 2030s and to derive as many scientific insights from them as possible. To this end, the scientists will develop and operate models and simulators of LISA instruments and will develop and refine new methods for analyzing the LISA data.
“Beyond basic research and its application in astronomy with LISA, the AEI also supports technology transfer to industry,” says Guido Müller. “The insights and experience gained from our research on high-precision, laser-based measurements are intended to enable novel technical applications.”
“Beyond basic research and its application in astronomy with LISA, the AEI also supports technology transfer to industry,” says Guido Müller. “The insights and experience gained from our research on high-precision, laser-based measurements are intended to enable novel technical applications.”
Background information
LISA
LISA will be the first gravitational-wave observatory in space. It will consist of three satellites that will move in a triangular configuration – connected by 2.5 million kilometer-long arms of laser light – in an Earth-like orbit around the Sun.
LISA will be able to detect gravitational waves from sources throughout the Universe, going back almost to the Big Bang. These gravitational waves will cause tiny changes (smaller than the diameter of an atom) in the laser arms. LISA will measure these length changes by using laser light to monitor the movements of test masses that are in free fall inside the satellites.
LISA will be able to detect gravitational waves from sources throughout the Universe, going back almost to the Big Bang. These gravitational waves will cause tiny changes (smaller than the diameter of an atom) in the laser arms. LISA will measure these length changes by using laser light to monitor the movements of test masses that are in free fall inside the satellites.
LISA research at the AEI
The institute has LISA research groups at its locations in Hanover and Potsdam. It plays a leading role in the development of key hardware components, research into laser interferometry for LISA, and in source modeling, data analysis, and the application of scientific results.
Gravitational-wave astronomy with LISA
Gravitational waves are ripples in spacetime that arise when masses are accelerated. Current detectors on Earth measure gravitational waves originating from merging pairs of neutron stars and black holes with masses of up to several hundred solar masses.
LISA will detect gravitational waves in the as-yet unexplored window between 0.1 mHz and 1 Hz – at frequencies that detectors on Earth cannot observe. Waves in this frequency range are generated when black holes with masses ranging from about 10,000 to 100 million times that of the Sun collide and merge at the centers of distant young galaxies. LISA will detect these processes throughout the history of the Universe, thereby directly investigating the as-yet-unknown origin and growth of extremely massive black holes.
What makes LISA unique is its ability to detect gravitational waves originating from black holes with masses ranging from about 100 to 10,000 solar masses that orbit massive black holes in galactic centers. These signals allow us to study the geometry of spacetime and test the nature of gravity. LISA will not only detect a large number of binary and multiple systems of compact objects in our Milky Way – which will provide insights into the evolution of binary stars – but will also “see” the galaxy beyond the galactic center. This includes many objects that are invisible to all other astronomical instruments.
Since LISA uses gravity as a signal source, the mission will complete our understanding of the origin, evolution, and structure of our Universe. The study of gravitational waves also offers enormous potential for discovering previously inaccessible parts of the Universe; these include, among other things, the echo of the Big Bang (ripples in spacetime caused by disturbances in the plasma shortly after the Big Bang) and other, as yet unknown phenomena. Together with other astronomical methods and gravitational-wave observatories on Earth, LISA researchers will contribute to the next major discoveries to answer questions such as “What are the fundamental laws of the Universe?” and “How did the Universe come into being, and what is it made of?”
LISA will detect gravitational waves in the as-yet unexplored window between 0.1 mHz and 1 Hz – at frequencies that detectors on Earth cannot observe. Waves in this frequency range are generated when black holes with masses ranging from about 10,000 to 100 million times that of the Sun collide and merge at the centers of distant young galaxies. LISA will detect these processes throughout the history of the Universe, thereby directly investigating the as-yet-unknown origin and growth of extremely massive black holes.
What makes LISA unique is its ability to detect gravitational waves originating from black holes with masses ranging from about 100 to 10,000 solar masses that orbit massive black holes in galactic centers. These signals allow us to study the geometry of spacetime and test the nature of gravity. LISA will not only detect a large number of binary and multiple systems of compact objects in our Milky Way – which will provide insights into the evolution of binary stars – but will also “see” the galaxy beyond the galactic center. This includes many objects that are invisible to all other astronomical instruments.
Since LISA uses gravity as a signal source, the mission will complete our understanding of the origin, evolution, and structure of our Universe. The study of gravitational waves also offers enormous potential for discovering previously inaccessible parts of the Universe; these include, among other things, the echo of the Big Bang (ripples in spacetime caused by disturbances in the plasma shortly after the Big Bang) and other, as yet unknown phenomena. Together with other astronomical methods and gravitational-wave observatories on Earth, LISA researchers will contribute to the next major discoveries to answer questions such as “What are the fundamental laws of the Universe?” and “How did the Universe come into being, and what is it made of?”
Media contact:
Dr. Benjamin Knispel
Press Officer AEI Hannover
Tel: +49 511 762-19104
Email: benjamin.knispel@aei.mpg.de
Prof. Dr. Guido Müller
Managing Director
Tel: +49 511 762-12424
Email: guido.mueller@aei.mpg.de
v Dr. Jens Reiche
Project Leader
Tel: +49 511 762-12130
Tel: +49 511 762-5844
Email: jens.reiche@aei.mpg.de
Dr. Kanioar Karan
Project Manager
Tel: +49 511 762-12181
Email: kanioar.karan@aei.mpg.de
Dr. Ada Agnieszka Uminska
Project Leader
Tel: +49 511 762-14059
Email: guido.mueller@aei.mpg.de
Further information
Aeneas Rooch: LISA listens to space (MaxPlanckResearch 2/2024)>
The largest astronomical observatory is so large that it won’t fit on Earth. It’s called LISA, and it will be able to detect when a 2.5-million-kilometer segment of space shrinks by even one atomic diameter.
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics in Hanover and Potsdam helped develop the gravitational-wave detector. By observing cosmic waves, they hope to gain an insight into strange processes deep in outer space.
Observing gravitational waves in space with LISA
Benjamin Knispel, “Observing gravitational waves in space with LISA” in: Einstein Online Band 15 (2024), 1001
