What Is LISA?
LISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna) is a proposed space-based gravitational wave observatory that consists of three spacecrafts arranged in an equilateral triangle with each side being 2.5 million kilometers long. The observatory is designed to detect low-frequency gravitational waves, which are produced by the most extreme objects in the universe, such as black holes and neutron stars.
The LISA mission is a collaborative project of the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA, planned to launch in the early 2030s. It is expected to revolutionize our understanding of the universe by detecting gravitational waves with unprecedented precision, providing a new window to observe the cosmos.
How Does LISA Work?
LISA works by using laser interferometry to measure the tiny changes in the distance between the spacecrafts caused by passing gravitational waves. The spacecrafts will be equipped with sophisticated optical sensors and lasers, which generate a laser beam that is split into two and sent to the other spacecraft. The returning beams are combined, and the interference pattern is analyzed to determine the distance between the spacecrafts.
Gravitational waves cause a tiny fluctuation in this distance, which can be detected by LISA’s instruments. By analyzing the detected signals, scientists will be able to learn more about the sources of the gravitational waves, such as the masses and spins of the objects that produced them, and the environments in which they exist.
Benefits of LISA
LISA will open a new era in astronomy, enabling us to observe the universe in a completely different way than with traditional telescopes. It will provide us with a new tool to study the most extreme objects in the cosmos, such as black holes and neutron stars, and to test Einstein’s theory of general relativity in a regime where it has not been tested before.
Moreover, LISA will allow us to detect the mergers of supermassive black holes, which are thought to be responsible for the formation of the largest structures in the universe, such as galaxy clusters. By studying these events, we will be able to learn more about the evolution of the universe and the role of black holes in shaping it.
Example of LISA’s Potential Discoveries
One of the most exciting potential discoveries that LISA may make is the detection of gravitational waves from the early universe. These so-called “primordial” gravitational waves are thought to have been produced fractions of a second after the Big Bang and could provide us with a direct window into the physics of the universe’s earliest moments.
Furthermore, LISA may detect gravitational waves from exotic objects, such as cosmic strings or axion stars, which are hypothetical objects that could exist in the universe. The detection of such objects would provide us with new insights into the fundamental laws of physics and the structure of the universe.