Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) Mission [720p]

The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) is a joint NASA-ESA project to develop and operate a space-based gravitational wave detector sensitive at frequencies between 0.03 mHz and 0.1 Hz. LISA detects gravitational-wave induced strains in space-time by measuring changes of the separation between fiducial masses in three spacecraft 5 million kilometers apart.

LISA will discover many extraordinary astrophysical sources: tens to hundreds of inspiraling and merging massive black hole binaries out to a redshift of z ~20; tens of stellar-mass compact objects spiraling into central massive black holes out to z ~1; more than ten thousand close, compact binaries in the Galaxy; a sky map of the background made by millions more; and possibly backgrounds of cosmological origins. The all-sky instrument will see thousands of sources in the first few months of operation. Astrophysical parameters, such as mass, spin and luminosity distance, of many sources will be measured with uncommon precision.

LISA will track more energetic inspirals for weeks to months, predicting progressively more accurate sky position and luminosity distance of the merger for electromagnetic observers. Owing to the revolutionary nature of gravitational wave detection, the numbers and types of LISA sources are somewhat uncertain. Fortunately, there are guaranteed sources, close white dwarf binaries known from electromagnetic observations, and many others that LISA should see in large numbers unless the Universe is radically different than electromagnetic observations have led us to believe. By virtue of opening a new spectrum, gravitational wave astronomy promises once-in-human-history discovery potential.

Gravitational wave observations will enable studies of: the formation and growth of massive black holes and their co-evolving host galaxies; structure formation; stellar populations and dynamics in galactic nuclei; compact stars; the structure of our Galaxy; General Relativity in extreme conditions; cosmology; and searches for new physics. Information from LISA sources will provide unique insight into extraordinary astrophysical objects. Combined with electromagnetic observations, these insights will advance the broader scientific understanding.

credit: ESA/NASA

source: http://www.aei.mpg.de/english/contemporaryIssues/akt_news/index.html

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• gravitational waves
• LISA mission

[Tfile12]

I am the first person to watch this new video on youtube. First time also lol and would probably be the only one that sees it anyway.

[djxatlanta]

@Tfile12 - It's actually not a new video (although it was produced this year, I believe) ... and it's already been posted by at least one other person with 1443 views as of this evening. =)

[EverythingIsOKsoton]

@kekec1000000 correct

[EverythingIsOKsoton]

This is great but we already have the mean to travel the stars.

Most people will say no to me, yet they might not want to travel to the stars in this generation.

[GeckosUnlimited]

@kekec1000000 You obviously have no idea what you're talking about. At all. Seriously, I can't even figure out why you're saying you hate NASA. Making gravity? You're "making" gravity, and so is every other piece of matter in the universe. Really not sure what you're talking about.

[jmof25]

o0o0o00ooooo000oOOoOoOHHhhh

aaaaaAaaaaaaAaaHhHhhHhhHH

Boom Boom pow spadush

*epic guitar*

awwwwwww yeahhhhHH!!!!!

Pssssewwwwwww

pew pew pew da ba dun

doobie oobie wooba looba yew yew mew mew

this video has the best soundtrack

[FriedesSchatzi]

@Tfile12 - Nice try :D

[huni54]

i read somewhere that the launching of this device was scheduled for 2015... in the video it says 2021:O:O oh man i'll grow old before that...

nevertheless its humanitys greatest acompishment and great respect to those who build it... way to go.. nice work guys..:)

[HELIOXW]

~Thanks to all brains that got together without any pride just cience. love to all. life is not spendable. Hope the human aliens have a place for nature.

[Lightstar805]

LISA, along with the Hadron Collider will be the game changers this century!

[Lightstar805]

@kekec1000000 don't you have someone to burn on a stake or something?

[kinversoni]

If we manage to live long enough to see this discovery, it will be the defining accomplishment of this generation.