No Arabic abstract
We give here a new third post-Newtonisn (3PN) spin-spin contribution (in the PN parameter $epsilon $) to the accumulated orbital phase of a compact binary, arising from the spin-orbit precessional motion of the spins. In the equal mass case this contribution vanishes, but LISA sources of merging supermassive binary black holes have typically a mass ratio of 1:10. For such non-equal masses this 3PN correction is periodic in time, with period approximately $epsilon ^{-1}$ times larger than the period of gravitational waves. We derive a renormalized and simpler expression of the spin-spin coefficient at 2PN, as an average over the time-scale of this period of the combined 2PN and 3PN contribution. We also find that for LISA sources the quadrupole-monopole contribution to the phase dominates over the spin-spin contribution, while the self-spin contribution is negligible even for the dominant spin. Finally we define a renormalized total spin coefficient $bar{sigma}$ to be employed in the search for gravitational waves emitted by LISA sources.
The aim of the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) is to detect gravitational waves through a phase modulation in long (2.5 Mkm) laser light links between spacecraft. Among other noise sources to be addressed are the phase fluctuations caused by a possible angular jitter of the emitted beam. The present paper follows our preceding one (Vinet et al 2019 Class. Quant. Grav. 36, 205 003) based on an analytical study of the far field phase. We address here a numerical treatment of the phase, to first order in the emitted wavefront aberrations, but without any assumptions on the static bias term. We verify that, in the phase change, the higher order terms in the static mispointing are consistent with the results found in our preceding paper.
This article presents some of the more topical results of a study into the LISA phase measurement system. This system is responsible for measuring the phase of the heterodyne signal caused by the interference of the laser beams between the local and far spacecraft. Interactions with the LISA systems that surround the phase measurement system imply additional non-trivial requirements on the phase measurement system.
The early inspiral of massive stellar-mass black-hole binaries merging in LIGOs sensitivity band will be detectable at low frequencies by the upcoming space mission LISA. LISA will predict, with years of forewarning, the time and frequency with which binaries will be observed by LIGO. We will, therefore, find ourselves in the position of knowing that a binary is about to merge, with the unprecedented opportunity to optimize ground-based operations to increase their scientific payoff. We apply this idea to detections of multiple ringdown modes, or black-hole spectroscopy. Narrowband tunings can boost the detectors sensitivity at frequencies corresponding to the first subdominant ringdown mode and largely improve our prospects to experimentally test the Kerr nature of astrophysical black holes. We define a new consistency parameter between the different modes, called $delta {rm GR}$, and show that, in terms of this measure, optimized configurations have the potential to double the effectiveness of black-hole spectroscopy when compared to standard broadband setups.
A torsion pendulum allows ground-based investigation of the purity of free-fall for the LISA test masses inside their capacitive position sensor. This paper presents recent improvements in our torsion pendulum facility that have both increased the pendulum sensitivity and allowed detailed characterization of several important sources of acceleration noise for the LISA test masses. We discuss here an improved upper limit on random force noise originating in the sensor. Additionally, we present new measurement techniques and preliminary results for characterizing the forces caused by the sensors residual electrostatic fields, dielectric losses, residual spring-like coupling, and temperature gradients.
The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) will be able to detect massive black hole mergers throughout the visible Universe. These observations will provide unique information about black hole formation and growth, and the role black holes play in galaxy evolution. Here we develop several key building blocks for detecting and characterizing black hole binary mergers with LISA, including fast heterodyned likelihood evaluations, and efficient stochastic search techniques.