Displaying items by tag: gravitational wave

LISA Pathfinder is the revised name for SMART-2 or Small Missions for Advanced Research in Technology-2, an ESA/NASA space probe to be launched in 2015.

The aim of the LISA Pathfinder is to test technologies needed for the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna, a joint ESA/NASA gravitational wave detector. It will contain one arm of the LISA interferometer, shortened from 5 Gm (5 million km) to 35 cm.

In particular, it will verify:

• Drag-free attitude control of a spacecraft with two proof masses, 
• The feasibility of laser interferometry in the desired frequency band (which is not possible on the surface of Earth), and
• The reliability and longevity of the various components—capacitive sensors, microthrusters, lasers and optics.

The Institute for Gravitational Research of the University of Glasgow, United Kingdom, is a research center dedicated to the subject of gravitational waves.

The institute is part of the School of Physics and Astronomy. The work of this institute is concentrated on the development of detectors to search for gravitational waves from astrophysical sources. The main areas of research are precision novel interferometric techniques and the development of systems of ultra low mechanical loss for the suspensions of mirror test masses.

The group is also involved in the space-based LISA mission as well as data analysis activities within the LIGO Scientific Collaboration.