Future Directions in Gravitational Wave Astronomy

The next decade will usher in a new age for astronomy with the commissioning of the first gravitational wave observatories here on earth. However, to unlock the full potential of gravitational wave astronomy we will need to build detectors in space. Seismic and other disturbances prevent ground based detectors from observing gravitational waves with frequencies below 10 Hertz, and many of the most interesting sources are thought to radiate at frequencies below 10 Hertz. Planning for a space based mission to complement the ground based detectors is now underway. The proposed Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) uses three satellites in heliocentric orbit to form a giant Michelson interferometer with 5 million kilometer long arms. The LISA mission nicely complements the ground based detectors by covering the frequency range 10^-3 --> 10^-1 Hz.

A natural question to ask is: what, if anything, should be done to cover the three decades of frequency (0.1 --> 10 Hz) that are not covered by LISA or the ground based detector? We propose to answer this question by undertaking a Mission Concept Study for a Medium Armlength Geocentric Gravitational-wave Interferometric Explorer (MAGGIE). The study would lay out the science goals and discovery potential for the mission by identifying likely sources and event rates in the 0.1 --> 10 Hz frequency range. The study would also look into orbit selection and mission design, with an emphasis on identifying the major technological challenges that need to be overcome.

Contact Information

Mail:	Dr. Neil J. Cornish
	Department of Physics
	Montana State University
	Bozeman, MT 59715