1. eLISA (or NGO): the New LISA
Gijs Nelemans
Radboud University Nijmegen

2. Some history on GW detector in space
Low-frequency gravitational wave mission first proposed in '80s (LAGOS)
'90s: LISA as joint NASA/ESA mission
In the end LISA became (1 of 3) L1 candidate for ESA Cosmic Vision program (decision foreseen in 2011)
Early 2011, NASA: no money to contribute to any ESA L1 mission......
Rapid definition teams for all L1 candidates to ESA-led mission. New mission (eLISA/NGO) developed, significant cost reduction, science still strong
Next step: April 2012, ESA will select 1 of 3 L1 candidates for launch ~2020
LISA

3. eLISA
Affordable mission: smaller arms, closer to Earth (save on launcher)
Mother-daughter system (i.e. 4 links only)
Reuse much of LISA Pathfinder components
Pay-load simpler and cheaper, telescopes smaller
Member state contribution: pay load (as in all candidate L1 missions)
Consortium to be formed (NL role?)

4. What is different from LISA?
eLISA
1 million km arms
4 laser links
Smaller distance to Earth
2 Soyuz launch
Member state contributions
LISA
5 million km arms
6 laser links
Larger distance to Earth
Ariane 5 launch
No member state contribution

5. Overview eLISA science
Precision test of strong-field gravity
Detect SMBH mergers at high redshift
Trace merger history of BHs over large redshift and mass range
Characterise environment of galaxy central objects and test if are GR Kerr BH
Measure spectrum or set limits on backgrounds (probe inflation)
Detect thousands of Galactic binaries (tests binary evolution, type Ia supernovae, tides, mass transfer, Galactic structure)

6. Overview eLISA science
Precision test of strong-field gravity
Detect SMBH mergers at high redshift
Trace merger history of BHs over large redshift and mass range
Characterise environment of galaxy central objects and test if are GR Kerr BH
Measure spectrum or set limits on backgrounds (probe inflation)
Detect thousands of Galactic binaries (tests binary evolution, type Ia supernovae, tides, mass transfer, Galactic structure)
EMRI max redshift
Some “reasonable” inflation spectra

7. Dutch role/interest in eLISA
Work on LISA Pathfinder by SRON in past
Interest in Galactic compact binaries since '90s (UU then RU)
Interest in EMRIs at Nikhef
Increase in astronomy research related to eLISA science (Leiden, Groningen)
Poll showed interest also from other people, including theoretical physics
TNO interested in eLISA hardware (presentation later today)
Maybe enough interest to join member state contribution consortium (data access, funding opportunities)

8. Galactic binaries
Galactic binaries
- Verification
- Simulated pop.

9. Super-massive black hole mergers10 20 50
100
300
500
1000
SMBH signal-to-noise ratio as function redshift

10. Trace structure formation
SNR of simulated merger tries.
Can distinguish different models (seed mass,
time first BH formation)

11. Extreme mass-ratio inspirals (trace BH, test GR)
Maximum redshift for different
models (template, SMBH spin)
SNR as function of redshift

12. (Strategic) plans (Adv)Virgo/LIGO (Nikhef, RU)
FOM programma, Nikhef, NWO-G proposal (Nikhef)
Proposal dedicated optical follow-up telescope + triggering (RU)
NS studies (UvA, GRAPPA), AARTFARC, LOFAR (ASTRON)
Pulsar Timing Arrays (ASTRON)
EPTA, LEAP
Plans for SKA
ELISA
(Astro)physics (RU, Leiden, Nikhef, Groningen), small scale
Hardware? Join pay-load consortium (TNO)
Minigrail
SRON? Other parties?
New strategic plan astroparticle physics
Astroparticle program NWO? National coordination?