Optical metrology sensors developed in Glasgow that aim to help the search for so-called gravitational waves have travelled on their final journey before heading to space.
The LISA (standing for Laser Interferometer Space Antenna) Pathfinder spacecraft is the first part of a European Space Agency (ESA) (
www.esa.int/ESA) research project that will study “the ripples in space-time caused by massive astronomical events”.
These gravitational waves were predicted by Einstein in his acclaimed 1915 Theory of General Relativity, but they have not been detected on Earth by any sensors built to date.
The ESA partners believe that the best way to detect the “extremely faint ripples” is to place “multiple highly sensitive detectors in the vacuum of space, where they will be free of the Earth’s vibrational interference”.
The LISA Pathfinder spacecraft was shipped to a space-port in Kourou, French Guiana, last month. In November, it will set off atop a Vega rocket and head towards the Lagrange Point L1, “a point in space between the Earth and the Sun where interference from each is minimised”.
A team from the University of Glasgow’s School of Physics and Astronomy played a key role in developing and building the LISA Pathfinder.
Harry Ward, who leads the university’s spacecraft team, said: “The wait is nearly over. After an immense amount of hard work, the first major step towards space-borne gravitational-wave astronomy is about to take place. It’s a tremendously exciting achievement, and we’re proud to have been involved from the start.
“The payload of LISA Pathfinder contains two floating gold and platinum cubes that — ideally — will move completely free of any disturbances.
“A laser interferometer system monitors the separation between these 2kg items with exquisite precision, looking for tell-tale movements caused by any tiny stray forces.
"Developed and built by a team in the Institute for Gravitational Research at the University of Glasgow, this interferometer can detect distance changes as small as 10 picometres, or one hundred millionth of a millimetre.”
The UK pay-load items have been funded by the UK Space Agency with contributions coming from Glasgow University, Imperial College, Birmingham University and the Mullard Space Science Laboratory.