Detection of gravitational waves from space: the LISA mission

The idea of detecting gravitational waves from space has been under consideration for more than 25 years. In 2012, the advisory bodies of ESA decided that the next-but-one "large mission", L3, will be devoted to this. Launch is scheduled for 2034. In 2015, the Director of Science of ESA appointed an external committee, with Michael Perryman as chair, to advise on the technical feasibility of the LISA mission, and the technology development required for its implementation.

During the 18 months activity of this committee, LISA Pathfinder was launched with spectacular success, and Advanced LIGO detected the first gravitational waves.

The talk will outline the scientific objectives of LISA, and provide a simplified introduction to the principles of the measurement of gravitational waves from space.