LISA: listening to the Galaxy and the Universe

Question 1

Einstein’s Theory of Gravitation

Answer 1

Information can be carried by gravitational
radiation at the speed of light

Question 2

GWs stretch and compress the
space-time in two directions
(polarisations): ‘+’ or ‘x’
GWs only weakly interact with
matter

Question 3

Stochastic background

Answer 3

Jumble of signals from lots of
sources such as white dwarf
binaries and massive black hole
binaries.

Question 4

Constructive interference

Answer 4

occurs when the maxima of two waves add together (the two waves are in phase), so that the amplitude of the resulting wave is equal to the sum of the individual amplitudes.

Question 5

Destructive interference

Answer 5

occurs when the maxima of two waves are 180 degrees out of phase. amplitude = 0

Question 6

Partial Destructive interference

Answer 6

Two waves with identical frequencies but different amplitudes