Space Based Gravitational Wave Astronomy Beyond LISA

Understand

The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) will open three decades of gravitational wave (GW) spectrum between 0.1 and 100 mHz, the mHz band.

• This band is expected to be the richest part of the GW spectrum, in types of sources, numbers of sources, signal-to-noise ratios and discovery potential.
• When LISA opens the low-frequency window of the gravitational wave spectrum, around 2034, the surge of gravitational-wave astronomy will strongly compel a subsequent mission to further explore the frequency bands of the GW spectrum that can only be accessed from space.
• The 2020s is the time to start developing technology and studying mission concepts for a large-scale mission to be launched in the 2040s.