Precision Interferometry and Fundamental Interactions

This department’s research encompasses precision interferometry instrumentation for ground-based and space-based gravitational-wave observatories and laser-optical searches for fundamental interactions beyond the standard model.

The core activities in this department are the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA), space-based gravitational-wave astronomy, and studies of fundamental interactions.

Our research

 

At a glance

• Together with Karsten Danzmann’s department “Laser Interferometry and Gravitational Wave Astronomy”, this department works towards realizing LISA by helping to manage the payload contributions of the LISA consortium and supporting ESA’s LISA system engineering office.
• The Beyond LISA group is dedicated to the development of technologies, architectures, and system-level models for future space-based gravitational-wave observatories operating beyond the LISA band.
• The LISA test bed, developed within the department, provides an integrated laboratory facility for studying and validating the metrology underpinning LISA. This will be combined with astrophysical data-analysis pipelines developed at AEI Potsdam – together going all the way from laser photons to inferred parameters of the astrophysical sources.
• The Fundamental Interactions group develops cavity-based polarimetry and long-baseline interferometry to explore axion-like particles, vacuum magnetic birefringence, and related fundamental physics signatures, while contributing core optical metrology to large-scale experiments.
• The Binary Merger Observations and Numerical Relativity group aims to decipher gravitational-wave observations of merging black holes and neutron stars with the help of our most sophisticated theoretical tool: large-scale numerical simulations of these violent collisions.
• Furthermore, the department also supports the development of ground-based gravitational-wave observatories such as the Einstein Telescope and the Cosmic Explorer.