Chinese Academy of Sciences Advances Space-Based Gravitational Wave Detection

A research team from the Institute of Mechanics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has announced a significant development in the Taiji space-based gravitational wave detection program. The team designed a full-function interferometer optical bench and constructed a first-generation ground test system.

Key Technical Details

The interferometer optical bench is designed to mitigate interference from temperature fluctuations.

According to the team, the instrument achieves picometer-level measurement accuracy, capable of detecting variations equivalent to one ten-thousandth of the diameter of a human hair.

Test results indicate that the equipment's noise level has been reduced and its measurement stability improved by a factor of ten. The team stated that key performance indicators meet the requirements for the Taiji-2 mission.

Publication and Acknowledgment

The findings were published in the international academic journal Research. The institute stated that the research provides technical support for China's future space-based gravitational-wave detection.

Program Background

The Taiji program aims to study gravitational waves generated by events such as the merging of binary black holes and other celestial bodies. CAS has outlined a three-step strategy for the program.

Taiji-1, the program's first satellite, was launched in August 2019 and is reported to be performing as expected in orbit.