What is the purpose of \'evolved Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (eLISA)\' project? (UPSC Prelims 2017)

Question

The correct answer is [B] To detect gravitational waves. The evolved Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (eLISA), now commonly referred to as LISA, is a mission led by the European Space Agency (ESA) in collaboration with NASA.

Primary Objective (Statement B – Correct): The mission aims to detect and measure gravitational waves—tiny ripples in the fabric of spacetime predicted by Albert Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity. Unlike ground-based detectors like LIGO, LISA will operate in space to detect waves at much lower frequencies.
Mechanism: LISA consists of three spacecraft flying in a triangular formation, separated by millions of kilometers. They use laser interferometry to monitor the precise distance between internal test masses. When a gravitational wave passes through, it slightly alters these distances.
Detection Range: While LIGO detects high-frequency waves from stellar-mass black hole collisions, LISA is designed to observe \"low-frequency\" waves from supermassive black holes at the centers of galaxies and compact binary stars within our Milky Way.
Neutrinos (Statement A – Incorrect): Neutrinos are subatomic particles detected by underground observatories like the IceCube Neutrino Observatory or the proposed India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO).
Missile Defence & Solar Flares (Statements C & D – Incorrect): These are unrelated to the fundamental physics goals of the LISA mission. Solar flares are typically monitored by heliophysics missions like SOHO, Parker Solar Probe, or India\'s Aditya-L1.

The technology for this mission was successfully demonstrated by the LISA Pathfinder mission, which proved that we can maintain \"free-fall\" conditions in space with incredible precision.

GKToday Admin · Accepted Answer

To detect gravitational waves The correct answer is [B] To detect gravitational waves. The evolved Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (eLISA), now commonly referred to as LISA, is a mission led by the European Space Agency (ESA) in collaboration with NASA.

Primary Objective (Statement B – Correct): The mission aims to detect and measure gravitational waves—tiny ripples in the fabric of spacetime predicted by Albert Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity. Unlike ground-based detectors like LIGO, LISA will operate in space to detect waves at much lower frequencies.
Mechanism: LISA consists of three spacecraft flying in a triangular formation, separated by millions of kilometers. They use laser interferometry to monitor the precise distance between internal test masses. When a gravitational wave passes through, it slightly alters these distances.
Detection Range: While LIGO detects high-frequency waves from stellar-mass black hole collisions, LISA is designed to observe \"low-frequency\" waves from supermassive black holes at the centers of galaxies and compact binary stars within our Milky Way.
Neutrinos (Statement A – Incorrect): Neutrinos are subatomic particles detected by underground observatories like the IceCube Neutrino Observatory or the proposed India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO).
Missile Defence & Solar Flares (Statements C & D – Incorrect): These are unrelated to the fundamental physics goals of the LISA mission. Solar flares are typically monitored by heliophysics missions like SOHO, Parker Solar Probe, or India\'s Aditya-L1.

The technology for this mission was successfully demonstrated by the LISA Pathfinder mission, which proved that we can maintain \"free-fall\" conditions in space with incredible precision.

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