Gravity seminar : Lorenzo Speri, European Space Agency — Unlocking the science of Asymmetric Binaries with LISA

The future mission Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) will be the first space-based gravitational wave observatory, opening a new window in the millihertz regime. Among the sources LISA is expected to detect are Intermediate and Extreme Mass Ratio Inspirals (IMRIs and EMRIs) — binary systems in which the primary object is thousands of times more massive than the secondary.

In this talk, I will present the rich scientific potential of these asymmetric binaries in the context of LISA and how to realize it. I will discuss the challenges involved in modeling these systems, including the need for accurate and efficient waveforms. I will also present the new release of the Fast EMRI Waveform (FEW) and explain how this framework allows the generation of years-long signals with thousands of harmonics in less than a second.

I will discuss the applications of this framework to LISA’s scientific objectives, such as testing the nature of gravity and probing massive black hole environments. Finally, I will address the data analysis challenges associated with these sources and the path forward to prepare for the LISA mission.