English

Algorithm for TDI numerical simulation and sensitivity investigation

General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology 2021-06-30 v3 Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics

Abstract

We introduce a generic algorithm to determine the time delays and spacecraft (S/C) positions to compose any time-delay interferometry (TDI) channel in the dynamical case and evaluate its sensitivity by using a full numerical method. We select 11 second-generation TDI channels constructed from four approaches and investigate their gravitational wave responses, noise levels, and averaged sensitivities under a numerical LISA orbit. The sensitivities of selected channels are various especially for frequencies lower than 20 mHz. The optimal channel A2_2 (or equivalently E2_2) combined from second-generation Michelson TDI channels (X1_1, X2_2, and X3_3) achieves the best sensitivity among the channels, while the Sagnac α1\alpha_1 channel shows the worse sensitivity. Multiple channels show better sensitivities at some characteristic frequencies compared to the fiducial X1_1 channel. The joint A2+E2+T2\mathrm{A_2+E_2+T_2} observation not only enhances the sensitivity of the X1_1 channel by a factor of 2\sqrt{2} to 2 but also improves the capacity of sky coverage.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2010.15544,
  title  = {Algorithm for TDI numerical simulation and sensitivity investigation},
  author = {Gang Wang and Wei-Tou Ni and Wen-Biao Han and Cong-Feng Qiao},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2010.15544},
  year   = {2021}
}

Comments

13 pages, 8 figures

R2 v1 2026-06-23T19:44:35.869Z