空间激光干涉引力波探测与早期宇宙结构形成

摘要

In this article, we report on the feasibility study of gravitational wave detection in space commissioned by the Chinese Academy of Sciences. We consider the relative merits between scientific significance and viability in technologies of a few representative mission options. The primary science driver is targeted at the detection of mergers of intermediate to super massive binary black holes in the structure assembly history as well as in dense stellar environments within our local Universe. By striking a balance between science and techno-logical feasibility, a preliminary mission design is put forward for future Chinese gravitational wave detection mission alternative to eLISA. Our study indicates that, with suitable design of baseline parameters of a mission, gravitational wave detection in space holds the promise of being a new observation window to the structure formation stage at early Universe and shed light on certain outstanding issues, among which are the evolution of PopIII stars after the dark age, the co-evolution of galaxies and their central black holes, etc.%空间引力波探测是研究宇宙早期恒星演化和星系形成、黑洞和星系的共同成长等天文学和宇宙学重大问题的一条重要可能途径。经过两期科学院先导科技专项空间科学预研究课题的开展，通过权衡技术的可行性与科学的前瞻性，选择以高红移开始的中至大质量双黑洞并合系统、星团等稠密动力学环境中涉及中等质量黑洞的双黑洞引力波波源为主要科学目标，给出了我国毫赫兹至赫兹频段空间引力波探测任务计划的初步设计。以该任务设计建议为依据，简要介绍空间引力波探测及其作为一种新的天文观测手段的科学内涵，以及我国空间引力波探测任务设计的科学目标和探测潜力。