Alternative LISA-TAIJI networks

TL;DR

This paper explores different configurations of the upcoming LISA and TAIJI space-based gravitational wave detectors, analyzing their network performance for sky localization, polarization, and background observation.

Contribution

It investigates three possible LISA-TAIJI network configurations, assessing their advantages for various gravitational wave detection capabilities.

Findings

LISA-TAIJIm offers the best sky localization and polarization determination.

LISA-TAIJIc achieves optimal sensitivity for stochastic GW background.

Different configurations optimize different aspects of gravitational wave detection.

Abstract

The space-borne gravitational wave (GW) detectors, LISA and TAIJI, are planned to be launched in the 2030s. The dual detectors with comparable sensitivities will form a network observing GW with significant advantages. In this work, we investigate the three possible LISA-TAIJI networks for the different location and orientation compositions of LISA orbit ($+60^\circ$ inclination and trailing the Earth by $20^\circ$) and alternative TAIJI orbit configurations including TAIJIp ($+60^\circ$ inclination and leading the Earth by $20^\circ$), TAIJIc ($+60^\circ$ inclination and co-located with LISA), TAIJIm ($-60^\circ$ inclination and leading the Earth by $20^\circ$). In the three LISA-TAIJI configurations, the LISA-TAIJIm network shows the best performance on the sky localization and polarization determination for the massive binary system due to their better complementary antenna pattern, and LISA-TAIJIc could achieve the best cross-correlation and observe the stochastic GW background with an optimal sensitivity.