Published in

Oxford University Press, Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 3(512), p. 3738-3753, 2022

DOI: 10.1093/mnras/stac669

Links

Tools

Export citation

Search in Google Scholar

Probing the dark Solar system: detecting binary asteroids with a space-based interferometric asteroid explorer

This paper was not found in any repository, but could be made available legally by the author.
This paper was not found in any repository, but could be made available legally by the author.

Full text: Unavailable

Green circle
Preprint: archiving allowed
Green circle
Postprint: archiving allowed
Green circle
Published version: archiving allowed
Data provided by SHERPA/RoMEO

Abstract

ABSTRACTWith the inception of gravitational wave astronomy, astrophysical studies using interferometric techniques have begun to probe previously unknown parts of the Universe. In this work, we investigate the potential of a new interferometric experiment to study a unique group of gravitationally interacting sources within our Solar system: binary asteroids. We present the first study into binary asteroid detection via gravitational signals. We identify the interferometer sensitivity necessary for detecting a population of binary asteroids in the asteroid belt. We find that the space-based gravitational wave detector LISA will have negligible ability to detect these sources as these signals will be well below the LISA noise curve. Consequently, we propose a 4.6 au and a 1 au arm-length interferometer specialized for binary asteroid detection, targeting frequencies between 10−6 and 10−4 Hz. Our results demonstrate that the detection of binary asteroids with space-based gravitational wave interferometers is possible though very difficult, requiring substantially improved interferometric technology over what is presently proposed for space-based missions. If that threshold can be met, an interferometer may be used to map the asteroid belt, allowing for new studies into the evolution of our Solar system.