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Description
Gravitational waves can excite the Moon’s normal modes, making measurements of lunar deformation a potentially valuable complement to current and future ground- and space-based gravitational-wave observatories. Such deformations may be monitored using inertial sensors, such as seismometers or gravimeters, or through direct strain measurements performed with a laser interferometric instrument anchored to the lunar surface. These instruments could also contribute to planetary geophysics by probing the Moon’s internal structure.
In this work we present a concept study and preliminary instrumental noise budget for a kilometer-scale laser interferometric strainmeter designed for operation on the Moon. The proposed instrument is based on a Michelson configuration optimized to reduce optical complexity while preserving sensitivity in the mHz frequency range. We evaluate the main instrumental noise sources, including quantum noise, thermal noise, and laser frequency noise, using technologies inspired by Virgo and LISA. We also discuss the challenges associated with adapting these technologies to the lunar environment, particularly in the presence of strong thermal variations and mechanical constraints. Finally, we outline a possible control scheme and identify the mitigation strategies required to ensure stable interferometric operation on the lunar surface.