Directional Response Optimization through Linear Recombination of Time-Delay Interferometry Channels in Space-based Gravitational Wave Detection

Abstract

Space-based gravitational-wave detectors such as LISA, Taiji, and TianQin employ time-delay interferometry (TDI) to cancel laser-frequency noise for unequal-arm constellations. Since different TDI observables exhibit distinct sky responses, a linear combination of candidate channels can enhance the average response over one sky region while suppressing that of another. We construct a frequency-domain response matrix for TDI combinations, average it across target and suppressed sky regions, and derive the optimal weights via a generalized eigenvalue problem that maximizes the ratio between these two regional responses. At millihertz frequencies, examples with the $A$, $E$, and $T$ channels, the Sagnac combinations $α$, $β$, and $γ$, and 16-links TDI show that a sky-region null and a large regional contrast are possible near the chosen frequency, with eigenvalues $ρ$ ranging from $\mathcal{O}(10)$ for small bases to $\mathcal{O}(10^2)$ for the larger set. The method is therefore expected to be well suited to nearly monochromatic sources such as the resolved Galactic double white dwarf binaries in the millihertz band. The Target-to-Suppression Ratio (TSR) peaks near the design frequency and falls quickly away from it, so the optimized weight vector is inherently narrowband and suited to targeted searches around a chosen frequency and sky direction.