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When the universe was roughly one billion years old, supermassive black holes (103-106 solar masses) already existed. The occurrence of supermassive black holes on such short time scales are poorly understood in terms of their physical or evolutionary processes. Our current understanding is limited by the lack of observational data due the limits of electromagnetic radiation. Gravitational waves as predicted by the theory of general relativity have provided us with the means to probe deeper into the history of the universe. During the ESA Alpach Summer School of 2015, a group of science and engineering students devised GLINT (Gravitational-wave Laser INterferometry Triangle), a space mission concept capable of measuring gravitational waves emitted by black holes that have formed at the early periods after the big bang. Morespecifically at redshifts of 15 < z < 30(∼ 0.1 − 0.3× 109 years after the big bang) in the frequency range 0.01 − 1 Hz. GLINT design strain sensitivity of (Formula presented.) will theoretically allow the study of early black holes formations as well as merging events and collapses. The laser interferometry, the technology used for measuring gravitational waves, monitors the separation of test masses in free-fall, where a change of separation indicates the passage of a gravitational wave. The test masses will be shielded from disturbing forces in a constellation of three geocentric orbiting satellites.

Originally developed and used for fusion research purposes, an Inertial Electrostatic Confinement (IEC) device is introduced for space propulsion applications. It is described the working principle using Argon as a propellant and studying the hy- pothetical nuclear fusion scenario. It is also described a mathematical models used to define the physical characteristic of the IEC devices, including a 1D ion path, the IEC ion distribution function and three different electric potential models used to simulate the potential inside the discharge region. Glow discharge modes and specifically, the jet mode is described as a future electric propulsion application. It is calculated the Space Charge Effects for a concentric spheres on the experimental set-up and it is also given a description of the different grids designs with an original suggestion to improve the efficiency of the grid design using Voronoi diagrams. As a conclusion, it is explained why IEC devices seems to be an incomplete device and part of a bigger one, maybe, being a new of thruster. Validerat; 20130425 (global_studentproject_submitter)