Detecting high-frequency gravitational waves with optically-levitated sensors
General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology2015-06-05v2Instrumentation and Methods for AstrophysicsHigh Energy Physics - PhenomenologyAtomic PhysicsOptics
We propose a tunable resonant sensor to detect gravitational waves in the frequency range of 50-300 kHz using optically trapped and cooled dielectric microspheres or micro-discs. The technique we describe can exceed the sensitivity of laser-based gravitational wave observatories in this frequency range, using an instrument of only a few percent of their size. Such a device extends the search volume for gravitational wave sources above 100 kHz by 1 to 3 orders of magnitude, and could detect monochromatic gravitational radiation from the annihilation of QCD axions in the cloud they form around stellar mass black holes within our galaxy due to the superradiance effect.
@article{arxiv.1207.5320,
title = {Detecting high-frequency gravitational waves with optically-levitated sensors},
author = {Asimina Arvanitaki and Andrew A. Geraci},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1207.5320},
year = {2015}
}
Comments
5 pages, 2 figures, 2 tables, submitted to PRL -- v2: GR calculation corrected, size of the signal and experimental geometry unaffected, cavity response included in sensitivity plot and LIGO sensitivity curves updated