An Atomic Gravitational Wave Interferometric Sensor (AGIS)

Abstract

We propose two distinct atom interferometer gravitational wave detectors, one terrestrial and another satellite-based, utilizing the core technology of the Stanford 10 m atom interferometer presently under construction. Each configuration compares two widely separated atom interferometers run using common lasers. The signal scales with the distance between the interferometers, which can be large since only the light travels over this distance, not the atoms. The terrestrial experiment with baseline ∼ 1 km can operate with strain sensitivity ∼ 10 −19 √ Hz in the 1 Hz -10 Hz band, inaccessible to LIGO, and can detect gravitational waves from solar mass binaries out to megaparsec distances. The satellite experiment with baseline ∼ 1000 km can probe the same frequency spectrum as LISA with comparable strain sensitivity ∼ 10 −20 √ Hz . The use of ballistic atoms (instead of mirrors) as inertial test masses improves systematics coming from vibrations, acceleration noise, and significantly reduces spacecraft control requirements. We analyze the backgrounds in this configuration and discuss methods for controlling them to the required levels.

Searches for other vacua. Part I. Bubbles in our universe

“…The emitted gravitational waves will be at a frequency that is roughly inverse the size of the binary. The amplitude of the gravitational wave from bubble collisions in a binary similar to that of the Hulse-Taylor binary will be at most of order [50,51]. However, it is quite unlikely such an event takes place so close to us.…”

Atomic Interferometric Gravitational-Wave Space Observatory (AIGSO)

“…According to the estimation in Ref. [21], a space-borne atom interferometer, with interrogation time T ≤ 100 s, sounds reasonable. For safety, let us take 10 s as the maximal interrogation time.…”

“…Several terrestrial atom interferometric GW detection schemes were proposed in Refs. [18][19][20][21][22]. Moreover, spaced-based atom interferometric GW detection schemes were put forward in Refs.…”

“…Moreover, spaced-based atom interferometric GW detection schemes were put forward in Refs. [18,21,23,24]. Compared to the space-borne laser interferometric GW detectors, the atoms are used as inertial test masses, instead of mirrors.…”

“…Compared to other spaced-based atom interferometric GW detectors in Refs. [21,23,24], our scheme is a genuine use of atomic matter-waves, not just used as inertial test masses instead. The size of our scheme is much smaller, and the atomic flux intensity can be much higher.…”