Using a polarized maser to detect high-frequency relic gravitational waves

Journal Article · Tue Jul 15 00:00:00 EDT 2008 · Physical Review. D, Particles Fields

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVD.78.024041· OSTI ID:21250391

Tong, M L; Zhang, Y ^[1]; Li, F Y ^[2]

---

1. Astrophysics Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026 (China)
2. Department of Physics, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400044 (China)

A GHz maser beam with Gaussian-type distribution passing through a homogenous static magnetic field can be used to detect gravitational waves (GWs) with the same frequency. The presence of GWs will perturb the electromagnetic fields, giving rise to perturbed photon fluxes. After being reflected by a fractal membrane, the perturbed photons suffer little decay and can be measured by a microwave receiver. This idea has been explored to a certain extent as a method for very high-frequency gravitational waves. In this paper, we examine and develop this method more extensively, and confront the possible detection with the predicted signal of relic gravitational waves (RGWs). A maser beam with high linear polarization is used to reduce the background photon fluxes in the detecting direction as the main noise. As a key factor of applicability of this method, we give a preliminary estimation of the sensitivity of a sample detector limited by thermal noise using currently common technology. The minimal detectable amplitude of GWs is found to be h{sub min}{approx}10{sup -30}. Comparing with the known spectrum of the RGWs in the accelerating universe for {beta}=-1.9, there is still roughly a gap of 4{approx}5 orders. However, possible improvements on the detector can further narrow down the gap and make it a feasible method to detect high-frequency RGWs.

• OSTI ID: 21250391
• Journal Information: Physical Review. D, Particles Fields, Vol. 78, Issue 2; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevD.78.024041; (c) 2008 The American Physical Society; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0556-2821
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

79 ASTROPHYSICS
COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
AMPLITUDES
BEAMS
DETECTION
DISTRIBUTION
ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS
GAUSSIAN PROCESSES
GHZ RANGE
GRAVITATIONAL WAVES
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MASERS
MHZ RANGE
MICROWAVE RADIATION
NOISE
PARTICLE DECAY
PHOTONS
POLARIZATION
SENSITIVITY
SPECTRA
UNIVERSE