The electric field induced by a gravitational wave in a superconductor: A principle for a new gravitational wave antenna

Journal Article · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1990 · General Relativity and Gravitation; (USA)

OSTI ID:6282177

Peng, Huei ^[1]; Torr, D G ^[2]

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1. Univ. of Alabama, Huntsville (USA) Academia Sinica, Beijing (China)
2. Univ. of Alabama, Huntsville (USA)

In this paper the authors investigate the effect of gravitational waves (GW) on a superconductor. They find that the key properties of a superconductor, namely zero resistance and perfect diamagnetism, give rise to an important new effect, the presence of an induced electric field E(r,t) in the interior of the superconductor. The E field reacts with the ions and superelectrons. They argue, that not only is the finding of the coupled interactions of gravitation, electromagnetism and superconductivity inherently interesting, but that the induced E field might provide a significantly more sensitive means of detecting gravitational waves. It appears likely that existing resonant-mss superconducting antennas with L {approx equal} 3m, Q {approx equal} 10{sup 8} could be readily modified to detect E fields induced by GWs of dimensionless amplitude h {approx equal} 10{sup {minus}24}.

• OSTI ID: 6282177
• Journal Information: General Relativity and Gravitation; (USA), Journal Name: General Relativity and Gravitation; (USA) Vol. 22:1; ISSN 0001-7701; ISSN GRGVA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640106* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Cosmology
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ANTENNAS
CHARGED PARTICLES
DESIGN
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS
ELECTRONS
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
EQUIPMENT
FERMIONS
GRAVITATIONAL WAVE DETECTORS
GRAVITATIONAL WAVES
INTERACTIONS
IONS
LEPTONS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RADIATION DETECTORS
SUPERCONDUCTING DEVICES
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY
SUPERCONDUCTORS