A coordinate-independent formalism for detecting high-frequency gravitational waves

Abstract In an external electric or magnetic field, a gravitational wave (GW) may be converted into electromagnetic radiation. We present a coordinate-invariant framework to describe the GW signal in a detector that is based on this effect, such as cavities for axion searches. In this framework, we...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Wolfram Ratzinger, Sebastian Schenk, Pedro Schwaller
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2024-08-01
Series:Journal of High Energy Physics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/JHEP08(2024)195
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850162727791624192
author Wolfram Ratzinger
Sebastian Schenk
Pedro Schwaller
author_facet Wolfram Ratzinger
Sebastian Schenk
Pedro Schwaller
author_sort Wolfram Ratzinger
collection DOAJ
description Abstract In an external electric or magnetic field, a gravitational wave (GW) may be converted into electromagnetic radiation. We present a coordinate-invariant framework to describe the GW signal in a detector that is based on this effect, such as cavities for axion searches. In this framework, we pay special attention to the definition of manifestly coordinate-independent expressions for the electromagnetic fields that an external observer would detect. A careful assessment of the detector’s perceived motion allows us to treat both its mechanical and its electromagnetic response to the GW consistently. We further introduce well-defined approximations for which this motion may be neglected, and hence provide suggestions on which coordinate frame is suitable to characterise the GW signal in practice. We illustrate our findings in two examples, an infinitesimally thin rod and a spherical electromagnetic cavity.
format Article
id doaj-art-c2f8b7ee54fc4022a9db4d115ca8faa5
institution OA Journals
issn 1029-8479
language English
publishDate 2024-08-01
publisher SpringerOpen
record_format Article
series Journal of High Energy Physics
spelling doaj-art-c2f8b7ee54fc4022a9db4d115ca8faa52025-08-20T02:22:29ZengSpringerOpenJournal of High Energy Physics1029-84792024-08-012024813710.1007/JHEP08(2024)195A coordinate-independent formalism for detecting high-frequency gravitational wavesWolfram Ratzinger0Sebastian Schenk1Pedro Schwaller2Department of Particle Physics and Astrophysics, Weizmann Institute of SciencePRISMA+ Cluster of Excellence & Mainz Institute for Theoretical Physics, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität MainzPRISMA+ Cluster of Excellence & Mainz Institute for Theoretical Physics, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität MainzAbstract In an external electric or magnetic field, a gravitational wave (GW) may be converted into electromagnetic radiation. We present a coordinate-invariant framework to describe the GW signal in a detector that is based on this effect, such as cavities for axion searches. In this framework, we pay special attention to the definition of manifestly coordinate-independent expressions for the electromagnetic fields that an external observer would detect. A careful assessment of the detector’s perceived motion allows us to treat both its mechanical and its electromagnetic response to the GW consistently. We further introduce well-defined approximations for which this motion may be neglected, and hence provide suggestions on which coordinate frame is suitable to characterise the GW signal in practice. We illustrate our findings in two examples, an infinitesimally thin rod and a spherical electromagnetic cavity.https://doi.org/10.1007/JHEP08(2024)195Axions and ALPsClassical Theories of GravitySpace-Time Symmetries
spellingShingle Wolfram Ratzinger
Sebastian Schenk
Pedro Schwaller
A coordinate-independent formalism for detecting high-frequency gravitational waves
Journal of High Energy Physics
Axions and ALPs
Classical Theories of Gravity
Space-Time Symmetries
title A coordinate-independent formalism for detecting high-frequency gravitational waves
title_full A coordinate-independent formalism for detecting high-frequency gravitational waves
title_fullStr A coordinate-independent formalism for detecting high-frequency gravitational waves
title_full_unstemmed A coordinate-independent formalism for detecting high-frequency gravitational waves
title_short A coordinate-independent formalism for detecting high-frequency gravitational waves
title_sort coordinate independent formalism for detecting high frequency gravitational waves
topic Axions and ALPs
Classical Theories of Gravity
Space-Time Symmetries
url https://doi.org/10.1007/JHEP08(2024)195
work_keys_str_mv AT wolframratzinger acoordinateindependentformalismfordetectinghighfrequencygravitationalwaves
AT sebastianschenk acoordinateindependentformalismfordetectinghighfrequencygravitationalwaves
AT pedroschwaller acoordinateindependentformalismfordetectinghighfrequencygravitationalwaves
AT wolframratzinger coordinateindependentformalismfordetectinghighfrequencygravitationalwaves
AT sebastianschenk coordinateindependentformalismfordetectinghighfrequencygravitationalwaves
AT pedroschwaller coordinateindependentformalismfordetectinghighfrequencygravitationalwaves