Speaker
Description
The first observation of gravitational waves (GWs) with laser interferometers of the LIGO collaboration in 2015 was about 100 years after their prediction within general relativity. In this talk we focus on the detection of gravitational waves in a higher frequency regime with superconducting radio frequency (SCRF) cavities. This approach has already been considered as probes for GWs before laser interferometers were built and the operational spectrum reaches up to high GW frequencies above ∼10 kHz. Measurements in this frequency range could give possible hints to new physics beyond the standard model or insights into early universe phenomena.
The detection principle is based on the GW induced transition between two electromagnetic eigenmodes of the SCRF cavity. We consider the interplay of the indirect coupling to the cavity boundaries and the
direct coupling to the electromagnetic field explained by the Gertsenshtein effect. We precisely analyse all contributing effects and derive in detail the coupling coefficients for the frequency range O(kHz-GHz).
Aiming on improving the describtion of GWs the results are applied using the MAGO cavity prototype built at INFN in 2005 in Genoa. Together with FNAL the Universität Hamburg and DESY restart research on this detector by characterizing its geometry and mechanical and electromagnetic eigenmodes. The prototype parameters give predictions for achievable sensitivities in the desired frequency range and can be compared to possible GW generating sources. Further improvements on the MAGO cavity prototype parameters indicate that the region of new physics is in reach.
| Collaboration / Activity | DESY, UHH |
|---|
