Detection of Low-Frequency Gravitational Waves
A network of optical cavities could detect gravitational waves in the unexplored milli-Hz frequency range, according to UK researchers.
Gravitational waves were first observed a decade ago, and since then, detectors like LIGO–Virgo–KAGRA have spotted hundreds of merging black holes and neutron stars in the 10 Hz–30 kHz range.
However, the milli-Hz band, which includes signals from binary systems of white dwarfs, neutron stars, and stellar-mass black holes, remains undetected.
Researchers believe that using technology already available, astronomers could soon search for ripples in space-time across the 10⁻⁵ Hz–1 Hz frequency band.
A global network of optical cavities could pinpoint astronomical sources of these low-frequency gravitational waves.
- Detectors like LIGO–Virgo–KAGRA work in the 10 Hz–30 kHz range.
- Pulsar timing arrays have observed a GW background at nanohertz frequencies.
- The milli-Hz band is expected to include signals from binary systems in the Milky Way.
Author's summary: Researchers propose using optical cavities to detect low-frequency gravitational waves.