Detecting high-frequency gravitational waves with optically-levitated sensors

TL;DR

This paper introduces a tunable resonant sensor using optically trapped dielectric microspheres to detect high-frequency gravitational waves in the 50-300 kHz range, surpassing existing laser-based detectors in sensitivity and search volume.

Contribution

It presents a novel, compact sensor design that exceeds current sensitivity limits and extends the search for high-frequency gravitational waves, including signals from QCD axion annihilation.

Findings

Sensor can detect gravitational waves in 50-300 kHz range

Device sensitivity surpasses laser-based observatories in this band

Extends search volume for high-frequency sources by 1-3 orders of magnitude

Abstract

We propose a tunable resonant sensor to detect gravitational waves in the frequency range of 50-300 kHz using optically trapped and cooled dielectric microspheres or micro-discs. The technique we describe can exceed the sensitivity of laser-based gravitational wave observatories in this frequency range, using an instrument of only a few percent of their size. Such a device extends the search volume for gravitational wave sources above 100 kHz by 1 to 3 orders of magnitude, and could detect monochromatic gravitational radiation from the annihilation of QCD axions in the cloud they form around stellar mass black holes within our galaxy due to the superradiance effect.