Analog quantum simulation of gravitational waves in a Bose-Einstein condensate

TL;DR

This paper proposes a method to simulate gravitational waves using a Bose-Einstein condensate by modulating its properties, enabling experimental studies of spacetime distortions with cold atoms.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach to mimic gravitational wave effects in a BEC through modulation of the speed of sound, facilitating experimental gravitational wave research.

Findings

Phonons in BEC can experience effects of simulated spacetime ripples.

Modulation of sound speed in BEC enables realistic gravitational wave simulations.

Results are experimentally feasible for cold atom setups.

Abstract

We show how to vary the physical properties of a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) in order to mimic an effective gravitational-wave spacetime. In particular, we focus in the simulation of the recently discovered creation of particles by real spacetime distortion in box-type traps. We show that, by modulating the speed of sound in the BEC, the phonons experience the effects of a simulated spacetime ripple with experimentally amenable parameters. These results will inform the experimental programme of gravitational wave astronomy with cold atoms.