# Atomic source selection in space-borne gravitational wave detection

## TL;DR

This paper compares different atomic species for space-based gravitational wave detection using atom interferometry, focusing on their properties, technological challenges, and potential source concepts to guide future detector development.

## Contribution

It provides a comparative analysis of atomic species for gravitational wave detection, highlighting key parameters and technological milestones needed for space-based atom interferometry.

## Key findings

- Alkaline-earth metals offer promising narrow transition lines.
- Differences in isotope abundance and atomic flux impact detector design.
- Identifies technological milestones for future space-based gravitational wave detectors.

## Abstract

Recent proposals for space-borne gravitational wave detectors based on atom interferometry rely on extremely narrow single-photon transition lines as featured by alkaline-earth metals or atomic species with similar electronic configuration. Despite their similarity, these species differ in key parameters such as abundance of isotopes, atomic flux, density and temperature regimes, achievable expansion rates, density limitations set by interactions, as well as technological and operational requirements. In this study, we compare viable candidates for gravitational wave detection with atom interferometry, contrast the most promising atomic species, identify the relevant technological milestones and investigate potential source concepts towards a future gravitational wave detector in space.