Effects of lightning strokes on underground gravitational waves observatories

TL;DR

This paper investigates how atmospheric lightning strokes impact underground gravitational wave detectors, analyzing lightning detection data and magnetic field measurements at KAGRA, and exploring potential applications for GW experiments.

Contribution

It introduces the lightning detection system at KAGRA, characterizes lightning-induced magnetic fields inside and outside the tunnel, and discusses implications for gravitational wave detection.

Findings

Lightning strokes produce measurable magnetic fields at KAGRA

One lightning event was detected in the GW channel

Potential use of lightning signals for GW noise mitigation

Abstract

For ground-based gravitational wave (GW) detectors, lightning strokes in the atmosphere are sources of environmental noise. Some GW detectors are built or planned in underground facilities, and knowledge of how lightning strokes affect them is of interest. In this paper, the lightning detection system in KAGRA is introduced, and the properties of the magnetic field measured inside and outside the KAGRA tunnel are shown. One lightning-induced event in the GW channel of the KAGRA main interferometer is also shown. Finally, possible applications of lightning events for the GW experiments are discussed.