Displacement-noise-free neutron interferometer for gravitational wave detection using a single Mach-Zehnder configuration

TL;DR

This paper proposes a simplified neutron displacement-noise-free interferometer using a single Mach-Zehnder setup, enhancing gravitational wave detection sensitivity by canceling mirror and beamsplitter displacement noise in the frequency domain.

Contribution

It introduces a new, simpler interferometer configuration that cancels displacement noise, improving GW detection capabilities with adjustable neutron speeds.

Findings

Displacement noise can be canceled in the frequency domain.

A single Mach-Zehnder configuration simplifies previous designs.

Mirror and beamsplitter noise are effectively eliminated.

Abstract

The improvement of sensitivity to gravitational waves (GWs) at lower frequencies is still challenging on account of displacement noise. One of the solutions is the neutron displacement-noise-free interferometer (DFI). We focus on a simplification of the detector configuration by taking advantage of the ability to adjust the neutron speed depending on the configuration. The new configuration consists of two beamsplitters and two mirrors, which constitute a single Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI). It is simpler than the configuration with two MZIs in previous research. All displacement noise of mirrors and beamsplitters can be canceled in the frequency domain. This cancellation can be explained intuitively using a phasor diagram.