Quantum two-level systems and gravitational waves

TL;DR

This paper investigates how gravitational waves influence a quantum two-level system, revealing potential effects on quantum states through gravitomagnetic interactions, with implications for quantum sensing.

Contribution

It introduces a formalism using the proper detector frame to analyze quantum systems under gravitational wave influence, emphasizing relative measurements and gravitomagnetic effects.

Findings

Gravitational waves induce a time-dependent perturbation in the quantum system.

Resonance conditions amplify the interaction effects.

The gravitoelectromagnetic analogy effectively describes the gravitational influence.

Abstract

We study the interaction between gravitational waves and a quantum two-level system consisting of a spin 1/2 particle using the formalism of the proper detector frame. This approach highlights the effects of gravitational waves on both the particles and the observer, emphasizing that only relative measurements can be made. Specifically, within this framework, the gravitational field of the waves is described using the gravitoelectromagnetic analogy. The interaction of the system is then determined by the gravitomagnetic field of the wave, which induces a time-dependent perturbation. We analyze this perturbation for both generic frequencies and resonance conditions, and discuss its implications.