Optimizing NN reduction in an atom interferometer network for GW detection

TL;DR

This paper explores how optimizing the geometry and sub-band configurations of atom interferometer networks can significantly improve gravitational wave detection sensitivity by reducing seismic Newtonian Noise.

Contribution

It introduces optimized detector geometries and sub-band strategies for atom interferometer networks to enhance Newtonian Noise rejection in gravitational wave detection.

Findings

Optimized detector geometry improves NN rejection.

Sub-band optimization yields higher NN suppression.

Multiple geometries can be used within a single network.

Abstract

The sensitivity of an atom gradiometer aiming to detect gravitational waves (GW) is impacted by fluctuations of Earth's gravity field also called Newtonian Noise (NN). Sensor arrays have proved to be a promising technique for NN reduction. In our study, we further investigate the benefits of Atom Interferometer (AI) networks by improving their geometry and the extraction of the GW signal. We focus on Seismic Newtonian Noise in the frequency band from 0.1 to 10 Hz. On one hand, we show that using a specific detector geometry, a better NN rejection can occur optimizing the number of gradiometers in the network. On the other hand, we show that carrying out optimization in sub frequency bands - which results in using various detector geometries from a common network - allows even higher NN rejection while keeping a similar number of interferometers.