17th International Conference on Topics in Astroparticle and Underground Physics (TAUP 2021)

26 August 2021 to 3 September 2021

Bridging the microhertz gap with asteroids: opportunities and challenges for gravitational wave detection

31 Aug 2021, 17:10
50m
Talk in parallel session Gravitational Waves

Speaker

Michael A. Fedderke (The Johns Hopkins University)

Description

The science case for a broad program of gravitational wave (GW) detection across all frequency bands is exceptionally strong. At present, there is a dearth of coverage by existing and proposed searches in the GW frequency band lying between the peak sensitivities of PTAs and LISA, roughly 0.1-100 microhertz. In this talk, I will outline a conceptual mission proposal to access this band. I will demonstrate that a few carefully chosen asteroids which orbit in the inner Solar System can act as excellent naturally occurring gravitational test masses despite the environmental noise sources. As such, a GW detector can be constructed by ranging between these asteroids using optical or radio links. At low frequencies, I will discuss how gravity gradient noise arising from the combined motion of the other $\sim 10^6$ asteroids in the inner Solar System sharply cuts off the sensitivity of this proposal. Sensitivity in the middle of this band is mostly limited by various solar perturbations to the asteroid test masses, while the high-frequency sensitivity is limited by noise in the ranging link. The projected strain-sensitivity curve that I will present indicates significant potential reach in this frequency band for a mission of this type.

Primary author

Michael A. Fedderke (The Johns Hopkins University)

Co-authors

Prof. Peter W. Graham (Stanford University) Prof. Surjeet Rajendran (The Johns Hopkins University)

Presentation Materials

 Fedderke_TAUP2021_GW_asteroids.pdf Recording of talk on Youtube
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