Gravitational wave detection by hollow-core fiber-optics Mach-Zehnder interferometry

Abstract

Recent advances in the field of very long distance optical communication suggest the adoption of the advanced technology based on Hollow Core Nested Anti- resonant Nodeless Fiber (HC-NANF) within the endeavour of Gravitational Wave detection using a Mach-Zehnder optical interferometer (MZ-IF). The proposal, consisting of a summary project of the device emphasizes the favorable properties of (MZ- IF) in comparison with Michelson Interferometer (M-IF) currently in operation. The key feature of the proposed method consists of the use of a couple of “fibrated” metallic antennas enfolded by a very large number (h x 7,7 x 104 with h= 1,2,3 etc.) of coiled rings or of straight sections of the (HC-NANF) fiber. This amounts to a corresponding fiber length: L (K) = h x 1500 Km. The relevant properties of the device are noise reduction, absence of critical optical mirror alignment in a noisy environment, reduced spatial extension of the apparatus, exploration of the entire sky scenario by freely orientable antennas, a substantial cost reduction of the apparatus. The remarkable properties of (HC-NANF), invented by F. Poletti in 2013 are currently investigated by his group at the University of Southampton, UK.