Noise test of an electromagnetic antenna for low frequency scattered gravitational waves

Abstract

Abstract Gravitational waves (GW) proved hard to detect experimentally and yet carry high energy fluxes. Conversely the technology for electromagnetic waves (EMW) is sophisticated, easily available and highly sensitive. Various proposals have been made to use the conversion of a gravitational wave into an electromagnetic wave to generate signals that could be detected. We present test results from a novel electromagnetic antenna, efficient at the very low frequencies needed to explore the signals from supermassive black holes mergers. These will eventually be studied by the Laser Interferometric Space Antenna (LISA) at wavelengths between 108 and 1011 m. Common forms of electromagnetic antennae are only efficient when the ratio of wavelength, λ, to antenna length, L, is roughly between 0.1 and 10. This paper proposes a scheme for a realistic ground-based electromagnetic antenna , ”the resistive antenna”, which operates efficiently at a ratio $\frac{\lambda }{L}$ of more than 106. The first estimates of ambient noise at these low frequencies from field trials of such a device are presented. The measured levels of ambient noise result in this detection scheme having a sensitivity much worse than LISA. The antenna design described in this communication may also have application in other fields.