Abstract
Atom interferometers (AIs) on earth and in space offer good capabilities for measuring gravitational waves (GWs) in the mid-frequency deciHz band, complementing the sensitivities of the LIGO/Virgo and LISA experiments and enabling probes of possible modifications of the general relativity predictions for GW propagation. We illustrate these capabilities using the projected sensitivities of the AION (terrestrial) and AEDGE (space-based) AI projects, showing that AION could improve the present LIGO/Virgo direct limit on the graviton mass by a factor $\sim 40$ to $\simeq 10^{-24}\,$eV, and AEDGE could improve the limit by another order of magnitude. AION and AEDGE will also have greater sensitivity than LIGO to some scenarios for Lorentz violation.
Highlights
The discovery of gravitational waves (GWs) by the LISA and Virgo laser interferometer (LI) experiments [1] has opened new perspectives in astrophysics, cosmology, and fundamental physics
We focus on the possible constraints on the graviton mass, mg, that could be established by AION and AEDGE, and discuss their possible constraints on Lorentz-violating (LV) modifications of GW propagation [13,14,15]
Virgo discovery event GW150914 with the 1 km stage of AION could improve the 90% CL direct upper limit to mg < 1.1 × 10−24 eV, and AEDGE measurements could further improve it to mg < 1.3 × 10−25 eV
Summary
The discovery of gravitational waves (GWs) by the LISA and Virgo laser interferometer (LI) experiments [1] has opened new perspectives in astrophysics, cosmology, and fundamental physics. The capabilities of AION and AEDGE for observing BH mergers and possible cosmological sources of GWs such as first-order phase transitions in the early universe and cosmic strings have been documented in [6] and [7], respectively. Their capabilities for tests of fundamental physics were are mentioned, but not explored in detail. The AI experiments offer much longer observations of the inspiral stages of events of the types measured by LIGO/Virgo, and possibly mergers of heavier BHs that emit GWs of lower frequencies, which have enhanced sensitivity to mg. We find that AION 1 km and AEDGE will have greater sensitivity than LIGO to LV by amounts ∝ Aα with α ≤ 1
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
