1201.5656 (John G. Baker et al.)

Comparison of Atom Interferometers and Light Interferometers as
Space-Based Gravitational Wave Detectors    [PDF]

John G. Baker, James Ira Thorpe

We consider a class of proposed gravitational wave detectors based on
multiple atomic interferometers separated by large baselines and referenced by
common laser systems. We compute the sensitivity limits of these detectors due
to intrinsic phase noise of the light sources, non-inertial motion of the light
sources, and atomic shot noise and compare them to sensitivity limits for
traditional light interferometers. We find that atom interferometers and light
interferometers are limited in a nearly identical way by intrinsic phase noise
and that both require similar mitigation strategies (e.g. multiple arm
instruments) to reach interesting sensitivities. The sensitivity limit from
motion of the light sources is slightly different and favors the atom
interferometers in the low-frequency limit, although the limit in both cases is
severe.

View original: http://arxiv.org/abs/1201.5656