Torsion-Bar Antenna
Encyclopedia
A torsion-bar antenna is a novel scheme for a gravitational wave detector
, proposed by M. Ando, et. al in 2010. The proposed design is composed of two, long, thin bars, suspended as torsion pendula in a cross-like fashion. Their differential angle (sensitive to tidal gravitational wave
forces) would be compared using a set of optical cavities with one end mirror of each cavity fixed two the ends of the each bar. Such a detector could be fashioned either for ground-based or space-based use.
The predicted frequency band over which such a detector would be most sensitive band would be centered around 1 Hz, similar to DECIGO. This frequency range would complement current ground-based, laser interferometric detectors (whose sensitive band is between 10–100 Hz and several kHz, such as LIGO
or Virgo
), and proposed space-based, laser interferometric detectors (such as LISA
whose sensitive band is centered around 10−4 Hz).
Gravitational wave detector
A gravitational wave detector is any experiment designed to measure gravitational waves, minute distortions of spacetime that are predicted by Einstein's theory of general relativity. The existence of gravitational radiation is a prediction of Einstein's general theory of relativity. Gravitational...
, proposed by M. Ando, et. al in 2010. The proposed design is composed of two, long, thin bars, suspended as torsion pendula in a cross-like fashion. Their differential angle (sensitive to tidal gravitational wave
Gravitational wave
In physics, gravitational waves are theoretical ripples in the curvature of spacetime which propagates as a wave, traveling outward from the source. Predicted to exist by Albert Einstein in 1916 on the basis of his theory of general relativity, gravitational waves theoretically transport energy as...
forces) would be compared using a set of optical cavities with one end mirror of each cavity fixed two the ends of the each bar. Such a detector could be fashioned either for ground-based or space-based use.
The predicted frequency band over which such a detector would be most sensitive band would be centered around 1 Hz, similar to DECIGO. This frequency range would complement current ground-based, laser interferometric detectors (whose sensitive band is between 10–100 Hz and several kHz, such as LIGO
LIGO
LIGO, which stands for the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory, is a large-scale physics experiment aiming to directly detect gravitational waves. Cofounded in 1992 by Kip Thorne and Ronald Drever of Caltech and Rainer Weiss of MIT, LIGO is a joint project between scientists at MIT,...
or Virgo
Virgo interferometer
The Virgo is a gravitational wave detector in Italy, which commenced operations in 2007. It is one of a handful of the world's major experiments working towards the observation of gravitational waves....
), and proposed space-based, laser interferometric detectors (such as LISA
Laser Interferometer Space Antenna
The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna is a planned space mission to detect and accurately measure gravitational waves from astronomical sources. LISA was originally conceived as a joint effort between the United States space agency NASA and the European Space Agency...
whose sensitive band is centered around 10−4 Hz).