Searcharxiv⌕ Search
Home/Archive/arXiv

arXiv · gr-qc/9806018

Seismic gravity-gradient noise in interferometric gravitational-wave detectors

Scott A. Hughes·Kip S. Thorne
View original source ↗Read source document ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

When ambient seismic waves pass near an interferometric gravitational-wave detector, they induce density perturbations in the earth which produce fluctuating gravitational forces on the interferometer's test masses. These forces mimic a stochastic background of gravitational waves and thus constitute noise. We compute this noise using the theory of multimode Rayleigh and Love waves propagating in a layered medium that approximates the geological strata at the LIGO sites. We characterize the noise by a transfer function $T(f) \equiv \tilde x(f)/\tilde W(f)$ from the spectrum of direction averaged ground motion $\tilde W(f)$ to the spectrum of test mass motion $\tilde x(f) = L\tilde h(f)$ (where $L$ is the length of the interferometer's arms, and $\tilde h(f)$ is the spectrum of gravitational-wave noise). This paper's primary foci are (i) a study of how $T(f)$ depends on the various seismic modes; (ii) an attempt to estimate which modes are excited at the LIGO sites at quiet and noisy times; and (iii) a corresponding estimate of the seismic gravity-gradient noise level. At quiet times the noise is below the benchmark noise level of ``advanced LIGO interferometers'' (although not by much near 10 Hz); it may significantly exceed this level at noisy times. The lower edge of our quiet-time noise is a limit beyond which there is little gain from further improvements in vibration isolation and thermal noise, unless one also reduces seismic gravity-gradient noise. Two methods of reduction are discussed: monitoring the earth's density perturbations, computing their gravitational forces, and correcting the data for those forces; and constructing narrow moats around the interferometers' test masses to shield out the fundamental-mode Rayleigh waves, which we suspect dominate at quiet times.

Explore related subjects

gr-qc

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

Scott A. Hughes, Kip S. Thorne. 1998-06-03. Seismic gravity-gradient noise in interferometric gravitational-wave detectors. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevd.58.122002

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related papers

arXiv2026

General Relativistic Chronometry with Clocks on Ground and in Space

One of the main tasks of geodesy is to determine the gravity field of the Earth from measurements performed on ground and in space. High-precision clock comparison has the potential to provide a new observable for the global determination of the Earth's gravitational potential through the gravitational redshift. Towards such a global chronometric geodesy, we derive a general relativistic framework beyond the post-Newtonian level for the relativistic redshift and the timing between observers in stationary spacetimes. These observers are equipped with standard clocks and may move along arbitrary worldlines. The redshift is factorized into geometric, transversal-Doppler, and longitudinal-Doppler contributions, providing a transparent separation of gravitational and kinematic effects. We then show how redshift measurements involving clocks on ground and/or in space can, in principle, be used to determine the mass multipole moments of the underlying spacetime. In the weak field limit, our results recover the corresponding Newtonian and post-Newtonian expressions. The framework is illustrated for different exact vacuum spacetimes and provides a theoretical basis for using clock comparisons as an additional observable for gravity-field recovery and future relativistic geodesy missions.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2026

DESI DR2 Constraints on Coupled Hu--Sawicki $f(R)$ Gravity with Interacting Neutrinos: Implications for the Hubble and \(S_8\) Tensions

We investigate the cosmological implications of viable Hu--Sawicki \(f(R)\) gravity models and their extension through an effective interaction with the neutrino sector. Motivated by the persistent \(H_0\) and \(S_8\) tensions, we explore whether the combined effects of modified gravity, neutrino free-streaming, and dark-sector interaction can alleviate these discrepancies while remaining consistent with current cosmological observations. Starting from the metric formulation of \(f(R)\) gravity, we derive the modified background and perturbation equations and implement the resulting cosmological scenario within the {MontePython}/{hi\_class} framework. A comprehensive Bayesian MCMC analysis is performed using combinations of Planck 2018 CMB data, CMB lensing, DESI DR2 BAO measurements, Cosmic Chronometers, and Pantheon supernova observations. Our results show that the interacting Hu--Sawicki scenario provides a noticeable improvement over both the standard \(Λ\)CDM cosmology and the non-interacting \(f(R)\) framework. In particular, the interacting model shifts the inferred Hubble constant toward larger values, yielding \(H_0 = 70.21 \pm 1.60~{\rm km~s^{-1}Mpc^{-1}}\), while simultaneously lowering the clustering amplitude to \(S_8 = 0.796 \pm 0.009\). Consequently, the residual tensions with SH0ES R22 and DES-Y6 are reduced to nearly the \(1σ\) level. From the statistical perspective, the interacting model provides the best overall fit according to the Akaike Information Criterion, with \(Δχ^2 \simeq -45\) relative to \(Λ\)CDM. The obtained neutrino mass constraints remain fully consistent with current cosmological bounds, with \(\sum m_ν< 0.122~{\rm eV}\). These results suggest that interacting modified-gravity scenarios offer a viable route to moderately easing both late-time tensions at once.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2026

Decoherence of ergotropy of a relativistic battery as a probe of motion-selected Unruh thermality in Minkowski spacetime

We put forward a physical model of a relativistic Unruh-DeWitt battery moving along a general accelerated trajectory, including a linear motion and a circular motion with a reflecting boundary. The maximal amount of quantum work extraction, defined as the ergotropy, serves as a witness to Unruh effect modified by motion trajectories. It is found out that for a very low Unruh temperature, linear motion yields a high amount of ergotropy, while for a high temperature, circular motion becomes optimal for estimating the Unruh effect. For a specific acceleration, the ergotropy is the same for two different trajectories. The behavior demonstrates that, in a certain condition, one can simulate the work extraction of the accelerated battery in a linear motion by exploring the battery in circular motion. The observed ergotropy for the thermality is closely related to quantum coherence affected by spacetime vacuum fluctuations. In the presence of a reflecting boundary plane, we study different ways for the dynamics of the ergotropy. When the battery moves near the boundary, the prominent oscillation of the ergotropy will happen and exhibit some large instantaneous peaks. The interesting phenomenon results from the protection of quantum coherence for the accelerated battery in the vicinity of the boundary. Far away from the boundary, the oscillation behavior can be suppressed and the ergotropy rapidly arrives at a steady value. By contrast, the circular motion contributes to prolonging the oscillation evolution. The asymptotic amount of the ergotropy can rise progressively up to a saturation value with increasing the distance from the circular trajectory to the boundary plane. From the perspective of energy transfer, optimized quantum work extraction for the accelerated battery moving along a selected motion with a boundary plane is advantageous for probing Unruh thermality.

gr-qc↗