Gravitational light deflection in Earth-based laser cavity experiments

authored by: S. Ulbricht, J. Dickmann, R. A. Müller, S. Kroker, A. Surzhykov
Abstract: As known from Einstein's theory of general relativity, the propagation of light in the presence of a massive object is affected by gravity. In this work, we discuss whether the effect of gravitational light bending can be observed in Earth-based experiments, using high-finesse optical cavities. To do this, we theoretically investigate the dynamics of electromagnetic waves in the spacetime of a homogeneous gravitational field and give an analytical expression for the resulting modifications to Gaussian beam propagation. This theoretical framework is used to calculate the intensity profile at the output of a Fabry-Pérot cavity and to estimate the imprints of Earth's gravity on the cavity output signal. In particular, we found that gravity causes an asymmetry of the output intensity profile. Based on that, we discuss a measurement scheme, that could be realized in facilities like the GEO600 gravitational wave detector and the AEI 10 m detector prototype.
External Organisation(s): Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt PTB
Technische Universität Braunschweig
Type: Article
Journal: Physical Review D
Volume: 101
ISSN: 2470-0010
Publication date: 15.06.2020
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous)
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.101.121501 (Access: Unknown)

BibTeX

@article{150bc4b53acb4a0090ae35936a0202b5,
title = "Gravitational light deflection in Earth-based laser cavity experiments",
abstract = "As known from Einstein's theory of general relativity, the propagation of light in the presence of a massive object is affected by gravity. In this work, we discuss whether the effect of gravitational light bending can be observed in Earth-based experiments, using high-finesse optical cavities. To do this, we theoretically investigate the dynamics of electromagnetic waves in the spacetime of a homogeneous gravitational field and give an analytical expression for the resulting modifications to Gaussian beam propagation. This theoretical framework is used to calculate the intensity profile at the output of a Fabry-P{\'e}rot cavity and to estimate the imprints of Earth's gravity on the cavity output signal. In particular, we found that gravity causes an asymmetry of the output intensity profile. Based on that, we discuss a measurement scheme, that could be realized in facilities like the GEO600 gravitational wave detector and the AEI 10 m detector prototype.",
author = "S. Ulbricht and J. Dickmann and M{\"u}ller, {R. A.} and S. Kroker and A. Surzhykov",
note = "Funding information: The authors acknowledge the support by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) under Germanys Excellence Strategy—EXC-2123 QuantumFrontiers—390837967.",
year = "2020",
month = jun,
day = "15",
doi = "10.1103/PhysRevD.101.121501",
language = "English",
volume = "101",
journal = "Physical Review D",
issn = "2470-0010",
publisher = "American Institute of Physics",
number = "12",
}