Detecting milli-Hz gravitational waves with optical resonators

Giovanni Barontini; Xavier Calmet; Vera Guarrera; Aaron Smith; Alberto Vecchio

doi:10.1088/1361-6382/ae09ec

Detecting milli-Hz gravitational waves with optical resonators

Giovanni Barontini^*
, Xavier Calmet
, Vera Guarrera
, Aaron Smith
, Alberto Vecchio

^*Corresponding author for this work

Physics and Astronomy

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

We propose a gravitational wave (GW) detector based on ultrastable optical cavities enabling the detection of GW signals in the mostly unexplored 10−5−1 Hz frequency band. We illustrate the working principle of the detector and discuss that several classes of GW sources, both of astrophysical and cosmological origin, may be within the detection range of this instrument. Our work suggests that terrestrial GW detection in the milli-Hz frequency range is potentially within reach with current technology.

Original language	English
Article number	20LT01
Number of pages	16
Journal	Classical and Quantum Gravity
Volume	42
Issue number	20
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6382/ae09ec
Publication status	Published - 3 Oct 2025

Keywords

optical frequency metrology
gravitational wave detection
milli-Hz range

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10.1088/1361-6382/ae09ecLicence: Creative Commons: Attribution (CC BY)

BarontiniG2025DetectingFinal published version, 1.4 MBLicence: Creative Commons: Attribution (CC BY)

Early career researchers for QSNET
Guarrera, V. (Co-Investigator) & Barontini, G. (Principal Investigator)
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY FACILITIES COUNCIL
1/04/24 → 30/09/25
Project: Research Councils
QSNET 1.1: Accelerating the development of novel clocks for measuring varying fundamental constants
Barontini, G. (Principal Investigator), Goldwin, J. (Co-Investigator), Boyer, V. (Co-Investigator) & Guarrera, V. (Co-Investigator)
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY FACILITIES COUNCIL
1/09/22 → 31/08/24
Project: Research Councils
A network of clocks for measuring the stability of fundamental constants
Newman, P. (Co-Investigator), Vecchio, A. (Co-Investigator), Allport, P. (Co-Investigator), Chung, M. (Co-Investigator), Guarrera, V. (Co-Investigator), Boyer, V. (Co-Investigator), Goldwin, J. (Co-Investigator), Mow-Lowry, C. (Co-Investigator) & Barontini, G. (Principal Investigator)
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY FACILITIES COUNCIL
1/03/21 → 31/03/25
Project: Research Councils

Cite this

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title = "Detecting milli-Hz gravitational waves with optical resonators",

abstract = "We propose a gravitational wave (GW) detector based on ultrastable optical cavities enabling the detection of GW signals in the mostly unexplored 10−5−1 Hz frequency band. We illustrate the working principle of the detector and discuss that several classes of GW sources, both of astrophysical and cosmological origin, may be within the detection range of this instrument. Our work suggests that terrestrial GW detection in the milli-Hz frequency range is potentially within reach with current technology.",

keywords = "optical frequency metrology, gravitational wave detection, milli-Hz range",

author = "Giovanni Barontini and Xavier Calmet and Vera Guarrera and Aaron Smith and Alberto Vecchio",

year = "2025",

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language = "English",

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AU - Barontini, Giovanni

AU - Calmet, Xavier

AU - Guarrera, Vera

AU - Smith, Aaron

AU - Vecchio, Alberto

PY - 2025/10/3

Y1 - 2025/10/3

N2 - We propose a gravitational wave (GW) detector based on ultrastable optical cavities enabling the detection of GW signals in the mostly unexplored 10−5−1 Hz frequency band. We illustrate the working principle of the detector and discuss that several classes of GW sources, both of astrophysical and cosmological origin, may be within the detection range of this instrument. Our work suggests that terrestrial GW detection in the milli-Hz frequency range is potentially within reach with current technology.

AB - We propose a gravitational wave (GW) detector based on ultrastable optical cavities enabling the detection of GW signals in the mostly unexplored 10−5−1 Hz frequency band. We illustrate the working principle of the detector and discuss that several classes of GW sources, both of astrophysical and cosmological origin, may be within the detection range of this instrument. Our work suggests that terrestrial GW detection in the milli-Hz frequency range is potentially within reach with current technology.

KW - optical frequency metrology

KW - gravitational wave detection

KW - milli-Hz range

U2 - 10.1088/1361-6382/ae09ec

DO - 10.1088/1361-6382/ae09ec

M3 - Article

SN - 0264-9381

VL - 42

JO - Classical and Quantum Gravity

JF - Classical and Quantum Gravity

IS - 20

M1 - 20LT01

ER -

Detecting milli-Hz gravitational waves with optical resonators

Abstract

Keywords

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Projects

Early career researchers for QSNET

QSNET 1.1: Accelerating the development of novel clocks for measuring varying fundamental constants

A network of clocks for measuring the stability of fundamental constants

Cite this