Bounds on gravitational wave backgrounds from large distance clock comparisons

Abstract

Our spacetime is filled with gravitational wave backgrounds that constitute a fluctuating environment created by astrophysical and cosmological sources. Bounds on these backgrounds are obtained from cosmological and astrophysical data but also by analysis of ranging and Doppler signals from distant spacecraft. We propose here a new way to set bounds on those backgrounds by performing clock comparisons between a ground clock and a remote spacecraft equipped with an ultra-stable clock, rather than only ranging to an onboard transponder. This technique can then be optimized as a function of the signal to be measured and the dominant noise sources, leading to significant improvements on present bounds in a promising frequency range where different theoretical models are competing. We illustrate our approach using the SAGAS project which aims to fly an ultra stable optical clock in the outer solar system.

10 pages, 8 figures, minor amendments

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Cited by in corpus (4)

• Quantum Physics Exploring Gravity in the Outer Solar System: The Sagas Project
• Testing General Relativity with Atomic Clocks
• The local dark sector. Probing gravitation's low-acceleration frontier and dark matter in the Solar System neighborhood
• Improved spacecraft radio science using an on-board atomic clock: application to gravitational wave searches