Gravitational-Wave Fringes at LIGO: Detecting Compact Dark Matter by Gravitational Lensing

Abstract

Utilizing gravitational-wave (GW) lensing opens a new way to understand the small-scale structure of the universe. We show that, in spite of its coarse angular resolution and short duration of observation, LIGO can detect the GW lensing induced by compact structures, in particular by compact dark matter (DM) or primordial black holes of $10 - 10^5 \, M_\odot$, which remain interesting DM candidates. The lensing is detected through GW frequency chirping, creating the natural and rapid change of lensing patterns: \emph{frequency-dependent amplification and modulation} of GW waveforms. As a highest-frequency GW detector, LIGO is a unique GW lab to probe such light compact DM. With the design sensitivity of Advanced LIGO, one-year observation by three detectors can optimistically constrain the compact DM density fraction $f_{\rm DM}$ to the level of a few percent.