Gravitational Wave Detection by Hollow-Core Fiber-Optics Mach-Zehnder Interferometry

Abstract

Recent advances in the field of very long distance optical communication suggest the adoption of the advanced technology based on Hollow Core Nested Anti-resonant Nodeless Fiber (HC-NANF) within the endeavour of Gravitational Wave detection using a Mach-Zehnder optical interferometer (MZ-IF). The proposal, consisting of a summary project of the device emphasizes the favorable properties of (MZ-IF) in comparison with Michelson Interferometer (MIF) currently in operation. The key feature of the proposed method consists of the use of a couple of "fibrated" metallic antennas enfolded by a very large (K x 8.10^4 with K=1,2,3 etc.) of coiled (HC-NANF) rings. This amounts to a corresponding fiber length: Leff = K x 1600 Km. The relevant properties of the device are noise reduction, absence of critical optical mirror alignment in a noisy environment, reduced spatial extension of the apparatus, exploration of the entire sky scenario by freely orientable antennas, a substational cost reduction of the apparatus. The remarkable properties of (HC-NANF), invented by F. Poletti in 2013 are currently investigated by his group at the University of Southampton (UK).