The Coupling of a Linearized Gravitational Wave to Electromagnetic Fields and Relevant Noise Issues

Abstract

According to electrodynamical equations in curved spacetime we consider the coupling of a linearized weak gravitational wave (GW) to a Gaussian beam passing through a static magnetic field. It is found that unlike the properties of the "left-circular" and "right-circular" waves of the tangential perturbative photon fluxes in the cylindrical polar coordinates, the resultant effect of the tangential and radial perturbations can produce the unique nonvanishing photon flux propagating along the direction of the electric field of the Gaussian beam. This result might provide a larger detecting space for the high-frequency GWs in GHz band. Moreover, we also discuss the relevant noise issues.