Matter wave interferometry and gravitational waves

Abstract

Relativistic models for two concepts for detecting gravitational waves with atom interferometers are presented and their features discussed. We calculate the phase difference due to a gravitational wave of an atom interferometer in a Ramsey-Borde configuration. A general expression for the phase is presented including the case that the center of mass of the device and the center of symmetry of the matter wave trajectories do not coincide. The sensitivity of atom interferometers and laser interferometers are then compared for the detection in the low and high frequency regimes. Finally, we calculate the phase difference due to a gravitational wave of an atom gravimeter, and discuss possible strategies to solve the problem of the phase noise and of the measurement frequency.