Sensing quantum nature of primordial gravitational waves using electromagnetic probes

Based on optical medium analogy, we establish a formalism to describe the interaction between an electromagnetic (EM) system with gravitational waves (GWs) background. After a full discussion on the classical treatment of the EM-GW interaction and finding the EM field mode-functions in the presence of the magneto-dielectric media caused by GWs, the governing quantum interaction Hamiltonian is obtained. Investigation of the optical quadrature variance as well as the visibility of a laser field interacting with the multi-mode squeezed primordial gravitational waves imply that the inflationary primordial gravitational waves (PGWs) act as a decoherence mechanism that destroy EM coherency after a characteristic time scale, tau(c), which depends on the inflationary parameters (beta, beta(s), r), or equivalently, the fractional energy density of PGWs, Omega(gw,0). The decoherency mechanism overcomes the coherent effects, such as revivals of optical squeezing, thus leaving their confirmation out of reach. Influenced by the continuum of the squeezed PGWs, the laser field suffers a line-width broadening by gamma = tau(-1)(c).The most peculiar property of the EM spectrum is the apparition of side bands at omega similar to omega(0) +/- 1.39 tau(-1)(c) Hz, stemming from the squeezed nature of PGWs. The laser phase noise induced by the squeezed PGWs . The laser phase noise induced by the squeezed PGWs grows with time squarely, Delta phi= (t/tau(c))(2), that can most possibly be sensed within a finite flight time.

Automated summary

Based on the analogy of optical medium, a formalism is established to describe the interaction between an electromagnetic system and a background of gravitational waves (GWs). By studying the classical treatment of the electromagnetic-GW interaction and finding the mode-functions of the electromagnetic field in the presence of magneto-dielectric media caused by GWs, the quantum interaction Hamiltonian is obtained. The results show that inflationary primordial gravitational waves act as a decoherence mechanism that destroys electromagnetic coherency after a characteristic time scale.