The discussion focuses on the impact of gravitational waves (GW) on a 1-foot steel bar when subjected to high frequencies ranging from 1 MHz to 100 MHz. It concludes that the response speed of inter-atomic forces in steel, approximately 20,000 feet per second, is significantly slower than the frequencies of the GWs, leading to negligible length changes in the bar. The expected length change is estimated to be 6 to 9 orders of magnitude smaller than the metric deviation caused by the GW. Consequently, the bar's atoms will move along geodesics, resulting in minimal interaction with the GW.
PREREQUISITESPhysicists, materials scientists, and engineers interested in the effects of gravitational waves on solid materials, as well as researchers developing gravitational wave detection technologies.
Paul Colby said:What is the effect of a high frequency, where high is say 1MH to 100MHz on a bar of steel say 1 foot in length?
Paul Colby said:I would expect the length change of the bar to be much smaller (6 to 9) orders of magnitude than the metric deviation.
A couple years ago I looked at some radio and optical frequency GW detection schemes. The analysis basically hinges on this view of material motion being the case. Your argument makes sense, thanks.PeterDonis said:I would not, based on the above quick and dirty analysis. Since the inter-atomic forces in the bar are much too slow to keep up with the metric changes induced by the GW, the bar's atoms will basically move on geodesics as far as the GW is concerned, which means the length change of the bar should be of the same order as the metric deviation.