Frequency of GW Arm Length Change: Properties & Detailed Explanation

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the properties related to the frequency of changes in the arm lengths of gravitational wave detectors. Participants seek detailed explanations and resources that cover these properties at a technical level, moving beyond introductory material.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant inquires about the properties affecting the frequency of arm length changes in gravitational wave detectors and requests detailed resources.
  • Another participant explains that gravitational waves are produced when sources change elongation direction, noting that for two orbiting bodies, the frequency of gravitational waves is twice the orbital frequency.
  • There is a request for resources that explain the properties at a detailed level, with a note that available papers may not match a high school level of understanding.
  • A participant offers to adjust the thread's technical level to accommodate more advanced discussions.
  • Another participant suggests moving the thread to a higher technical level, which is subsequently done.
  • A resource is provided, referencing Sean Carroll's online lecture notes on General Relativity as a good introduction to the theory of gravitational waves.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a desire for more technical resources and agree on the need to elevate the discussion level. However, there is no consensus on specific properties or detailed explanations as the discussion is still in the exploratory phase.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that existing literature may not be suitable for all levels of understanding, indicating a potential gap in accessible resources for high school-level inquiries into gravitational waves.

Meerio
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What properties have to do with the frequency at which the lengths change of the arm?
Also does anybody have a body paper or webpage which explains the properties at a detailed level?
 
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A gravitational wave is typically produced when sources change from being longer in one direction to being longer in the perpendicular direction. If the sources are two bodies orbiting one another, the frequency is twice the orbit frequency (as the system reaches maximum elongation in a given direction twice per orbit).

Gravitational waves involve complex mathematics, usually based on a linear approximation to General Relativity. For an introduction, see this Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravitational_wave
 
Meerio said:
Also does anybody have a body paper or webpage which explains the properties at a detailed level?

There are plenty of papers on this subject, but they won't be at a "B" level (high school level), which is how you labeled this thread. If you want answers at a more technical level, let me know and I can adjust the thread level accordingly.
 
Yeah could you please move the thread up a level? Thx
 
Meerio said:
could you please move the thread up a level?

I have changed the thread level to "I".
 
A good introduction to the theory of gravitational waves is in Chapter 6 of Sean Carroll's online lecture notes on GR:

https://arxiv.org/abs/gr-qc/9712019

This is a good text in general for learning GR as well.
 
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