How do bar detectors work in gravitational wave detectors?

[Josiah]

TL;DR

How do bar detectors work

Hi, I was just wondering how bar detectors work. From what Ive read, the electrons act as one, thus accentuates the effect of a single gravitational wave.

 

[Josiah]

Or do the electrons in this state absorb more gravitational waves, thus the effect is magnified and can be detected

 

[PeterDonis]

From what Ive read

What have you read? Please give specific references.

 

[Ibix]

Don't they just change length when a gravitational wave passes through them? And you should be able to detect the induced strains with sufficiently sensitive strain gauges. Not sure where electrons come into this.

Unless there's some other kind of bar detector I've not heard of.