A new type of quantum interferometer for gravitational wave detection

We present an orientational quantum interferometer sensitive to gravitational waves that is based on orienting quantum objects like molecules, atoms, or nuclei in space. The detection principle is based on inducing non-sphericity to the corresponding wave functions by light-pulses. In the field of a gravitational wave these objects then possess spectra that depend on their orientation in space. In our measurement scheme we investigate the adiabatic influence of a monochromatic gravitational wave over a quarter gravitational wave period and compare the corresponding frequencies at instances with maximal and vanishing gravitational wave elongation. We therefore explore the effect over a quarter gravitational wave period (or wavelength) and the resulting frequency shift scales with the binding energy of the system times the amplitude of the gravitational wave. In particular, a gravitational wave with amplitude h = 10⁻²³ will induce a frequency shift of the order of 110 μHz for an atom interferometer based on a 91-fold charged uranium ion.