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Ref: SC-GVS-070921-001A
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From: G. V. Stephenson
Introduction
The conference host was the Institute for Advanced Studies at Austin.
Conference chairs were Dr. Robert M. L. Baker, Jr. (Honorary Chairman), Dr.
Hal Puthoff (Co-Chairman), and Dr. Eric W. Davis (Co-Chairman and workshop
organizer). What follows are my meeting minutes for this workshop.
Dr. Hal Puthoff opened the workshop by welcoming attendees and providing a
few highlights on the research interests of the Institute for Advanced Studies at
Austin (IASA). Research areas of interest include the theoretical development
of the Polarizable Vacuum (PV) Model of General Relativity (GR) in which
gravity may be represented by an index of refraction equivalent to optics.
Experimental research is also conducted at IASA, including a test of the
Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND) model as an alternative to dark matter.
Dr. Eric Davis welcomed the workshop attendees. He provided the encouraging
announcement that the American academic General Relativity Group (GRG) had
finally acknowledged that HFGWs is a viable research area and has projected
future participation in the 8 to 12 year time frame. Eric also announced that he
is writing a new book with his co-author/co-editor Marc Millis of NASA, to be
titled Frontiers in Propulsion Science. Publication in the fall of 2008 was
announced.
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After introductory remarks by Dr. Hal Puthoff and Dr. Eric Davis, the other
attendees introduced themselves, including Dr. Giorgio Fontana, Dr. Robert M.
L. Baker, Jr., Dr. Fangyu Li, Dr. Zhenyun Fang, Mr. Biao Li, Mr. Jie Zhou, Dr.
Leonid Grishchuk, Dr. Valentin Rudenko, Dr. Christopher (Kit) Green, and
myself. Dr. Clive Woods was not present on the first day but did attend the
Tuesday session.
For background purposes Bob first presented design details for existing HFGW
detectors that have already been fabricated and tested in the laboratory.
While both have provided null results, they have provided upper limits to the
strength of gravitational waves in the high frequency regime. The Birmingham
detector consists of a microwave waveguide loop with counter-rotating
radiation that is sensitive to 1040 radians, translating to a strain sensitivity h =
1014. The Genoa detector consists of a pair of coupled resonant cavities that
measure changes in resonance properties and is sensitive to h = 1022. While
these levels are not scientifically interesting, they do point out the current
state-of-the-art, and how far there is to go to in order to achieve the
scientifically interesting levels of h = 1030 to 1034 for relic HFGWs, (i.e.,
HFRGWs).
Dr. Li presented two HFGW detector approaches that could in principal achieve
sensitivities down to h 1032. The first design has the GW traveling along the
z-axis, along with a Gaussian Beam (GB) of EM energy at a tuning frequency
of interest (half the HFGW frequency), a strong static magnetic field (5 to 10
Tesla) along the y-axis, and a fractal membrane in the yz-plane directing signal
photons (a.k.a. Perturbative Photon Flux) along the x-axis in both directions,
to detectors some 37 cm away.
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A second design option was also presented, in which the HFGW enters a
resonant cavity (RC) filled with a strong magnetic field, bounded on both ends
by superconducting fractal membranes, such that only the perturbative photon
flux is transmitted, and background photon flux is not. Q of the cavity
approach is predicted to be in the range of 1011 to 1012. This design was not
analyzed as vigorously as the first. Both detector options would need to be
cryogenically maintained in the milli-Kelvin temperature range.
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During discussion it was pointed out that it was difficult to see what
percentage of the overall energy would make it to the detectors at x = 37 cm
where z = 0. This is an important value since it would result in background
photon flux at the detectors which would potentially drown out the signal
photons. However, the effect of the fractal membrane was not considered and
it was recommended that baffles also be added to the simulation to determine
their effectiveness in reducing overall background at the detector location.
Because of the importance of the design and layout of the detection
mechanism to overall RF signal properties, it is important that the RF or
microwave engineer take a leading role in determining the optimum design and
physical arrangement of all RF and microwave components so as to maximize
signal and reduce noise to a minimum.
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A signal processing trade study was presented for the signal processing options
that may be relevant to HFGW detection. In the case where we can pick one
frequency, such as with a lab generated or other monochromatic source, a
phase-locked amplifier /-filter approach may be used. Where this is not
applicable, such as with relic HFGWs, Fast-Fourier-Transforms (FFTs and matrix
FFTs) may be used to extract signals with specific spectral energy distributions.
If the signature of specific sources of HFGWs can be theoretically calculated in
advance, matched filters could also be used to extract signals with particular
signatures. Adaptive filters such as line enhancers and adaptive noise
cancellation may also be necessary to cope with a structured background
environment. Harmonic retrieval can also be helpful in determining which
signals are genuine when both signals and noise are stochastic.
A number of issues were raised regarding this topic during the discussion
period. The first was that we need to determine from the cosmological
community what the expected signatures will be for HFGWs there are a range
of possible sources and the signatures will potentially be different for each
type of source. Once these temporal and spectral signatures can be modeled,
these models can be used in simulation of the signal processing, and the signal
processing simulation can then try various types and combinations of algorithms
until the optimum set is identified and implemented. The second issue was the
use of multiple detectors. While it is true that multiple detectors (or even
multiple detectors in multiple locations) would assist greatly in signal
processing of a detection event, it is important to consider the full range of
correlation functions to preserve all detections, taking into account that the
HFGW source may not be isotropic, and that arrival times could vary
significantly depending on the incident angle to each detector and the relative
locations of the detectors. In general, it is clear that we will need more
definition of the signal characteristics before further progress can be made on
simulating the signal processing options. Investigating and determining the best
guesses as to signal signatures is always a big part of the signal processing job.
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A brief discussion was held to wrap up the day. The difficulties seen in the GB
detector option were reviewed, and it was observed that due to the
differences in design constraints and signal processing requirements, it might
be better to think about attempting relic HFGWs with a different detector type
than for lab generated HFGWs. Alternatively, it was pointed out that a null
result for relic HFGW detection would be difficult to prove unless there were
first tests of the detector, and the best test of the detector would be with an
HFGW generator. See the 1 pm discussion on 17 Sept 07 for related issues.
Issues raised during discussion: What can be used to synchronize all of the
graviton emission? What causes the particular operating frequency - carrier
statistics in combination with geometry? Does the device need to be smaller
than the wavelength of emission? What is the mechanism for maintaining an
inverted population of gravitons in the superconducting material without
destroying the superconducting state are these conditions mutually exclusive?
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Similar to several of his papers presented at STAIF, Clive presented designs for
variable focus HFGW lenses based on the work of Li & Torr (1993) which
predicted superconductors have an index of refraction n = 300. The assumption
of LI & Torr was the main point of contention during the discussion period.
However, it was agreed that if superconductors or any other material is found
to have a non-unity index of refraction, then this work will still ultimately be of
value.
Zhenyun Fang started his talk by reviewing the hierarchy problem, which can
be stated as the question, Why is gravity so weak when compared to the other
forces of nature? One answer to this may be the use of extra space
dimensions, which depend on the model selected. Alternative cosmological
models were then presented, each with their own unique dimensionalities and
graviton emission models. The search for extra dimensions is currently ongoing
using Tevatron at Fermilab, HERA at DESY, Hamburg, and LEP at CERN, Geneva.
In discussion it was stated that even if the detection and measurement of
HFRGW is successful, this alone will not be enough to differentiate between
the quantum gravity models, since the owners of each model will simply adjust
their parameters to match the result. In other words, there are no clear cut
differential predictions by any of the models in the area of graviton or HFGW
distributions or energies.
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10:30 am - Break
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The main points from this discussion were incorporated into the minutes of the
1 pm discussion of 17 Sept 2007.
Kit Green presented his view and analysis of why it is that HFGWs has not
received more mainstream attention and funding. His judgment is that the
following problems apply:
(1) No Gravitas (no importance seen)
(2) Not enough people (no infrastructure)
(3) Importance not understood
(4) Applications are not believed
The result of the above problems is that the subject is marginalized and,
therefore, not followed by the mainstream physics community. Kit suggested
the following approach for improving the subject matters standing prior to the
next working group meeting:
Generate new hypotheses (vs. testing old ones)
Invent new knowledge (not just confirm old)
Focus on near-term realistic applications (do not over-promise)
Investigate the unexplained, rather than explain the uninvestigated.
Kelleher & Knapp (2005)
Kit Green led this discussion which centered on the plan forward as it related
to funding constraints. His question to the group was as follows: if IASA were
given a seed grant of the $20K, $30K, or $50K range to organize the field of
HFGW, would this amount be of value, and if so, how best would it be spent?
Also asked of the attendees: what should the future structure be of the HFGW
working group? Should we form a non-governmental organization (NGO)? Should
we incorporate and form a non-for-profit (503.c) organization? Or should we
simply continue as an informal working group, inviting new members as
deemed necessary for the advancement of this field? These were open
questions posed to the collected group that were answered during the closing
session on Thursday afternoon.
5:00 pm - Adjourned
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Bob presented the quadrupole formulation of a mass dipole that predicts that
HFGW power goes as the third-derivative of motion. Two different types of
generators were presented that take advantage of this formulation a
MEMS/FBAR (Micro-Electromechanical System/Film Bulk Acoustic Resonator)
HFGW generator which uses the oscillation of MEMS/FBAR elements to create
the HFGW, and a synchronized X-ray laser pulse HFGW generator that uses the
motion of the X-ray laser targets to create HFGWs. Both could be strengthened
by synchronizing the multiple elements in phase.
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different phases, and different decay patterns. The fractal membrane is used
to improve the reflection of the PPF, so that it may be measured up to 1 meter
from the GB where the BPF will be negligible. Co-authors Li, Baker, and I
agreed to revisit the calculations, and to possibly split the paper into separate
pieces to help clarify how the physics and the formulations are related.
In the closing session it was resolved by the collected group in attendance that:
Dr. Grishchuk indicated that if more than one postdoctoral candidates could be
hired, and that if at least one could be assigned to study at Cardiff University,
that under those circumstances he would be willing to entertain the notion of
providing academic sponsorship for the HFGW Working Group and greater
community.
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