Skip to main content
Przejdź do strony domowej Komisji Europejskiej (odnośnik otworzy się w nowym oknie)
polski pl
CORDIS - Wyniki badań wspieranych przez UE
CORDIS

Superconducting Oscillator for Novel Astrophysical Radiation: a pioneering detector concept for high-frequency gravitational waves and axion searches

Cel

This proposal outlines a pioneering experiment to detect high-frequency gravitational waves (GWs) in the 10 kHz to 100 MHz range, beyond the current operational bandwidth of large-scale interferometers such as LIGO. Like electromagnetic radiation, GWs are expected to span many decades in frequency, with each band potentially encoding unique, unexplored physics. Above 10 kHz, the lack of abundant astrophysical sources offers a clean observational window free from foreground contamination. Any detection in this regime would constitute compelling evidence for physics beyond the Standard Model, potentially arising from exotic compact objects (e.g. primordial black holes or boson stars) or from early-universe phenomena. Such a discovery would have far-reaching implications for fundamental particle physics.

SONAR employs a superconducting radio-frequency (SRF) cavity with two closely spaced electromagnetic modes. A passing GW induces a resonant deformation of the cavity walls, transferring power between modes, an effect measurable with instrumentation pushed beyond current technologies. Additionally, the same infrastructure enables broadband searches for ultralight axion dark matter, based on power transfer between modes induced by direct axion–photon coupling.

Despite its immense scientific potential, this technologically ambitious concept has never been implemented. Recent advancements in SRF cavity performance and control, along with our breakthrough in RF noise suppression, now make its realization feasible. To achieve this, SONAR will develop and fabricate optimized cavities, advance state-of-the-art cavity control and readout, and design a suspension system to minimize vibrational noise as close as possible to the thermal limit. These innovations will maximize sensitivity and enable the first-ever search for high-frequency GWs in this regime.

Dziedzina nauki (EuroSciVoc)

Słowa kluczowe

Program(-y)

Temat(-y)

System finansowania

HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants

Wyświetl wszystkie projekty finansowane w ramach tego programu finansowania

Zaproszenie do składania wniosków

(odnośnik otworzy się w nowym oknie) ERC-2025-ADG

Wyświetl wszystkie projekty finansowane w ramach tego zaproszenia

Instytucja przyjmująca

DEUTSCHES ELEKTRONEN-SYNCHROTRON DESY
Wkład UE netto
€ 3 412 875,00
Koszt całkowity
Brak danych

Beneficjenci (1)