LIGO Sensitivity and Cosmic Dust

PITTSBURGH - March 20, 2016 - PRLog -- .
Introduction
Confirmation [1] of Einstein's theory of general relativity based on LIGO measurements of gravitational waves from black hole coalescence requires resolution of pico-meter displacements in Earth based on interferometers having mirrors separated by 4 km long arms. LIGO stands for Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory.  The required resolution verges on the impossible as the desired LIGO detection sensitivity is < 1x10^-19 m.  Resolution aside, noise is of particular concern. The thumbnail shows the LIGO sensitivity over the audible frequency range from 20 - 2000 Hz marked by a continuum of narrow band low frequency spikes thought caused by multiples of 60 Hz measurement noise.

Recently, an alternative to LIGO measurement of gravitational waves was proposed based on [2] that argued light produced from heating NPs of cosmic dust during black hole coalescence was modulated by audible sound produced in NP collisions with black hole debris prior to being carried by the light to Earth. NPs stand for nanoparticles, typically < 500 nm diameter amorphous silicates. See LIGO: Einstein's gravational waves or sournd carried by light from cosmic dust? at http://www.nanoqed.org, 2016.

Problem
The problem with light created in cosmic dust carrying audible sound is that NPs are compact solids lacking the compliance to allow modulation of light in the frequency range 20 - 2000 Hz.  For cosmic dust comprised of silicate NPs having diameters < 500 nm, the breathing mode resonances which would be excited in collisions with black hole debris are in the far IR at about 300 GHz, far higher than the audible range of frequencies. What this means is light produced upon heating cosmic dust is modulated at GHz frequencies by the acoustic vibrations from NP collisions, but not in the audible 20 - 2000 Hz range of LIGO sensitivity. Audible sound in LIGO sensitivity is produced by another mechanism.

Proposal
LIGO sensitivity is proposed to be light produced in cosmic dust modulated by the dispersion of rotational speeds in the inspiral of the coalescing black holes, the spikes of narrow band noise depending on the local concentration of cosmic dust.

In this interpretation, there is no physical sound - only frequencies f of light produced in the inspiral that happen to coincide with the audible range from 20 - 2000 Hz. LIGO sensitivity is explained by light created as cosmic dust is heated during black hole coalescence and modulated in frequency f depending on its time dependent radial location R(t) in the inspiral of black hole debris, i.e., f = V/2πR(t), where V is a constant inspiral velocity. Hence, the slower rotating outer region of the inspiral generates the 35 Hz low frequency end of LIGO sensitivity; whereas, the faster rotating dust in inner region giving the sensitivity at 250 Hz, a continuum of frequencies produced between 20 and 2000 Hz.

Moreover, the continuum of LIGO low frequency narrow band noise spikes most likely do not depend on 60 Hz measurement noise, but rather are proportional to the local concentration of cosmic dust. In the audible range, LIGO may be measuring a continuum of low frequency noise from cosmic dust modulated by inspiral rotational speeds having nothing to do with gravitational waves, a conclusion of which does not depend on LIGO having near impossible resolution.

Discussion
Physicists did not consider NPs of cosmic dust in the intense heat of coalescing black holes produce light that travels to Earth and confuses LIGO gravitational wave measurements.  Proceeding on the basis of classical physics, heat absorbed in NPs was thought to increase their temperature, although the Planck law based on QM over a century ago precludes atoms in NPs under EM confinement from having the heat capacity to increase in temperature. QM stands for quantum mechanics and EM for electromagnetic. By QM, heat is conserved in NPs by QED inducing the creation of light prior to being carried to Earth. QED stands for quantum electrodynamics.

However, the QED of light-matter interaction in the creation of light in NPs is far simpler than the complex QED theory advanced by Feynman and others. Briefly stated: Under the QM restriction that heat capacity of the atom vanishes, simplified QED conserves heat supplied to a nanoscale QM box having refractive index n and sides d by creating standing EM radiation having wavelength λ = 2 nd. Because of the high surface-to-volume ratio of NPs, the absorbed heat is deposited almost entirely in their surfaces thereby providing the momentary EM confinement necessary to create standing EM radiation. Once EM radiation is created from the surface heat, the momentary EM confinement vanishes allowing the standing EM radiation to promptly escape to the surroundings.

QED induced light having wavelength λ = 2 nd is modulated by GHz sound because the NP breathing mode excited in collisions alters its diameter and thereby the wavelength of light emitted. See diverse QED applications at http://www.nanoqed.org, 2010 - 2016.

Conclusions
By QM, heated cosmic dust NPs produces QED induced light instead of increasing in temperature as required by classical physics.

QED induced light in cosmic dust NPs is modulated by sound produced in collisions with black hole debris only at GHz frequencies corresponding to the NP breathing modes, but not in the audible LIGO sensitivity frequency range from 20 - 2000 Hz.

LIGO sensitivity from 20 - 2000 Hz is proposed as QED induced light from heated cosmic dust NPs modulated during black hole coalescence by time dependent radial inspiral rotation speeds.

References
[1] B. P. Abbot, et al., "Observation of Gravitational Waves from a Binary Black Hole Merger," PRL 116, 061102, 2016.
[2] A. G. Bell, "On the Production and Reproduction of Speech by Light", American J. Science, October 1880, Vol. 20, 118, pp. 305-324.