A superconducting LC resonator in a multi-tesla magnetic field for tabletop kHz gravitational-wave detection
Abstract
We present a concept for a superconducting inductance--capacitance (LC) resonator immersed in a magnetic field for gravitational-wave detection in the kHz band. In the long-wavelength limit, a gravitational wave in a static magnetic field induces an oscillating magnetic-field perturbation proportional to the static magnetic field applied to the resonator and to the gravitational-wave strain. We show that a superconducting pickup circuit can convert this perturbation into a flux signal read out by a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID)-based or quantum-limited amplifier chain. Inspired by resonant-mass detectors, we develop a three-loop coupled-circuit model and derive the equivalent strain-noise spectrum, including thermal noise, SQUID backaction, and measurement imprecision. Prototype measurements demonstrate a quality factor of Q≃ 5× 105, while Q=107 is considered as a future development target. Under the assumed flux coupling and an idealized quantum-limited SQUID noise model, optimized circuits yield projected strain sensitivities of order 10−21 Hz−1/2 over 100 Hz bands in the $1−−20\,\mathrm{kHz}$ range. Increasing the active high-field volume and improving quantum-limited readout could enable further sensitivity gains. This compact, tunable detector concept could complement interferometric gravitational-wave searches and motivate investigations of high-frequency astrophysical sources.
Related
- Demonstrating the thermal noise limit in a backaction-free bulk acoustic wave resonator chain for gravitational wave detection
- Coupling of two individual magnon resonators via a superconducting microwave resonator operating in the strong coupling regime
- A double-resonator coupler for high-fidelity two-qubit gates between superconducting qubits
- Improvement of Heat-Treated Niobium Surface by In-situ Plasma Treatment Applied to Superconducting RF Resonator
- Self-Pulsing Microring Resonator Networks for Bandwidth-Efficient Event Detection in an Optical Fiber Sensor
BibTeX
@misc{ahn2026superconducting,
title = {{A superconducting LC resonator in a multi-tesla magnetic field for tabletop kHz gravitational-wave detection}},
author = {D. Ahn and C. Braggio and G. Carugno and D. D'Agostino and R. Di Vora and P. Falferi and A. Ortolan and G. Ruoso and M. L. Ruggiero},
howpublished = {arXiv},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.48550/arxiv.2610.31430},
eprint = {2610.31430},
archivePrefix = {arXiv},
url = {https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.31430},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - A superconducting LC resonator in a multi-tesla magnetic field for tabletop kHz gravitational-wave detection
AU - D. Ahn
AU - C. Braggio
AU - G. Carugno
AU - D. D'Agostino
AU - R. Di Vora
AU - P. Falferi
AU - A. Ortolan
AU - G. Ruoso
AU - M. L. Ruggiero
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/22
PB - arXiv
DO - 10.48550/arxiv.2610.31430
UR - https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.31430
AB - We present a concept for a superconducting inductance--capacitance (LC) resonator immersed in a magnetic field for gravitational-wave detection in the kHz band. In the long-wavelength limit, a gravitational wave in a static magnetic field induces an oscillating magnetic-field perturbation proportional to the static magnetic field applied to the resonator and to the gravitational-wave strain. We show that a superconducting pickup circuit can convert this perturbation into a flux signal read out by a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID)-based or quantum-limited amplifier chain. Inspired by resonant-mass detectors, we develop a three-loop coupled-circuit model and derive the equivalent strain-noise spectrum, including thermal noise, SQUID backaction, and measurement imprecision. Prototype measurements demonstrate a quality factor of Q≃ 5× 10^5, while Q=10^7 is considered as a future development target. Under the assumed flux coupling and an idealized quantum-limited SQUID noise model, optimized circuits yield projected strain sensitivities of order 10^−21 Hz^−1/2 over 100 Hz bands in the $1−−20\,\mathrm{kHz}$ range. Increasing the active high-field volume and improving quantum-limited readout could enable further sensitivity gains. This compact, tunable detector concept could complement interferometric gravitational-wave searches and motivate investigations of high-frequency astrophysical sources.
ER -