Gyroscope memory: detecting gravitational wave memory effects with a gyroscope
PIRSA ID:
21120026
Series:
Quantum Gravity
Event Type:
Seminar
Scientific Area(s):
Quantum Gravity
End date:
Speaker(s):
- Ali Seraj, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB)
I study the dynamics of a gyroscope far from an isolated source of gravitational waves. With respect to a local frame 'tied to the distant stars', the gyroscope precesses when gravitational waves cross its path, resulting in a net `orientation memory', carrying information on the gravitational wave profile. I show that the precession rate is given by the so-called "dual covariant mass aspect", providing a celestially local measurement protocol for this quantity. Moreover, I show that the net memory effect can be derived from the flux-balance equations for superrotation charges in the "generalized BMS" algebra. Finally, I show how the spin memory effect à la Pasterski et al. is reproduced as a special case.