Gyroscope memory: detecting gravitational wave memory effects with a gyroscope

PIRSA ID: 21120026
Série : Quantum Gravity
Event Type: Seminar
Domaine(s) scientifique(s) :
Quantum Gravity
Date de fin :
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.