Observing gravitational waves with solar system astrometry
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Mentasti, G
Contaldi, CR
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The subtle influence of gravitational waves on the apparent positioning of celestial bodies offers novel observational windows [1,2,3,4]. We calculate the expected astrometric signal induced by an isotropic Stochastic Gravitational Wave Background (SGWB) in the short distance limit. Our focus is on the resultant proper motion of Solar System objects, a signal on the same time scales addressed by Pulsar Timing Arrays (PTA). We derive the corresponding astrometric deflection patterns, finding that they manifest as distinctive dipole and quadrupole correlations or, in some cases, may not be present. Our analysis encompasses both Einsteinian and non-Einsteinian polarisations. We estimate the upper limits for the amplitude of SGWBs that could be obtained by tracking the proper motions of large numbers of solar system objects such as asteroids. We find that for SGWBs with negative spectral indices, such as that generated by Super Massive Black Hole Binaries (SMBHB), the constraints from these observations could rival those from PTAs. With the Gaia satellite and the Vera C. Rubin Observatory poised to track an extensive sample of asteroids — ranging from Script O(105) to Script O(106), we highlight the significant future potential for similar surveys to contribute to our understanding of the SGWB.
Date Issued
2024-05
Date Acceptance
2024-03-12
Citation
Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics, 2024, 2024 (05)
ISSN
1475-7516
Publisher
IOP Publishing
Journal / Book Title
Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
Volume
2024
Issue
05
Copyright Statement
© 2024 The Author(s). Published by IOP Publishing Ltd on behalf of Sissa Medialab. Original content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.
License URL
Identifier
http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1475-7516/2024/05/028
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
028
Date Publish Online
2024-05-02