A two-level atom in the field of a gravitational wave – on the possibility of parametric resonance

Dept. of Physics, Academy of Civil Aviation, 38 Pilotov str., St-Petersburg 196210, Russia

Corresponding author: S. V. Siparov, sergey@siparov.spb.su

Received: 21 February 2003
Accepted: 20 October 2003

Abstract

We consider the influence of a gravitational wave on the dynamics and radiation properties of a two-level atom in the spectroscopically strong resonant electromagnetic field of a cosmic maser. It is shown that the time dependence of the space-time metric can lead to parametric resonance. Such resonance could reveal itself through the appearance of a nonstationary (periodic) component in the observed spectrum of the maser. The amplitude of the nonstationary component is essentially higher than that of the stationary radiation peak corresponding to the additional wave originating from the action of the gravitational wave on the atom associated with the maser. The cosmic maser located in the vicinity of a periodic source of gravitational waves must satisfy the specific demands formulated in the paper. Provided the parametric resonance conditions are fulfilled, the effect of the opto-metrical parametric resonance can be used for the direct registration of gravitational waves with the help of a remote quantum detector – cosmic maser.