Optical frequency standards for gravitational wave detection using satellite velocimetry

Satellite Doppler velocimetry, building on the work of Kaufmann [1] and Estabrook and Wahlquist [2], is a complementary technique to interferometric methods of gravitational wave detection [3]. This method is based on the fact that the gravitational wave amplitude appears in the apparent Doppler shift of photons propagating from an emitter to a receiver. This apparent Doppler shift can be resolved provided that a frequency standard, capable of quickly averaging down to a high stability, is available. We present a design for a space-capable optical atomic frequency standard, and analyze the sensitivity of satellite Doppler velocimetry for gravitational wave astronomy in the milli-hertz frequency band.\\[4pt] [1] Kaufmann, W. (1970). Redshift Fluctuations Arising from Gravitational Waves. Nature, 227, 157.\\[0pt] [2] Estabrook, F., \& Wahlquist, H. (1975). Response of Doppler spacecraft tracking to gravitational radiation. General Relativity and Gravitation, 5(5), 439-447.\\[0pt] [3] Armstrong, J. (2006). Low-frequency gravitational wave searches using spacecraft Doppler tracking. Living Rev. Relativity, (2006).