Time Variance Gravitational Wave Detector

 - Last updated June 11, 2008 -

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Detector Design
3. Ether Inflow
4. Conclusion

1.  Introduction

Einstein's general theory of relativity predicts the existence of gravitational waves. Gravitational waves are undulations, or distortions in the fabric of space-time, caused by massive bodies in motion. These waves travel in an outwardly direction, similar to the way sound waves emanate from a vibrating object. Indirect evidence of gravitational waves has been obtained by studying binary pulsar systems. General relativity predicts that some energy will be dissipated by the system, in the form of gravitational waves. This loss of energy will cause the orbits of the binary pulsars to decay. Astronomical observations of binary pulsars have been made, and measurements of this orbital decay are consistent with the predictions of general relativity. Various detectors have been built in an attempt to detect these gravitational waves directly. No gravitational waves have been detected to date.

This article proposes a unique and innovative design of a device that will be able to directly detect gravitational waves. The technique used in this design is a direct result of the inflow that is predicted in ether theory.

To illustrate gravitational waves using ether theory, I created a simple simulation that shows gravitational waves passing through ether. An additional simulation shows a gravitational wave with markers that helps to illustrate the ether movement more clearly. The green dot is stationary, while the red dot moves with the wave to demonstrate the rhythmic flow of foamy ether. This is similar to an ocean wave lapping up onto a beach. The green dot represents a stick in the sand, while the red dot represents a leaf floating on the water. The water and the leaf flow rhythmically past the stick as the ocean wave flows up and down the beach.

This rhythmic ether flow is a crucial concept that is necessary in explaining the design of my gravitational wave detector. Current designs are based on measuring the change in distance between several points as the gravitational wave passes through the detector. Ether theory predicts that this technique will not work. For instance, the LIGO gravitational wave detector uses lasers to detect changes in the length of its two arms. Unfortunately, its design is based on the assumption that light travels at a constant velocity. Ether theory predicts that the speed of light varies as the tension on the ether varies. As the gravitational wave distorts (stretches or compresses) space, the ether stretches or compresses as well, thereby causing the speed of light to increase or decrease respectively. The change in the speed of light is proportional to the change in the length of the LIGO detector's arms. LIGO's design is also based on the assumption that the gravitational wave will only change the length of the arms, not the laser light's wavelength. I think it's safe to assume that since space itself is being distorted by the gravitational wave, the wavelength of the laser gets stretched or compressed along with the detector's arms. In other words, the distortion in space-time will distort the detector's arms and the laser light in an equal manner.

To illustrate this, I have created two simulations; one of a gravitational wave detector experiencing no distortion, and one of the gravitational wave detector being distorted as a gravitational wave passes through it. Figure 1a shows the detector with both arms initially having the same length (no distortion). A laser sends a beam of light through a beam splitter, which causes one half of the beam to travel up the vertical arm and the other half to travel along the horizontal arm. Mirrors at each end of the arms send the laser light back to the splitter, which recombines the two beams and sends them to a detector (colored orange). Since the two arms are exactly the same length, the two laser beams arrive in phase with the same frequency.

Gravitational Wave Detector With NO Distortion

Figure 1a

I have used the same bungee cord model as in section 10 (Expanding Universe) to simulate a light beam traveling through foamy ether. The red and green dashed pattern shows that each arm is exactly ten units long. Since the bungee cord (foamy ether) is stretched to exactly the same tension, the light waves travel at the same speed in each arm.

Figure 1b shows what the above detector could look like while a gravitational wave passes through. The vertical arm becomes compressed, while the horizontal arm gets stretched. (Notice that the laser, detector, beam splitter, and mirrors become distorted as well). You can see by the dashed pattern that each arm is still ten units long, even though the length of the arms have changed. This simulation can be used to explain why the LIGO detector will fail to notice any changes in the lengths of its arms. The arm that increases in length also has the bungee cord stretched. This stretching causes the wave to travel at a proportionately greater speed. Notice that the traveling wave also has an increase in its wavelength. This increase in wavelength will not be noticed, however, because the laser and detector have become distorted as well.

Gravitational Wave Detector With Distortion

Figure 1b

By viewing both simulations side by side, you can see that both waves reach the splitter at exactly the same time, regardless of the detector's distortion. By realizing that the speed of light varies with the stretching of foamy ether (space), it becomes apparent that detectors similar in design to LIGO will be unable to detect any changes in its length that are caused by gravitational waves.

The remainder of this article describes a gravitational wave detector that is based on an entirely different design. In addition to detecting gravitational waves, this device can also be use to verify the inflow of ether that is predicted by ether theory.

2.  Time Variance Detector Design

Figure 2 illustrates the distortions produced in foamy ether as a gravitational wave approaches the earth. The green arrows show the inward flow of ether towards the planet. As stated in ether theory, the speed of this ether at the earth's surface is 11.2 km/sec. Slight variations in the speed of ether will occur as the gravitational wave passes through the earth. This variation in ether flow will manifest itself as momentary changes in time dilation at the earth's surface.

Figure 2

Figure 3a shows a simplified diagram of a device that can be used to measure variations in time dilation caused by a passing gravitational wave. It is comprised of three lasers arranged in a triangular configuration. These lasers should be separated by as large of a geographical distance as possible. Fiber optic cables can be used to transport the signals from these lasers to a central receiver. (Current fiber optics technology is capable of transmitting a light signal from distances of up to 120 km).

At the center, an Optical Spectrum Analyzer is set up to detect the frequency fluctuations of the three lasers. The frequency shift of the lasers is caused by a change in time dilation, which is caused by the incoming gravitational wave varying the speed of the inflowing ether. For example, a gravitational wave may cause the flow of ether to momentarily increase at laser A. This would cause an increase in time dilation, and consequently decrease the laser's frequency, compared to the other lasers (B and C). The gravitational wave's direction and wavelength can then be determined by comparing the differences in frequency shift of these three lasers.

The sensitivity of the gravitational wave detector can be greatly increased by installing the lasers in pairs, so that there are three pairs of lasers arranged in a triangular configuration. This will eliminate random frequency fluctuations caused by an individual laser's instability (or environmental effects). The central detector would only record frequency shifts if both the lasers in a pair agree, since any change in time dilation would affect both lasers in an equal manner. Any frequency shift that occurs on only one laser, would be considered an invalid signal. Of course the central detector is also affected by time dilation as the gravitational wave passes through it, but this would register as identical, simultaneous frequency fluctuations coming from all three laser pairs.

A more detailed drawing of the gravitational wave detector is shown in Figure 3b. Paired lasers are located in the same town, but not in the same building. For example, laser A₁ is located on the east side of town A, and laser A₂ is located on the west side of town A. By placing these two lasers a small distance apart, the local disturbances, such as doors slamming, trucks rolling by, etc are isolated. An atomic clock could be connected to each laser to ensure the laser's frequency remains as constant as possible.

Each of the six lasers are then connected to fiber optic cables that terminate on six Optical Spectrum Analyzers (OSA) located at a Central Hub. The OSAs measure the lasers' frequency changes (Δƒ) and feed that into Analogue to Digital Converters (A/D). The A/Ds convert the analogue frequency fluctuations into PCM signals (Pulse Code Modulation) which are immediately stored to disk.

The PCM samples from the three towns (A, B and C) can then be fed into comparators to remove local disturbances. For example, Cmp A will compare the two signals A₁ and A₂. Any differences between signal A₁ and A₂ will be considered local disturbances and will be discarded. Only signals that are identical between  A₁ and A₂ will pass through Cmp A. Remember, local disturbances will affect only one laser, but a gravitational wave will equally affect both lasers in a pair (eg. A₁ and A₂).

The output of the three comparators can now be sent for analysis to a super computer, or to a distributed system such as BOINC. BOINC could analyze the signals in the same manner as it does for other gravitational wave detector projects such as Einstein@Home.

3.  Ether Inflow

Figure 4 shows a sample graph of the effects that a gravitational wave could have on ether inflow. Normally, the speed of ether is a steady 11.2 km/sec at the earth's surface. A gravitational wave may momentarily cause the speed to increase to 11.4 km/sec, and then to decease to 11.0 km/sec. This will cause the laser's frequency to decrease and increase respectively. Figure 4 shows a sample gravitational wave (colored in red) coming in from the west side of the earth (see Figure 2).

Figure 4

Since gravitational waves travel at the speed of light, 42.5 msec of time will elapse before the wave reaches the opposite side of the earth. Figure 5 illustrates this. Notice that the wave is inverted. This inversion is a result of the ether on the east side of earth flowing in an opposite direction to ether on the west side. Referring back to Figure 2, you can see that the ether is flowing from left to right on the west side of the earth, and from right to left on the east side. If the gravitational wave increases the ether's velocity on the west side of the earth, it will decrease ether velocity on the east side.

Conventional theory would predict time dilation as illustrated in Figure 6 (no inversion). Ether theory predicts time dilation as illustrated in Figure 5 (with inversion).

Figure 5

Figure 6

4.  Conclusion

This type of detector, I believe, can be constructed in a relatively economical manner. The fiber optic links could be obtained from a local phone company. Stable frequency lasers would be placed at the ends of each fiber link. An Optical Spectrum Analyzer placed in the middle would detect the frequency variations of the lasers, and record them for later analysis. These recorded results could be analyzed by the same processes used in other gravitational wave detectors, such as LIGO.

For a more detailed description of the above device, see patent application number 2586101 (available at the Canadian Intellectual Property Office.

To thoroughly verify the inflow predicted by ether theory, however, would require that at least two detectors be built on opposite sides of our planet. The signals from these two detectors could be recorded locally, and later brought together for processing. If a gravitational wave is detected, a comparison of the signals from these detectors should show an inversion that is similar to the one illustrated in Figures 4 and 5.