EPJ Quantum Technol. (2015) 2: 3
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjqt16

Research

Analog quantum simulation of gravitational waves in a Bose-Einstein condensate

School of Mathematical Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK

^* e-mail: pmxtb2@nottingham.ac.uk

Received: 30 May 2014
Accepted: 26 November 2014
Published online: 4 January 2015

Abstract

We show how to vary the physical properties of a Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC) in order to mimic an effective gravitational-wave spacetime. In particular, we focus in the simulation of the recently discovered creation of particles by a real spacetime distortion in box-type traps. We show that, by modulating the speed of sound in the BEC, the phonons experience the effects of a simulated spacetime ripple with experimentally amenable parameters. These results will inform the experimental programme of gravitational wave astronomy with cold atoms.