INTERACTION OF A PARAMETRIC TRANSDUCER WITH A RESONANT BAR GRAVITATIONAL-RADIATION DETECTOR

It is shown that a microwave parametric transducer for a resonant bar gravitational radiation antenna can achieve high electromechanical coupling without degrading the acoustic Q of the antenna. The reactive coupling of the transducer to the antenna leads to both cold-damping and modification of the antenna's resonant frequency. These effects are examined in a 1.5 tonne niobium resonant bar antenna. At low coupling the observed behaviour is found to be in good agreement with theory. At higher coupling, the behaviour is complicated by other effects. The authors discuss how these parametric effects may be used to advantage when suitably controlled. © 1990 IOP Publication Ltd.