Seismic and Newtonian Noise in the GW Detectors

Gravitational wave detectors aim to measure relative length variations of the order of ΔL/L≃10−21, or less. Thus, any mechanism that is able to reproduce such a tiny variation can, in principle, threaten the sensitivity of these instruments, representing a source of noise. There are many examples of such noise, and seismic and Newtonian noise are among these and will be the subject of this review. Seismic noise is generated by the incessant ground vibration that characterizes Earth. Newtonian noise is instead produced by the tiny fluctuations of the Earth’s gravitational field. These fluctuations are generated by variations of air and soil density near the detector test masses. Soil density variations are produced by the same seismic waves comprising seismic noise. Thus, it makes sense to address these two sources of noise in the same review. An overview of seismic and Newtonian noise is presented, together with a review of the strategies adopted to mitigate them.