We discuss the statistics of correlations between two resonant detectors. We show that this allows simple null tests of the coherent state hypothesis, free of vacuum (quantum) noise. Complementary aspects of the radiation field, e.g. squeezing in number or phase, can be revealed through appropriate detection strategies.

We estimate the degree of squeezing possible in gravitational waves due to nonlinear gravitational effects in the weakly perturbative regime. Using the predicted amplitude ratios for higher harmonic generation in the ringdown phase of a black hole merger event, we estimate the relevant degree of squeezing produced by a Schwarzschild singularity to be of the order of 1%.

We demonstrate that statistical fluctuations in resonant radiation detectors operating in homodyne and heterodyne modes offer additional, complementary information to that obtained from their direct operation as click detectors. We use this to refine tests of the coherent-state hypothesis, which is of special interest for gravitational wave fields.

Gravitational radiation from known astrophysical sources is conventionally treated classically. This treatment corresponds, implicitly, to the hypothesis that a particular class of quantum-mechanical states — the so-called coherent states — adequately describe the gravitational radiation field. We propose practicable, quantitative tests of that hypothesis using resonant bar detectors monitored in coincidence with LIGO-style interferometers. Our tests readily distinguish fields that contain significant thermal components or squeezing. We identify concrete circumstances in which the classical (i.e. coherent state) hypothesis is likely to fail. Such failures are of fundamental interest, in that addressing them requires us to treat the gravitational field quantum-mechanically, and they open a new window into the dynamics of gravitational wave sources.

We propose simple quantitative criteria, based on counting statistics in resonant harmonic detectors, that probe the quantum mechanical character of radiation fields. They provide, in particular, practical means to test the null hypothesis that a given field is "maximally classical,"i.e., accurately described by a coherent state. We suggest circumstances in which that hypothesis plausibly fails, notably including gravitational radiation involving nonlinear or stochastic sourcing.

Parity-violating superconductors can support a low-dimension local interaction that becomes, upon condensation, a purely spatial Chern-Simons term. Solutions to the resulting generalized London equations can be obtained from solutions of the ordinary London equations with a complex penetration depth, and suggest several remarkable physical phenomena. The problem of flux exclusion by a sphere brings in an anapole moment, the problem of current-carrying wires brings in an azimuthal magnetic field, and the problem of vortices brings in currents along the vortices. We demonstrate that interactions of this kind, together with a conceptually related dimensionally reduced Chern-Simons interaction, can arise from physically plausible microscopic interactions.

We propose methods to perform intensity interferometry of photons having two different wavelengths. Distinguishable particles typically cannot interfere with each other, but we overcome that obstacle by processing the particles via entanglement and projection so that they lead to the same final state at the detection apparatus. Specifically, we discuss how quasi-phase-matched nonlinear crystals can be used to convert a quantum superposition of light of different wavelengths onto a common wavelength, while preserving the phase information essential for their meaningful interference. We thereby gain access to a host of new observables, which can probe subtle frequency correlations and entanglement. Further, we generalize the van Cittert-Zernike formula for the intensity interferometry of extended sources, demonstrate how our proposal supports enhanced resolution of sources with different spectral character, and suggest potential applications.

We propose a new strategy for searching for dark matter axions using tunable cryogenic plasmas. Unlike current experiments, which repair the mismatch between axion and photon masses by breaking translational invariance (cavity and dielectric haloscopes), a plasma haloscope enables resonant conversion by matching the axion mass to a plasma frequency. A key advantage is that the plasma frequency is unrelated to the physical size of the device, allowing large conversion volumes. We identify wire metamaterials as a promising candidate plasma, wherein the plasma frequency can be tuned by varying the interwire spacing. For realistic experimental sizes, we estimate competitive sensitivity for axion masses of 35-400 mu eV, at least.