Description
The internal dynamics of a binary system can be affected by the passage of gravitational waves (GWs). This effect is significantly enhanced when the GW frequency is in resonance with the orbital frequency of the binary system. Recently, this phenomenon has been proposed as a novel approach to detecting GWs in the largely unexplored microhertz frequency band, using precise measurements of the orbital dynamics of the Moon and artificial satellites.
In this contribution, we will discuss the signatures induced by GWs in the orbital dynamics of a binary system, with particular emphasis on the resonant case. We will then show how these signatures could be detected through laser ranging measurements of the Moon and artificial satellites. We will present sensitivity estimates for such measurements and briefly discuss the concept of the GUEST space mission, recently submitted to the ESA F-3 call.