Microwave non-contacting accelerometer for gravity wave antenna

This paper discusses the applications of an X-band superconducting re-entrant cavity to the construction of a non-contacting accelerometer for use with a high sensitivity Weber-type gravitational radiation detector. The need for a noncontacting accelerometer for use with extremely high Q antennae is discussed. Measurement of the electrical Q of the niobium re-entrant cavity at 4.2K are presented. Finally a method is described for controlling the relative positions of the antenna and the accelerometer.