Do electromagnetic waves harbour gravitational waves?

Author(s):  
Brian Bramson

In linearized, Einstein–Maxwell theory on flat spacetime, an oscillating electric dipole is the source of a spin-2 field. Within this approximation to general relativity, it is shown that electromagnetic waves harbour gravitational waves.

2021 ◽  
Vol 81 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chan Park ◽  
Dong-Hoon Kim

AbstractWe provide analysis to determine the effects of gravitational waves on electromagnetic waves, using perturbation theory in general relativity. Our analysis is performed in a completely covariant manner without invoking any coordinates. For a given observer, using the geometrical-optics approach, we work out the perturbations of the phase, amplitude, frequency and polarization properties–axes of ellipse and ellipticity of light, due to gravitational waves. With regard to the observation of gravitational waves, we discuss the measurement of Stokes parameters, through which the antenna patterns are presented to show the detectability of the gravitational wave signals.


2015 ◽  
Vol 30 (27) ◽  
pp. 1550143 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. I. Cooperstock

It is noted that in the broader sense, gravitational waves viewed as spacetime curvature which necessarily accompanies electromagnetic waves at the speed of light, are the routine perception of our everyday experience. We focus on the energy issue and Feynman’s “sticky bead” argument which has been regarded as central in supporting the conclusion that gravitational waves carry energy through the vacuum in general relativity. We discuss the essential neglected aspects of his approach which leads to the conclusion that gravitational waves would not cause Feynman’s bead to heat the stick on which it would supposedly rub. This opens the way to an examination of the entire issue of energy in general relativity. We briefly discuss our naturally-defined totally invariant spacetime energy expression for general relativity incorporating the contribution from gravity. When the cosmological term is included in the field equations, our energy expression includes the vacuum energy as required.


Author(s):  
Nathalie Deruelle ◽  
Jean-Philippe Uzan

This chapter turns to the gravitational radiation produced by a system of massive objects. The discussion is confined to the linear approximation of general relativity, which is compared with the Maxwell theory of electromagnetism. In the first part of the chapter, the properties of gravitational waves, which are the general solution of the linearized vacuum Einstein equations, are studied. Next, it relates these waves to the energy–momentum tensor of the sources creating them. The chapter then turns to the ‘first quadrupole formula’, giving the gravitational radiation field of these sources when their motion is due to forces other than the gravitational force.


2019 ◽  
pp. 27-32
Author(s):  
Nicholas Mee

Gravitational waves generated by violent collisions in the distant universe were recently discovered by the LIGO detector. Gravitational waves were predicted by Einstein’s theory of general relativity and are the gravitational equivalent of electromagnetic waves. Because gravity is so much weaker than electromagnetism, only the most violent cosmic events such as black hole mergers produce waves that could conceivably be detected. LIGO is an incredibly sensitive laser interferometer.


2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 21
Author(s):  
David Zareski

In previous publications, we showed that Maxwell’s equations are an approximation to those of General Relativity when V<<c, where V is the velocity of the particle submitted to the electromagnetic field. This was demonstrated by showing that the Lienard-Wiechert potential four-vector A_u created by an electric charge is the equivalent of the gravitational four-vector G_u created by a massive neutral point when V<<c. In the present paper, we generalize these results for V non-restricted to be small. To this purpose, we show first that the exact Lagrange-Einstein function of an electric charge q submitted to the field due an immobile charge q_0 is of the same form as that of a particle of mass m submitted to the field created by an immobile particle of mass m_0. Maxwell’s electrostatics is then generalized as a case of the Einstein’s general relativity. In particular, it appears that an immobile q_0 creates also an electromagnetic horizon that behaves like a Schwarzschild horizon. Then, there exist ether gravitational waves constituted by gravitons in the same way as the electromagnetic waves are constituted by photons. Now, since A_u and G_u, are equivalent, and as we show, G_u produces the approximation, for V<<c, of g_u4 created by m_0 mobile, where the g_uv  are the components of Einstein’s fundamental tensor, it follows that A_u+u_u produces the approximation, for V<<c, of Bet_u4 , where the Bet_uv created by m_0 and by q_0, generalize the g_uv.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2081 (1) ◽  
pp. 012014
Author(s):  
O V Babourova ◽  
B N Frolov ◽  
M S Khetzeva ◽  
D V Kushnir

Abstract Plane gravitational waves in the Riemann space of General Relativity is considered. The criterion of plane gravitational waves is used based on the analogy between plane gravitational and electromagnetic waves. The Theorem is proved that the action of the Lie derivative on the plane wave curvature 2-form in the direction of the vector generating the invariance group of this wave in the Riemann space is equal to zero. It is justified that the gravitational waves can be used to transmit information in the Riemann space.


2003 ◽  
Vol 12 (08) ◽  
pp. 1459-1473 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. A. HOGAN ◽  
D. M. WALSH

We study the head-on collision of linearly polarized, high frequency plane gravitational waves and their electromagnetic counterparts in the Einstein–Maxwell theory. The post-collision space-times are obtained by solving the vacuum Einstein and Einstein–Maxwell field equations in the geometrical optics approximation. The head-on collisions of all possible pairs of these systems of waves is described and the results are then generalized to nonlinearly polarized waves which exhibit the maximum two degrees of freedom of polarization.


Author(s):  
David M. Wittman

General relativity explains much more than the spacetime around static spherical masses.We briefly assess general relativity in the larger context of physical theories, then explore various general relativistic effects that have no Newtonian analog. First, source massmotion gives rise to gravitomagnetic effects on test particles.These effects also depend on the velocity of the test particle, which has substantial implications for orbits around black holes to be further explored in Chapter 20. Second, any changes in the sourcemass ripple outward as gravitational waves, and we tell the century‐long story from the prediction of gravitational waves to their first direct detection in 2015. Third, the deflection of light by galaxies and clusters of galaxies allows us to map the amount and distribution of mass in the universe in astonishing detail. Finally, general relativity enables modeling the universe as a whole, and we explore the resulting Big Bang cosmology.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
James B. Hartle

Einstein's theory of general relativity is a cornerstone of modern physics. It also touches upon a wealth of topics that students find fascinating – black holes, warped spacetime, gravitational waves, and cosmology. Now reissued by Cambridge University Press, this ground-breaking text helped to bring general relativity into the undergraduate curriculum, making it accessible to virtually all physics majors. One of the pioneers of the 'physics-first' approach to the subject, renowned relativist James B. Hartle, recognized that there is typically not enough time in a short introductory course for the traditional, mathematics-first, approach. In this text, he provides a fluent and accessible physics-first introduction to general relativity that begins with the essential physical applications and uses a minimum of new mathematics. This market-leading text is ideal for a one-semester course for undergraduates, with only introductory mechanics as a prerequisite.


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