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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Probing the f(R) formalism through gravitational wave polarizations

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Author(s):
Alves, M. E. S. [1] ; Miranda, O. D. [1] ; de Araujo, J. C. N. [1]
Total Authors: 3
Affiliation:
[1] Inst Nacl Pesquisas Espaciais, INPE, Div Astrofis, BR-12227010 Sao Jose Dos Campos - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 1
Document type: Journal article
Source: Physics Letters B; v. 679, n. 4, p. 401-406, AUG 31 2009.
Web of Science Citations: 35
Abstract

The direct observation of gravitational waves (GW) in the near future, and the corresponding determination of the number of independent polarizations, is a powerful tool to test general relativity and alternative theories of gravity. In the present work we use the Newman-Penrose formalism to characterize GWs in quadratic gravity and in a particular class of f(R) Lagrangians. We find that both quadratic gravity and the f(R) theory belong to the most general invariant class of GWs, i.e., they can present tip to six independent polarizations of GWs. For a particular combination of the parameters, we find that quadratic gravity can present up to five polarizations states. On the other hand, if we use the Palatini approach for f(R) theories, GWs present only the usual two transverse-traceless polarizations such as in general relativity. Thus, we conclude that the observation of GWs can strongly constrain the suitable formalism for these theories. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. (AU)