Probing the f(R) formalism through gravitational wave polarizations

Autor(es)

Alves, M. E. S. ^[1] ; Miranda, O. D. ^[1] ; de Araujo, J. C. N. ^[1]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Inst Nacl Pesquisas Espaciais, INPE, Div Astrofis, BR-12227010 Sao Jose Dos Campos - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: Physics Letters B; v. 679, n. 4, p. 401-406, AUG 31 2009.
• Citações Web of Science: 35

Resumo

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)

• Processo FAPESP: 06/03158-0 - Fundos estocásticos primordiais de ondas gravitacionais
• Beneficiário: Márcio Eduardo da Silva Alves
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Doutorado