Low Frequency Electromagnetic Radiation From Gravitational Waves Generated by Neutron Stars

Preston Jones, Andri Gretarsson, Douglas Singleton

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

We investigate the possibility of observing very low frequency (VLF) electromagnetic radiation produced from the vacuum by gravitational waves. We review the calculations leading to the possibility of vacuum conversion of gravitational waves into electromagnetic waves and show how this process evades the well-known prohibition against particle production from gravitational waves. Using Newman-Penrose scalars, we estimate the luminosity of this proposed electromagnetic counterpart radiation coming from gravitational waves produced by neutron star oscillations. The detection of electromagnetic counterpart radiation would provide an indirect way of observing gravitational radiation with future spacecraft missions, especially lunar orbiting probes.

Original languageAmerican English
JournalPhysical Review D
Volume96
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 26 2017

Keywords

  • gravitation
  • VLF electromagnetic radiation

Disciplines

  • Physics

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