First Search for Nontensorial Gravitational Waves from Known Pulsars

Authors

The LIGO Scientific Collaboration
The Virgo Collaboration
Marc Favata, Montclair State UniversityFollow
Shaon Ghosh, Montclair State UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-19-2018

Journal / Book Title

Physical Review Letters

Abstract

We present results from the first directed search for nontensorial gravitational waves. While general relativity allows for tensorial (plus and cross) modes only, a generic metric theory may, in principle, predict waves with up to six different polarizations. This analysis is sensitive to continuous signals of scalar, vector, or tensor polarizations, and does not rely on any specific theory of gravity. After searching data from the first observation run of the advanced LIGO detectors for signals at twice the rotational frequency of 200 known pulsars, we find no evidence of gravitational waves of any polarization. We report the first upper limits for scalar and vector strains, finding values comparable in magnitude to previously published limits for tensor strain. Our results may be translated into constraints on specific alternative theories of gravity.

Comments

This work is part of the LIGO Scientific Collaboration and the Virgo Collaboration. Additional authors may be found on the publication.

DOI

10.1103/PhysRevLett.120.031104

MSU Digital Commons Citation

The LIGO Scientific Collaboration; The Virgo Collaboration; Favata, Marc; and Ghosh, Shaon, "First Search for Nontensorial Gravitational Waves from Known Pulsars" (2018). Department of Physics and Astronomy Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works. 59.
https://digitalcommons.montclair.edu/physics-astron-facpubs/59

Published Citation

Abbott, B. P., Abbott, R., Abbott, T. D., Acernese, F., Ackley, K., Adams, C., ... & Capano, C. D. (2018). First search for nontensorial gravitational waves from known pulsars. Physical review letters, 120(3), 031104.