Polarization modes for strong-field gravitational waves

TL;DR

This paper addresses the representation of polarization states in strong-field gravitational waves, providing a method to construct arbitrary polarizations in the Rosen form, which complements existing approaches in the Brinkmann form.

Contribution

It introduces a general algorithm for constructing arbitrary polarization states in the Rosen form of gravitational waves, clarifying their relation to the Brinkmann form.

Findings

Provides a systematic method for arbitrary polarization construction in Rosen form.

Clarifies the relationship between Rosen and Brinkmann representations.

Enhances understanding of polarization treatment in strong gravitational waves.

Abstract

Strong-field gravitational plane waves are often represented in either the Rosen or Brinkmann forms. These forms are related by a coordinate transformation, so they should describe essentially the same physics, but the two forms treat polarization states quite differently. Both deal well with linear polarizations, but there is a qualitative difference in the way they deal with circular, elliptic, and more general polarization states. In this article we will describe a general algorithm for constructing arbitrary polarization states in the Rosen form.