Gravitational waves in the $f(R,T)$ theory of gravity

TL;DR

This paper investigates gravitational waves within the $f(R,T)$ gravity framework, exploring potential extra polarization modes and analyzing various functional forms of $f(R,T)$ to understand their implications.

Contribution

It is the first study to analyze gravitational wave polarization modes in $f(R,T)$ gravity, considering different functional forms of the theory.

Findings

Identification of possible extra polarization modes in $f(R,T)$ gravity

Analysis of how different $f(R,T)$ functions affect gravitational wave properties

Foundation for future observational tests of $f(R,T)$ gravity through gravitational waves

Abstract

There is a host of alternative theories of gravitation in the literature, among them the $f(R,T)$ recently elaborated by Harko and collaborators. In these theories the $R$ and $T$ are respectively the Ricci scalar and the trace of the energy momentum tensor. There is already in literature a series of studies of different forms of the $f(R,T)$ functions as well as their cosmological consequences. However, there is not so far in the literature studies related to the gravitational waves in $f(R,T)$ gravity. Here we consider such an issue, in particular studying the putative extra polarization models that can well appear in such theories. To do that, we consider different functional forms for $f(R,T)$.