Modeling the Dispersion and Polarization Content of Gravitational Waves for Tests of General Relativity

TL;DR

This paper introduces a flexible, model-independent framework for analyzing the dispersion and polarization of gravitational waves, enabling tests of general relativity and accommodating various theoretical modifications.

Contribution

It presents a comprehensive, phenomenological approach to modify gravitational wave dispersion and polarization, unifying previous parametrizations and facilitating implementation in data analysis.

Findings

Framework encompasses all previous parametrizations

Allows for testing Lorentz violation and other theories

Ready for application in future gravitational-wave data analysis

Abstract

We propose a generic, phenomenological approach to modifying the dispersion of gravitational waves, independent of corrections to the generation mechanism. This model-independent approach encapsulates all previously proposed parametrizations, including Lorentz violation in the Standard-Model Extension, and provides a roadmap for additional theories. Furthermore, we present a general approach to include modulations to the gravitational-wave polarization content. The framework developed here can be implemented in existing data analysis pipelines for future gravitational-wave observation runs.