Low frequency electromagnetic radiation coming from gravitational waves generated by neutron stars

TL;DR

This paper explores the theoretical possibility that gravitational waves from neutron stars can convert into very low frequency electromagnetic radiation in vacuum, offering a potential indirect detection method for gravitational waves.

Contribution

It provides a theoretical analysis of vacuum conversion of gravitational waves into electromagnetic waves and estimates the luminosity of such electromagnetic counterparts.

Findings

Vacuum conversion of gravitational waves into electromagnetic radiation is theoretically possible.

Estimated luminosity of electromagnetic counterparts from neutron star gravitational waves.

Potential for future spacecraft to detect gravitational waves via electromagnetic signals.

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.