Circularly Polarized EM Radiation from GW Binary Sources

TL;DR

This paper investigates how gravitational waves from binary mergers can induce circular polarization in X-ray emissions of GRBs, offering a potential indirect method to detect GW events and study photon-graviton interactions.

Contribution

It introduces a novel mechanism where GW-induced photon-graviton interactions generate circular polarization in GRB X-ray emissions, linking polarization signals to GW source parameters.

Findings

Significant circular polarization can be produced by GW from binary mergers.

Polarization depends on GW source parameters like chirp mass and frequency.

Predicted signals may be detectable by upcoming X-ray polarimetry missions.

Abstract

We consider the polarization characteristics of the electromagnetic (EM) counterpart of the gravitational wave (GW) created by coalescence of the binary sources. Here, we explore the impact of the photon-graviton interaction on the polarization evolution of X-ray emission of GammaRay Bursts (GRBs). We show that significant circular polarization can be generated due to the gravitational wave from the binary merger. The circular polarization besides photon energy depends on parameters of GW source such as the chirp mass of the binary, frequency of the GWs and radial distance from the source. Our predicted signal can be used as an indirect probe for GW events and also the nature of photon-graviton interaction. We argue that this polarization signal might be in sensitivity range of upcoming X-ray polarimetry missions.