Non canonical polarizations of Gravitational Waves

TL;DR

This paper explores an alternative approach to gravitational wave detection by proposing that GWs may cause measurable time dilation effects, offering a potential new method complementary to existing interferometers.

Contribution

It introduces a novel theoretical framework suggesting GWs can deform the time component of spacetime and proposes an experimental detection method based on time dilation effects.

Findings

GWs may induce measurable time dilation effects.

A conceptual detector design is proposed.

Potential to enhance GW detection sensitivity.

Abstract

We hereby propose an alternative and additional angle on the nature of gravitational waves (GWs), postulating the theoretical and experimental possibility that GWs carry a deformation of the time component of spacetime, other than the spatial one. By explicitly working outside of the transverse-traceless gauge, we propose how events with welldefined time duration, when hit by a GW, would consequently be expected to show a difference in their characteristic time, as measured from the rest frame of an outside observer,whose clock is to remain unaffected by the GW. This constitutes a theoretically viable way in the sense of detecting the passing of the wave itself and may prove relevant as a standalone method for GWs detection other than laser interferometers, or as well be implemented as a complementary but independent system of signal triggering, improving the statistical significance of existing methods. A simple but physically realistic scenario in which the appropriate conditions for the generation and detection of GWs with time dilation are met is presented, along with the conceptual design of an experimental detector.