Non-linear gravitational wave interactions with plasmas

TL;DR

This paper investigates how strong gravitational waves non-linearly interact with plasmas, leading to parametric excitations of plasma oscillations, using a formalism that derives a system of equations describing these phenomena.

Contribution

It introduces a new theoretical framework for analyzing non-linear gravitational wave effects on plasmas, emphasizing higher order gravitational non-linearities.

Findings

Parametric excitation of plasma oscillations by gravitational waves.

Higher order gravitational non-linearities induce plasma phenomena.

Derived a comprehensive set of equations describing these interactions.

Abstract

We consider the interactions of a strong gravitational wave with electromagnetic fields using the 1+3 orthonormal tetrad formalism. A general system of equations are derived, describing the influence of a plane fronted parallel (pp) gravitational wave on a cold relativistic multi-component plasma. We focus our attention on phenomena that are induced by terms that are higher order in the gravitational wave amplitude. In particular, it is shown that parametric excitations of plasma oscillations takes place, due to higher order gravitational non-linearities. The implications of the results are discussed.