On the frequency shift of gravitational waves

TL;DR

This paper investigates how gravitational wave frequency shifts caused by spacetime curvature can affect detection, especially in resonant bar detectors, potentially leading to signal suppression.

Contribution

It introduces the idea that spacetime curvature impacts gravitational wave frequencies during propagation, affecting detection accuracy in existing detectors.

Findings

Curvature causes significant frequency shifts in gravitational waves.

Frequency shifts can interfere with resonant bar detector signals.

Potential noise-filter effects due to curvature-induced frequency changes.

Abstract

Considering plane gravitational waves propagating through flat spacetime, it is shown that curvatures experienced both in the starting point and during their arrival at the earth can cause a considerable shift in the frequencies as measured by earth and space-based detectors. Particularly for the case of resonant bar detectors this shift can cause noise-filters to smother the signal.