Polarization Properties of the Electromagnetic Response to High-frequency Gravitational Wave
Electromagnetic waves (EMWs) can be generated by gravitational waves (GWs) within a magnetic field via the Gertsenshtein effect. The conversion probability between GWs and EMWs can be enhanced by inhomogeneities in the electron density and magnetic field within the magnetized plasma of both the Milk...
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| Language: | English |
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IOP Publishing
2025-01-01
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| Series: | The Astrophysical Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/adce0a |
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| author | Jian-Kang Li Wei Hong Tong-Jie Zhang |
| author_facet | Jian-Kang Li Wei Hong Tong-Jie Zhang |
| author_sort | Jian-Kang Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Electromagnetic waves (EMWs) can be generated by gravitational waves (GWs) within a magnetic field via the Gertsenshtein effect. The conversion probability between GWs and EMWs can be enhanced by inhomogeneities in the electron density and magnetic field within the magnetized plasma of both the Milky Way (MW) and the intergalactic medium in the expanding Universe. Polarized GWs can induce polarized EMWs, and the polarization properties of these EMWs can be altered by Faraday rotation as they propagate through magnetized plasma. Additionally, the polarization intensity of the EMWs may be weakened due to depolarization effects. In this study, we calculate the enhanced GW–EMW conversion in inhomogeneous magnetized plasma during the propagation of GWs through the Universe and our galaxy. We analyze the polarization states of the EMWs generated by polarized GWs and discuss the depolarization effects induced by the medium’s irregularities, as well as the differential Faraday rotation occurring in multilayer polarized radiation. Our work provides alternative methods for detecting GWs and exploring their polarization states, and potentially constraining the parameters of the possible GW sources, especially the primordial black hole, contributing to the advancement of very-high-frequency GW detection and research. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2a3679ef71bf4e97a9df7d485f8d3140 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1538-4357 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Astrophysical Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-2a3679ef71bf4e97a9df7d485f8d31402025-08-20T03:47:28ZengIOP PublishingThe Astrophysical Journal1538-43572025-01-01985113710.3847/1538-4357/adce0aPolarization Properties of the Electromagnetic Response to High-frequency Gravitational WaveJian-Kang Li0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1190-473XWei Hong1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7906-0919Tong-Jie Zhang2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3363-9965Institute for Frontiers in Astronomy and Astrophysics, Beijing Normal University , Beijing 102206, People’s Republic of China ; tjzhang@bnu.edu.cn; School of Physics and Astronomy, Beijing Normal University , Beijing 100875, People’s Republic of ChinaInstitute for Frontiers in Astronomy and Astrophysics, Beijing Normal University , Beijing 102206, People’s Republic of China ; tjzhang@bnu.edu.cn; School of Physics and Astronomy, Beijing Normal University , Beijing 100875, People’s Republic of ChinaInstitute for Frontiers in Astronomy and Astrophysics, Beijing Normal University , Beijing 102206, People’s Republic of China ; tjzhang@bnu.edu.cn; School of Physics and Astronomy, Beijing Normal University , Beijing 100875, People’s Republic of ChinaElectromagnetic waves (EMWs) can be generated by gravitational waves (GWs) within a magnetic field via the Gertsenshtein effect. The conversion probability between GWs and EMWs can be enhanced by inhomogeneities in the electron density and magnetic field within the magnetized plasma of both the Milky Way (MW) and the intergalactic medium in the expanding Universe. Polarized GWs can induce polarized EMWs, and the polarization properties of these EMWs can be altered by Faraday rotation as they propagate through magnetized plasma. Additionally, the polarization intensity of the EMWs may be weakened due to depolarization effects. In this study, we calculate the enhanced GW–EMW conversion in inhomogeneous magnetized plasma during the propagation of GWs through the Universe and our galaxy. We analyze the polarization states of the EMWs generated by polarized GWs and discuss the depolarization effects induced by the medium’s irregularities, as well as the differential Faraday rotation occurring in multilayer polarized radiation. Our work provides alternative methods for detecting GWs and exploring their polarization states, and potentially constraining the parameters of the possible GW sources, especially the primordial black hole, contributing to the advancement of very-high-frequency GW detection and research.https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/adce0aGravitational wavesPolarimetryRadio astronomy |
| spellingShingle | Jian-Kang Li Wei Hong Tong-Jie Zhang Polarization Properties of the Electromagnetic Response to High-frequency Gravitational Wave The Astrophysical Journal Gravitational waves Polarimetry Radio astronomy |
| title | Polarization Properties of the Electromagnetic Response to High-frequency Gravitational Wave |
| title_full | Polarization Properties of the Electromagnetic Response to High-frequency Gravitational Wave |
| title_fullStr | Polarization Properties of the Electromagnetic Response to High-frequency Gravitational Wave |
| title_full_unstemmed | Polarization Properties of the Electromagnetic Response to High-frequency Gravitational Wave |
| title_short | Polarization Properties of the Electromagnetic Response to High-frequency Gravitational Wave |
| title_sort | polarization properties of the electromagnetic response to high frequency gravitational wave |
| topic | Gravitational waves Polarimetry Radio astronomy |
| url | https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/adce0a |
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