Published February 15, 2024 | Version v1
Journal article

Spin optics for gravitational waves lensed by a rotating object

  • 1. Center for Gravitational Physics and Quantum Information, Yukawa Institute for Theoretical Physics, Kyoto University, 606-8502, Kyoto, Japan
  • 2. Kobayashi-Maskawa Institute, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8602, Japan
  • 3. Kavli Institute for the Physics and Mathematics of the Universe (WPI), The University of Tokyo Institutes for Advanced Study, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba, 277-8583, Japan

Description

We study gravitational lensing of gravitational waves taking into account the spin of gravitational waves coupled with a dragged spacetime made by a rotating object. We decompose the phase of gravitational waves into helicity-dependent and helicity-independent components with spin optics, analyzing waves whose wavelengths are shorter than the curvature radius of a lens object. We analytically confirm that the trajectory of gravitational waves splits depending on the helicity, generating additional time delay and elliptical polarization onto the helicity-independent part. We exemplify monochromatic gravitational waves lensed by a Kerr black hole and derive the analytical expressions of corrections in phase and magnification. The corrections are enhanced for longer wavelengths, potentially providing a novel probe of rotational properties of lens objects in low-frequency gravitational-wave observations in the future.

Additional details

Identifiers

DOI
10.1103/PhysRevD.109.044027;
arXiv
arXiv:2309.11024;
Crossref Funder ID
10.13039/501100001700; 10.13039/501100021745; 10.13039/501100000023; 10.13039/100011332; 10.13039/501100021784;

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Physical Review D
Journal Volume
109
Journal Issue
4
Journal Page Range
14 pgs.
ISSN
1089-4918