First Search for Nontensorial Gravitational Waves from Known Pulsars

LIGO Scientific Collaboration and Virgo Collaboration

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

74 Scopus citations

Abstract

We present results from the first directed search for nontensorial gravitational waves. While general relativity allows for tensorial (plus and cross) modes only, a generic metric theory may, in principle, predict waves with up to six different polarizations. This analysis is sensitive to continuous signals of scalar, vector, or tensor polarizations, and does not rely on any specific theory of gravity. After searching data from the first observation run of the advanced LIGO detectors for signals at twice the rotational frequency of 200 known pulsars, we find no evidence of gravitational waves of any polarization. We report the first upper limits for scalar and vector strains, finding values comparable in magnitude to previously published limits for tensor strain. Our results may be translated into constraints on specific alternative theories of gravity.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number031104
JournalPhysical Review Letters
Volume120
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 19 2018

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Physics and Astronomy

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