English

On spin optics for gravitational waves lensed by a rotating object

General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology 2024-12-09 v2

Abstract

We study gravitational lensing of gravitational waves taking into account the spin of a graviton coupled with a dragged spacetime made by a rotating object. We decompose the phase of gravitational waves into helicity-dependent and 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 monotonic 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.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2309.11024,
  title  = {On spin optics for gravitational waves lensed by a rotating object},
  author = {Kei-ichiro Kubota and Shun Arai and Shinji Mukohyama},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2309.11024},
  year   = {2024}
}

Comments

14 pages, 6 figures; Matches published version in PRD

R2 v1 2026-06-28T12:26:48.429Z