Non canonical polarizations of gravitational waves

Abstract

Abstract We hereby propose an alternative and additional angle on the nature of gravitational waves (GWs), postulating the theoretical and experimental possibility that GWs carry a deformation of the time component of spacetime, other than the spatial one. By explicitly working outside of the transverse-traceless gauge, we propose how events with well-defined time duration, when hit by a GW, would consequently be expected to show a difference in their characteristic time, as measured from the rest frame of an outside observer, whose clock is to remain unaffected by the GW. This constitutes a theoretically viable way in the sense of detecting the passing of the wave itself and may prove relevant as a standalone method for GWs detection other than laser interferometers, or as well be implemented as a complementary but independent system of signal triggering, improving the statistical significance of existing methods. A simple but physically realistic scenario in which the appropriate conditions for the generation and detection of GWs with time dilation are met is presented, along with the conceptual design of an experimental detector.