Barnett, S.M. (2014) Maxwellian theory of gravitational waves and their mechanical properties. New Journal of Physics, 16(2), Art. 023027. (doi: 10.1088/1367-2630/16/2/023027)
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Abstract
We present a theory in Maxwellian form for gravitational waves in a flat background. This requires us to identify the gravitational analogues of the electric and magnetic fields for light. An important novelty, however, is that our analogues are not vector fields but rather rank-two tensor fields; in place of a three-component vector at each point in space, as in electromagnetism, our fields are three by three symmetric matrices at each point. The resulting Maxwell-like equations lead directly to a Poynting theorem for the local energy density associated with a gravitational wave and to associated local properties including densities of momentum and angular momentum.
Item Type: | Articles |
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Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Barnett, Professor Stephen |
Authors: | Barnett, S.M. |
College/School: | College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy |
Journal Name: | New Journal of Physics |
Publisher: | Institute of Physics Publishing Ltd. |
ISSN: | 1367-2630 |
ISSN (Online): | 1367-2630 |
Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2014 The Author |
First Published: | First published in New Journal of Physics 16(2): 023027 |
Publisher Policy: | Reproduced under a Creative Commons License |
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