Gravitational Waves in Minkowski Spacetime Background
Dewi Wulandari1), Triyanta2)
1Physics Department, Universitas Negeri Medan, Jalan Willem Iskandar, Pasar V, Medan Estate 20221, Indonesia.
2 Theoretical High Energy Physics and Instrumentation Research Division, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Jalan Ganesha 10 Bandung 40132, Indonesia.
Abstract
One contribution of Einstein-s equation is the existence of gravitational waves. The weak gravitational waves are solutions of the linearized Einstein-s equation around a Minkowski spacetime. By using a certain coordinate freedom, waves propagate at the speed of light and propagating plane waves in z-direction gives two polarization states. The geodesic equation gives an oscillating proper distance of two rest particles when gravitational wave passes, while for proper time, no time dilatation meaning each particle has the same proper time. The fluctuation effect of gravitational waves causes ripples in spacetime making each particle feels a tidal acceleration.
Keywords: gravitational waves, Minkowski spacetime
Topic: Physics related sciences