Gravitational scattering of zero-rest-mass plane waves

Journal Article · Fri Jul 15 04:00:00 EDT 1977 · Phys. Rev., D; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.16.237· OSTI ID:7297691

De Logi, W K; Kovacs, Jr, S J

We have used the Feynman-diagram technique to calculate the differential cross sections dsigma/d..cap omega.. for the scattering of zero-rest-mass plane waves of spin 0, 1, and 2 by linearized Schwarzschild and Kerr geometries in the long-wavelength, weak-field limit (wavelength of incident radiation >> radius of scatterer >> mass of scatterer). We find that the polarization of right (or left) circularly polarized electromagnetic waves is unaffected by the scattering process (i.e., helicity is conserved), and that the two helicity (polarization) states of the photon are scattered differently by the Kerr geometry. This coupling between the photon helicity and the angular momentum of the scatterer also leads to a partial polarization of unpolarized incident light. For gravitational waves, on the other hand, there is neither helicity conservation nor helicity-dependent scattering; and the angular momentum of the scatterer has no polarizing effect on incident, unpolarized gravitational waves.

• Research Organization: W. K. Kellogg Radiation Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125
• OSTI ID: 7297691
• Journal Information: Phys. Rev., D; (United States), Journal Name: Phys. Rev., D; (United States) Vol. 16:2; ISSN PRVDA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

645400* -- High Energy Physics-- Field Theory
657003 -- Theoretical & Mathematical Physics-- Relativity & Gravitation
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
AMPLITUDES
CROSS SECTIONS
DIAGRAMS
DIFFERENTIAL CROSS SECTIONS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
FEYNMAN DIAGRAM
FUNCTIONS
GRAVITATIONAL WAVES
HELICITY
KERR METRIC
LAGRANGIAN FUNCTION
METRICS
PARTICLE PROPERTIES
POLARIZATION
RADIATIONS
SCALAR FIELDS
SCATTERING AMPLITUDES
SCHWARZSCHILD METRIC