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Gravitational scattering of zero-rest-mass plane wavesThe Feyman-diagram technique is used to calculate the differential cross sections 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. It is found 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; the angular momentum of the scatterer has no polarizing effect on incident unpolarized gravitational waves.
Document ID
19770065419
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
De Logi, W. K.
(California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Kovacs, S. J., Jr.
(California Institute of Technology Pasadena, Calif., United States)
Date Acquired
August 9, 2013
Publication Date
July 15, 1977
Publication Information
Publication: Physical Review D - Particles and Fields
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Accession Number
77A48271
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NGR-05-002-256
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSF AST-76-80801
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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