A search for extra polarisations using a Gaussian process in Gravitational-Wave Transient Catalogue 3

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Main Authors: Cheung, Shun Yin, Passenger, Lachlan, Lasky, Paul D., Thrane, Eric
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Cheung, Shun Yin
Passenger, Lachlan
Lasky, Paul D.
Thrane, Eric
author_facet Cheung, Shun Yin
Passenger, Lachlan
Lasky, Paul D.
Thrane, Eric
contents General relativity predicts that gravitational waves are described by two polarisation states: the plus $+$ state and cross $\times$ state. However, alternate theories of gravity allow up to six polarisations. We employ the gravitational-wave null stream, a linear combination of three or more detectors where the $+$ and $\times$ signals add to zero, leaving behind noise and potentially gravitational waves in non-standard polarisation states. We develop a Gaussian process model to search for extra polarisations beyond general relativity. Using data from 42 three-detector events from LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA's Third Gravitational-Wave Transient Catalogue, we find no evidence of non-standard polarisations. We set upper limits on the fractional deviation in gravitational-wave strain to be as low as 0.39 at 90% credibility for the event GW190602_175927.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2507_02335
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle A search for extra polarisations using a Gaussian process in Gravitational-Wave Transient Catalogue 3
Cheung, Shun Yin
Passenger, Lachlan
Lasky, Paul D.
Thrane, Eric
General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
General relativity predicts that gravitational waves are described by two polarisation states: the plus $+$ state and cross $\times$ state. However, alternate theories of gravity allow up to six polarisations. We employ the gravitational-wave null stream, a linear combination of three or more detectors where the $+$ and $\times$ signals add to zero, leaving behind noise and potentially gravitational waves in non-standard polarisation states. We develop a Gaussian process model to search for extra polarisations beyond general relativity. Using data from 42 three-detector events from LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA's Third Gravitational-Wave Transient Catalogue, we find no evidence of non-standard polarisations. We set upper limits on the fractional deviation in gravitational-wave strain to be as low as 0.39 at 90% credibility for the event GW190602_175927.
title A search for extra polarisations using a Gaussian process in Gravitational-Wave Transient Catalogue 3
topic General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.02335