Blueshift of light rays induced by gravitational wave memory effect

Fuente: arXiv
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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Carneiro, F. L., Ulhoa, S. C., Maluf, J. W.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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author Carneiro, F. L.
Ulhoa, S. C.
Maluf, J. W.
author_facet Carneiro, F. L.
Ulhoa, S. C.
Maluf, J. W.
contents The article deals with photon propagation in pp-wave spacetimes in the strong gravitational-wave regime and its consequences for redshift measurements. We show that null geodesics crossing a localized pp-wave pulse exhibit an energy memory effect, producing a finite asymptotic shift in the photon frequency measured by static observers. This path-dependent contribution acts directly on the redshift observable and may help account for divergent interpretations of supernova redshift data in the presence of intervening gravitational radiation.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2604_12135
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Blueshift of light rays induced by gravitational wave memory effect
Carneiro, F. L.
Ulhoa, S. C.
Maluf, J. W.
General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
The article deals with photon propagation in pp-wave spacetimes in the strong gravitational-wave regime and its consequences for redshift measurements. We show that null geodesics crossing a localized pp-wave pulse exhibit an energy memory effect, producing a finite asymptotic shift in the photon frequency measured by static observers. This path-dependent contribution acts directly on the redshift observable and may help account for divergent interpretations of supernova redshift data in the presence of intervening gravitational radiation.
title Blueshift of light rays induced by gravitational wave memory effect
topic General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.12135