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| Format: | Preprint |
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2026
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| Online Access: | https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.24526 |
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| _version_ | 1866918470067683328 |
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| author | Imam, Sk Md Adil Lagos, Macarena |
| author_facet | Imam, Sk Md Adil Lagos, Macarena |
| contents | Gravitational wave (GW) observations provide a unique opportunity to test Einstein's General Relativity (GR) in the strong-field regime. While GR predicts only two tensor polarization modes, generic metric theories allow up to six independent modes. We perform a parameterized test of GR using the parameterized post-Einsteinian (PPE) framework applied to GW170817, incorporating for the first time the polarization angle constraints from the gamma-ray burst afterglow alongside other electromagnetic (EM) counterpart information. We extend the GR waveform by adding a scalar breathing mode and modifications to the tensor modes, introducing three non-GR parameters. We perform Bayesian inference for both quadrupole $\ell = |m|= 2$ and dipole $\ell = |m|= 1$ angular harmonics, with two frequency evolution models. For $\ell = |m|= 2$ , we find mild preference for a scalar mode (scalar amplitude deviates from zero at $\sim 2 σ$), while for the $\ell = |m|= 1$, we find no preference for a scalar mode. The EM constraint on the polarization angle places very tight bounds on non-GR parameters; for instance, in the case $\ell = |m| = 2$, the bound on the scalar (tensor) amplitude modification parameter improves by roughly $60\%$ $(30\%)$, highlighting the impact that long-term follow up of GW events can have on tests of gravity. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2604_24526 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Tests of scalar polarizations with multi-messenger events Imam, Sk Md Adil Lagos, Macarena General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena Gravitational wave (GW) observations provide a unique opportunity to test Einstein's General Relativity (GR) in the strong-field regime. While GR predicts only two tensor polarization modes, generic metric theories allow up to six independent modes. We perform a parameterized test of GR using the parameterized post-Einsteinian (PPE) framework applied to GW170817, incorporating for the first time the polarization angle constraints from the gamma-ray burst afterglow alongside other electromagnetic (EM) counterpart information. We extend the GR waveform by adding a scalar breathing mode and modifications to the tensor modes, introducing three non-GR parameters. We perform Bayesian inference for both quadrupole $\ell = |m|= 2$ and dipole $\ell = |m|= 1$ angular harmonics, with two frequency evolution models. For $\ell = |m|= 2$ , we find mild preference for a scalar mode (scalar amplitude deviates from zero at $\sim 2 σ$), while for the $\ell = |m|= 1$, we find no preference for a scalar mode. The EM constraint on the polarization angle places very tight bounds on non-GR parameters; for instance, in the case $\ell = |m| = 2$, the bound on the scalar (tensor) amplitude modification parameter improves by roughly $60\%$ $(30\%)$, highlighting the impact that long-term follow up of GW events can have on tests of gravity. |
| title | Tests of scalar polarizations with multi-messenger events |
| topic | General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.24526 |