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| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Preprint |
| Published: |
2026
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.28663 |
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| _version_ | 1866917540643471360 |
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| author | Lou, Lingyue Wu, Haorong Fan, Xi-Long |
| author_facet | Lou, Lingyue Wu, Haorong Fan, Xi-Long |
| contents | We present a systematic theoretical framework for investigating first-order electromagnetic (EM) perturbations induced by gravitational waves (GWs). Beginning with the covariant Maxwell equations, we derive the complete first-order perturbation equations in terms of both the EM field tensor and the four-potential, demonstrating their equivalence alongside the residual gauge invariance under the Lorenz gauge condition. Furthermore, explicit first-order expressions for the induced electric and magnetic fields, as well as the associated EM energy-momentum tensor, are obtained. As an explicit illustration, we analytically evaluate the interaction between a plane EM wave and a GW within the transverse-traceless gauge. By demonstrating that the maximum modulus of the coupling coefficient is on the order of $10^2$, we quantitatively establish that a typical astrophysical GW with a dimensionless strain of $h_0 \sim 10^{-21}$ generates a first-order EM response on the order of $10^{-19}$ relative to the incident field amplitude. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2605_28663 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | First-Order Perturbations of Covariant Maxwell Equations in Gravitational Waves Lou, Lingyue Wu, Haorong Fan, Xi-Long General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena We present a systematic theoretical framework for investigating first-order electromagnetic (EM) perturbations induced by gravitational waves (GWs). Beginning with the covariant Maxwell equations, we derive the complete first-order perturbation equations in terms of both the EM field tensor and the four-potential, demonstrating their equivalence alongside the residual gauge invariance under the Lorenz gauge condition. Furthermore, explicit first-order expressions for the induced electric and magnetic fields, as well as the associated EM energy-momentum tensor, are obtained. As an explicit illustration, we analytically evaluate the interaction between a plane EM wave and a GW within the transverse-traceless gauge. By demonstrating that the maximum modulus of the coupling coefficient is on the order of $10^2$, we quantitatively establish that a typical astrophysical GW with a dimensionless strain of $h_0 \sim 10^{-21}$ generates a first-order EM response on the order of $10^{-19}$ relative to the incident field amplitude. |
| title | First-Order Perturbations of Covariant Maxwell Equations in Gravitational Waves |
| topic | General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.28663 |