Polarization modes of gravitational waves in scalar-tensor-Rastall theory

Abstract Rastall theory, originally introduced in 1972, suggests a violation of the usual conservation law. We consider two generalizations of Rastall theory: Brans–Dicke–Rastall theory and the newly established scalar-tensor-Rastall theory, the latter being a further generalization of the former. T...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yu-Zhi Fan, Xiao-Bin Lai, Yu-Qi Dong, Yu-Xiao Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2025-01-01
Series:European Physical Journal C: Particles and Fields
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s10052-025-13778-x
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1832585457362272256
author Yu-Zhi Fan
Xiao-Bin Lai
Yu-Qi Dong
Yu-Xiao Liu
author_facet Yu-Zhi Fan
Xiao-Bin Lai
Yu-Qi Dong
Yu-Xiao Liu
author_sort Yu-Zhi Fan
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Rastall theory, originally introduced in 1972, suggests a violation of the usual conservation law. We consider two generalizations of Rastall theory: Brans–Dicke–Rastall theory and the newly established scalar-tensor-Rastall theory, the latter being a further generalization of the former. The field equations in these two generalized theories are studied across different parameter spaces, and the polarization modes of gravitational waves, as a key focus, are subsequently investigated. The results show that the polarization modes of gravitational waves in Brans–Dicke–Rastall theory are the same as those in Brans–Dicke theory; specifically, both theories exhibit the plus, cross, and breathing modes. However, in scalar-tensor-Rastall theory, the polarization modes of gravitational waves depend on the parameter space of the theory. Particularly, over a broad range of the parameter space, regardless of some special values of the parameters, it allows only two tensor modes, just as in general relativity, without introducing any additional degrees of freedom. This indicates that Rastall theory offers a novel approach to constructing modified gravity theories that propagate only two tensor degrees of freedom. In the remaining regions of the parameter space, there is also one scalar mode in addition to the two tensor modes. The scalar mode can be either a mixture of the breathing and longitudinal modes or just a pure breathing mode, depending on the parameter space. These results will play a crucial role in constraining the theoretical parameters through future gravitational wave detection projects, such as LISA, Taiji, and TianQin.
format Article
id doaj-art-db3494a3c1bb429b9f1a923a321208aa
institution Kabale University
issn 1434-6052
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher SpringerOpen
record_format Article
series European Physical Journal C: Particles and Fields
spelling doaj-art-db3494a3c1bb429b9f1a923a321208aa2025-01-26T12:49:12ZengSpringerOpenEuropean Physical Journal C: Particles and Fields1434-60522025-01-0185111410.1140/epjc/s10052-025-13778-xPolarization modes of gravitational waves in scalar-tensor-Rastall theoryYu-Zhi Fan0Xiao-Bin Lai1Yu-Qi Dong2Yu-Xiao Liu3Lanzhou Center for Theoretical Physics, Key Laboratory of Quantum Theory and Applications of the Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Theoretical Physics of Gansu Province, School of Physical Science and Technology, Lanzhou UniversityLanzhou Center for Theoretical Physics, Key Laboratory of Quantum Theory and Applications of the Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Theoretical Physics of Gansu Province, School of Physical Science and Technology, Lanzhou UniversityLanzhou Center for Theoretical Physics, Key Laboratory of Quantum Theory and Applications of the Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Theoretical Physics of Gansu Province, School of Physical Science and Technology, Lanzhou UniversityLanzhou Center for Theoretical Physics, Key Laboratory of Quantum Theory and Applications of the Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Theoretical Physics of Gansu Province, School of Physical Science and Technology, Lanzhou UniversityAbstract Rastall theory, originally introduced in 1972, suggests a violation of the usual conservation law. We consider two generalizations of Rastall theory: Brans–Dicke–Rastall theory and the newly established scalar-tensor-Rastall theory, the latter being a further generalization of the former. The field equations in these two generalized theories are studied across different parameter spaces, and the polarization modes of gravitational waves, as a key focus, are subsequently investigated. The results show that the polarization modes of gravitational waves in Brans–Dicke–Rastall theory are the same as those in Brans–Dicke theory; specifically, both theories exhibit the plus, cross, and breathing modes. However, in scalar-tensor-Rastall theory, the polarization modes of gravitational waves depend on the parameter space of the theory. Particularly, over a broad range of the parameter space, regardless of some special values of the parameters, it allows only two tensor modes, just as in general relativity, without introducing any additional degrees of freedom. This indicates that Rastall theory offers a novel approach to constructing modified gravity theories that propagate only two tensor degrees of freedom. In the remaining regions of the parameter space, there is also one scalar mode in addition to the two tensor modes. The scalar mode can be either a mixture of the breathing and longitudinal modes or just a pure breathing mode, depending on the parameter space. These results will play a crucial role in constraining the theoretical parameters through future gravitational wave detection projects, such as LISA, Taiji, and TianQin.https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s10052-025-13778-x
spellingShingle Yu-Zhi Fan
Xiao-Bin Lai
Yu-Qi Dong
Yu-Xiao Liu
Polarization modes of gravitational waves in scalar-tensor-Rastall theory
European Physical Journal C: Particles and Fields
title Polarization modes of gravitational waves in scalar-tensor-Rastall theory
title_full Polarization modes of gravitational waves in scalar-tensor-Rastall theory
title_fullStr Polarization modes of gravitational waves in scalar-tensor-Rastall theory
title_full_unstemmed Polarization modes of gravitational waves in scalar-tensor-Rastall theory
title_short Polarization modes of gravitational waves in scalar-tensor-Rastall theory
title_sort polarization modes of gravitational waves in scalar tensor rastall theory
url https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s10052-025-13778-x
work_keys_str_mv AT yuzhifan polarizationmodesofgravitationalwavesinscalartensorrastalltheory
AT xiaobinlai polarizationmodesofgravitationalwavesinscalartensorrastalltheory
AT yuqidong polarizationmodesofgravitationalwavesinscalartensorrastalltheory
AT yuxiaoliu polarizationmodesofgravitationalwavesinscalartensorrastalltheory