2017/09/26 by The LIGO Scientific Collaboration, the Virgo Collaboration, B. P. Abbott +1051 · 1 voice
Physics and Astronomy · #gr-qc
paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.120.031104
published as Phys. Rev. Lett. 120, 031104 (2018) · journal version
arxiv published 2017/09/26 · arxiv created 2019/10/16 · arxiv updated 2019/10/17
We present results from the first directed search for nontensorial gravitational waves. While general relativity allows for tensorial (plus and cross) modes only, a generic metric theory may, in principle, predict waves with up to six different polarizations. This analysis is sensitive to continuous signals of scalar, vector or tensor polarizations, and does not rely on any specific theory of gravity. After searching data from the first observation run of the advanced LIGO detectors for signals at twice the rotational frequency of 200 known pulsars, we find no evidence of gravitational waves of any polarization. We report the first upper limits for scalar and vector strains, finding values comparable in magnitude to previously-published limits for tensor strain. Our results may be translated into constraints on specific alternative theories of gravity.