Gravitational Waves from Isolated Systems: Surprising Consequences of a Positive Cosmological Constant

Abhay Ashtekar, Béatrice Bonga, Aruna Kesavan

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Abstract

There is a deep tension between the well-developed theory of gravitational waves from isolated systems and the presence of a positive cosmological constant Λ, however tiny. In particular a generalization of Einstein's 1918 quadrupole formula that would allow a positive Λ is not yet available. We first explain the principal difficulties and then show that it is possible to overcome them in the weak field limit. These results also provide concrete hints for constructing the Λ>0 generalization of the Bondi-Sachs framework for full, nonlinear general relativity.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number051101
JournalPhysical review letters
Volume116
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 1 2016

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Physics and Astronomy

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