Gravitational Wave -- Gauge Field Dynamics

Understand

The dynamics of a gravitational wave propagating through a cosmic gauge field are dramatically different than in vacuum.

• We show that a gravitational wave acquires an effective mass, is birefringent, and its normal modes are a linear combination of gravitational waves and gauge field excitations, leading to the phenomenon of gravitational wave -- gauge field oscillations.
• These surprising results provide insight into gravitational phenomena and may suggest new approaches to a theory of quantum gravity.