Fast Magnetosonic Waves Driven by Gravitational Waves
arXiv:astro-ph/0107043 · doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20010839
Abstract
The propagation of a gravitational wave (GW) through a magnetized plasma is considered. In particular, we study the excitation of fast magnetosonic waves (MSW) by a gravitational wave, using the linearized general-relativistic hydromagnetic equations. We derive the dispersion relation for the plasma, treating the gravitational wave as a perturbation in a Minkowski background space-time. We show that the presence of gravitational waves will drive magnetosonic waves in the plasma and discuss the potential astrophysical implications.
12 pages, 2 figures, Astronomy and Astrophysics in press