The Exact Amplitudes of Six Polarization Modes for Gravitational Waves

Abstract

The formalism of the exact six polarization modes of gravitational waves is constructed in terms of both the small metric perturbations and the Newman-Penrose scalars. The obtained formulae are applicable to any metric-compatible gravity theories whose gravitational waves propagate along either the null or non-null geodesics. Once a gravity theory, specifically its linearized wave equation, is written, comparison to the observed data of the laser interferometer experiments is direct.