Comparison of electromagnetic and gravitational radiation: What we can learn about each from the other
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Belcher_Comparison of.pdf
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1.21 MB
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Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
22515897e83a5f7475e7babd1ef1a76d
Author(s)
Price, Richard H.
Belcher, John Winston
Nichols, David A.
Date Issued
August 2013
Journal
American Journal of Physics
Publisher
American Institute of Physics for the American Association of Physics Teachers
Citation
Price, Richard H., John W. Belcher, and David A. Nichols. “Comparison of Electromagnetic and Gravitational Radiation: What We Can Learn About Each from the Other.” Am. J. Phys. 81, no. 8 (2013): 575.
Version
Original manuscript
Abstract
We compare the nature of electromagnetic fields and gravitational fields in linearized general relativity. We carry out this comparison both mathematically and visually. In particular, the “lines of force” visualizations of electromagnetism are contrasted with the recently introduced tendex/vortex eigenline technique for visualizing gravitational fields. Specific solutions, visualizations, and comparisons are given for an oscillating point quadrupole source. Among the similarities illustrated are the quasistatic nature of the near fields, the transverse 1/r nature of the far fields, and the interesting intermediate field structures connecting these two limiting forms. Among the differences illustrated are the meaning of field line motion and of the flow of energy.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Physics
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Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike
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DOI of Published Version
https://doi.org/10.1119/1.4807853
