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On Gravitational Waves.: Rigorous
On Gravitational Waves.: Rigorous
ON GRAVITATIONAL WAVES.
BY
A. E I N S T E I N and N. R O S E N .
ABSTRACT.
T h e rigorous solution for cylindrical gravitational waves is given. For the
convenience of the reader t h e theory of gravitational waves and their production,
already known in principle, is given in the first part of this paper. After encoun-
tering relationships which cast d o u b t on t h e existence of rigorous solutions for
undulatory gravitational fields, we investigate rigorously t h e case of cylindrical
gravitational waves. It turns out t h a t rigorous solutions exist and t h a t the
problem reduces to t h e usual cylindrical waves in euclidean space.
i}
One obtains plane gravitational waves which move in the
Jan., I93~f" ON GRAVITATIONAL WAVES. 45
hence also
"Yll ----- (P, "}/14 = i(~, "Y44 = -- (~.
- =__' (Ii)
~'"P 271-J f
fr ,& -
l O ' f x2~T44dv"
20x42 (13a)
48 A. EINSTEIN AND N. ROSEN. [J. F. I.
I 02
f T2 d -2o f xmT4d..
One sees from this t h a t the time-derivatives of the moments
of inertia determine the emission of the gravitational waves,
provided the whole method of application of the approxi-
mation-equations is really justified. In particular one also
sees that the case of waves symmetrical with respect to the
x l - x 2 and x1-x~ planes could be realized by means of elastic
oscillations of a material system which has the same sym-
m e t r y properties. For example, one might have two equal
masses which are joined by an elastic spring and oscillate
toward each other in a direction parallel to the x3-axis.
From consideration of energy relationship it has been
concluded t h a t such a system, in sending out gravitational
waves, must send out energy which reacts by damping the
motion. Nevertheless, one can think of the case of vibration
free from damping if one imagines that, besides t h e waves
emitted by the system, there is present a second Concentric
wave-field which is propagated inward and brings to the
system as much energy as the outgoing waves remove. This
leads to an undamped mechanical process which is imbedded
in a system of standing waves.
Mathematically this is connected with the following
considerations, clearly pointed out in past years by Ritz and
Tetrode. The integration of the wave-equation
[B~ = - 4~rp
by the retarded potential
q~ = f r
g~ = r
Jan., 1937.] ON GRAVITATIONAL WAVES. 49
- g:,~ = C, j
5o A. EINSTEIN AND N. ROSEN. [J. F. I.
-- B--~+ A k B +
B1C1 AI(B, clh]
+NK + A ,B +-~]J'
2A(R22 I ) A44 C44 .A 11 Cll
B 2 g22R = - -t- C - - __
A C
i [ C12 C42
+ ~ [ -~
c - c-;
2A19" , 2A4 2]
+ A2 ~ ; ]'
2A( i ) -A44
-+ B44 An Bn
-C- Raa - 2 gaaR = A B A B
i [ 2A12 2A4 2
+ 2 [ A2 A2
(I6)
BI 2 B42 ]
+ Bz B2 '
I "~ Bn Cn I [ B12 C12
2 (.R44 -- - e . R } = ~ +
2[-~-+ ~
B1C~ AI( I
- - -BC
+ A ,B +-d]
B4G
+ N K + A k B + C].]
<]!
B,4 G4 I[ BIB, CiC4
2R,4 = B - + C - - - - ~ + c--~
A4(B1
AI(B4 c & l
+ A ,B +-g]]'
where subscripts in the r i g h t - h a n d m e m b e r s denote (lifter-
Jan., 1937.] ON GRAVITATIONAL WAVES. 51
2(O~11 - - O!44) -IT. 23"11 - - 23"44 -[- [~12 -~- 3"12 - - ~42 - - 3"42] = O, ( 1 8 )
The substitution
3" = log 0", 0" = (BC)~, (23)