The Comparison Of The Properties Of Gravitational Waves In Brans-Dicke Theory With A Cosmological Constant Or With An Arbitrary Potential

Abstract

There are two different ways of implementing cosmological constant to the Brans-Dicke theory either by adding a cosmological term similar to Ricci scalar to the action or by adding an arbitrary potential mimicking a variable cosmological term to the action. We will talk about the behavior of the gravitational waves in both of these theories, namely in Brans-Dicke theory with a cosmological constant (BDɅ) and Brans Dicke theory with an arbitrary potential (BDV). Weak field gravitational wave equations and their solutions will be presented in both theories in an appropriate gauge choice in the linearized order. The effects of these waves on free particles and their polarizaton properties will be studied for these theories. The energy flux of gravitational waves will also be discussed for both theories. We will compare the obtained solutions with the results of General Relativity.