INTERACTION OF CHARGED-PARTICLES WITH GRAVITATIONAL-WAVES OF VARIOUS POLARIZATIONS AND DIRECTIONS OF PROPAGATION

The interaction of a charged particle, moving in a uniform magnetic fi eld, with a gravitational wave is considered for two types of wave pol arization (linear and circular) and for an arbitrary direction of prop agation, with respect to the magnetic field. It is found that, in the oblique and perpendicular propagation cases, the motion of the particl e is chaotic. An asymptotic criterion is calculated, which determines, for both types of polarization, the stochasticity threshold in terms of the wave amplitude and frequency as well as the initial momentum of the particle. We also show that, under a resonant condition, we can f ind the exact solutions of the geodesics in the case of parallel propa gation. The solutions are unbounded, leading to an ''infinite'' accele ration of the charged particle. The particle energisation through eith er the chaotic or the resonant interaction may lead to a damping of th e gravitational wave in the interstellar space.