Radio wave emissions due to gravitational radiation

We consider the interaction of a weak gravitational wave with electromagnet ic fields in a thin plasma on a Minkowski background spacetime using the 1 + 3 orthonormal frame formalism. Because gravitational and electromagnetic waves satisfy the same dispersion relation, electromagnetic waves can be ef fectively generated as a result of this interaction. In the case of the int eraction with a static magnetic field, the amplitude of the electromagnetic waves depends on the size of the excitation region in which the magnetic h eld is contained. It is argued that because of the presence of a plasma thi s process can also lead to the generation of higher harmonics of the origin al mode. Estimates are given for this effect in the case of a binary pulsar and a cold electron plasma. It is found that the emitted radiation will li e in the radio frequency band. We also speculate on the possible relevance of this process on situations in cosmology, in particular, whether this cou ld be used to constrain primordial magnetic fields.