On the pressure of gravitational waves

Abstract

A system of coupled point masses under the influence of gravitational waves is considered. By means of the geodesic deviation equation as the equation of motion it is shown, taking into account the second order small terms, that there exist forces which cause the acceleration of the system in the longitudinal direction. The longitudinal force is due to the fact that simultaneously with energy momentum is also absorbed from waves. It is proved directly on the basis of the equations of motion of the point masses that the energy and momentum absorbed by the test system obey the special relativistic relationship of a zero rest mass particle. The case when the Weber oscillator moves at a relativistic speed with respect to the source of gravitational waves is also examined. In this case, the absorption of energy and momentum by the Weber oscillator is much larger or smaller compared to the stationary situation.