Large-Scale Random Gravitational Waves

Abstract

Light propagating in a region with large-scale random (i.e., wide-band) gravitational waves suffers frequency shifts which lead to a small-scale anisotropy and also a large-scale anisotropy. Here detailed calculations of the statistical properties of both of these effects are given. It is suggested that the presence of megaparsec-scale waves sufficient to close the universe and which would explain part of the apparent velocity dispersion in cluster galaxies could be detected by this large-scale anisotropy. Subject headings: cosmology - gravitation