Gravitational waves as a source for the polarization of the cosmic microwave background (Q1359121)

The polarization of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) induced by gravitational waves (GWs) is studied by solving in a semi-analytical way the Chandrasekhar radiative transfer equation; following the Polnarev approach, the equation is written as a second-kind Volterra integral equation and its kernel is handled by performing a series expansion of the trigonometric functions it contains. In this way, a recursive calculation of the Volterra equation becomes possible and the polarizing effect of the gravitational waves can be brought out.