Does LIGO Ruling Out Linear Gravity Theories?

[Gravitoastronomy]

As the discovery matches templates based on GR, and the regime is of very strong gravitational fields and very high speeds (relativistic speeds), and there is a 90% match between model and measured data, this does rule out linear or quasi linear alternative theories of gravity?

 

[PeterDonis]

this does rule out linear or quasi linear alternative theories of gravity?

Are there any linear or quasi-linear alternative theories of gravity?

 

[vanhees71]

You find now a lot more preprints than the marvelous PRL from Thursday using the new LIGO data on arXiv. There's also one about tests of GR:

http://arxiv.org/find/gr-qc/1/au:+Collaboration_LIGO_Scientific/0/1/0/all/0/1

 

[Gravitoastronomy]

You find now a lot more preprints than the marvelous PRL from Thursday using the new LIGO data on arXiv. There's also one about tests of GR:

http://arxiv.org/find/gr-qc/1/au:+Collaboration_LIGO_Scientific/0/1/0/all/0/1

Thank you very much. Yes, the results seem to put restrictions to alternative theories, but do not go further than previously known from the theoretical data of pulsar orbit decay, if I understand correctly the data.

 

[vanhees71]

Sure, I guess pulsar timing is still among the most precise tests of GR, but that may change, if gravitation-wave detectors become more accurate and collect more gravitational wave signals. It's just amazing, how much could be learned already from just one signal! Another point is that this tests GR under utmost gravitational fields, i.e., high gravitational fields of orbiting and finally merging supermassive black holes.