Abott, Benjamin P.Abbott, RobertAbbott, Thomas D.Acernese, FaustoAckley, K.Adams, T.Addesso, P.Adhikari, Rana X.Adya, V.Affeldt, C.Altin, PaulChow, JongForsyth, PerryMansell, GeorgiaMcClelland, DavidMcManus, DavidMcRae, TerryNguyen, ThanhRabeling, DavidScott, Susan M.Shaddock, DanielSlagmolen, BramWard, RobertYap, Min Jet2020-06-252020-06-250031-9007http://hdl.handle.net/1885/205546We present results from the first directed search for nontensorial gravitational waves. While general relativity allows for tensorial (plus and cross) modes only, a generic metric theory may, in principle, predict waves with up to six different polarizations. This analysis is sensitive to continuous signals of scalar, vector, or tensor polarizations, and does not rely on any specific theory of gravity. After searching data from the first observation run of the advanced LIGO detectors for signals at twice the rotational frequency of 200 known pulsars, we find no evidence of gravitational waves of any polarization. We report the first upper limits for scalar and vector strains, finding values comparable in magnitude to previously published limits for tensor strain. Our results may be translated into constraints on specific alternative theories of gravity.The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of the United States National Science Foundation (NSF) for the construction and operation of the LIGO Laboratory and Advanced LIGO as well as the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) of the United Kingdom, the MaxPlanck-Society (MPS), and the State of Niedersachsen, Germany for support of the construction of Advanced LIGO and construction and operation of the GEO600 detector. Additional support for Advanced LIGO was provided by the Australian Research Council.application/pdfen-AU© 2018 American Physical SocietyFirst Search for Nontensorial Gravitational Waves from Known Pulsars201810.1103/PhysRevLett.120.0311042022-08-21