  The dynamics of the torsion field is analyzed in the framework of the
Covariant Canonical Gauge Theory of Gravity (CCGG), a De~Donder-Weyl
Hamiltonian formulation of gauge gravity. The action is quadratic in both, the
torsion and the Riemann-Cartan tensor. Since the latter adds the derivative of
torsion to the equations of motion, torsion is no longer identical to spin
density, as in the Einstein-Cartan theory, but an additional propagating degree
of freedom. As torsion turns out to be totally anti-symmetric, it can be
parametrised via a single axial vector. It is shown in this paper that, in the
weak torsion limit, the axial vector obeys a wave equation with an effective
mass term which is partially dependent on the scalar curvature. The source of
torsion is thereby given by the fermion axial current which is the net
fermionic spin density of the system. Possible measurable effects and
approaches to experimental analysis are addressed. For example, neutron star
mergers could act as a dipoles or quadrupoles for torsional radiation, and an
analysis of radiation of pulsars could lead to a detection of torsion wave
background radiation.
