Graviton detection and the quantization of gravity

Journal Article · 04 February 2024 · Physical Review. D.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.109.044009 · OSTI ID:2284035

Carney, Daniel; Domcke, Valerie; Rodd, Nicholas L.

We revisit a question asked by Dyson: “Is a graviton detectable?” We demonstrate that in both Dyson’s original sense and in a more modern measurement-theoretic sense, it is possible to construct a detector sensitive to single gravitons, and in fact a variety of existing and near-term gravitational wave detectors can achieve this. However, while such a signal would be consistent with the quantization of the gravitational field, we draw on results from quantum optics to show how the same signal could just as well be explained via classical gravitational waves. We outline the kind of measurements that would be needed to demonstrate quantization of gravitational radiation and explain why these are substantially more difficult than simply counting graviton clicks or observing gravitational noise in an interferometer, and likely impossible to perform in practice. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC), High Energy Physics (HEP)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC02-05CH11231
• OSTI ID: 2284035
• Alternate ID(s): OSTI ID: 2396859
• Journal Information: Physical Review. D., Journal Name: Physical Review. D. Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 109; ISSN PRVDAQ; ISSN 2470-0010
• Publisher: American Physical SocietyCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English