Gravitons to Photons -- attenuation of gravitational waves
General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
2015-12-09 v3 High Energy Physics - Theory
Abstract
In this essay we examine the response of an Unruh-DeWitt detector (a quantum two-level system) to a gravitational wave background. The spectrum of the Unruh-Dewitt detector is of the same form as some scattering processes or three body decays such as muon-electron scattering or muon decay. Based on this similarity we propose that the Unruh-DeWitt detector response implies a "decay" or attenuation of gravitons, , into photons, , via or . Over large distances such a decay/attenuation may have consequences in regard to the detection of gravitational waves.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.1505.04843,
title = {Gravitons to Photons -- attenuation of gravitational waves},
author = {Preston Jones and Douglas Singleton},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1505.04843},
year = {2015}
}
Comments
8 pages, 0 figures. "Honorable mention" in the 2015 Gravity Research Foundation Essay Contest. Acknowledgment added. Published version