Detecting single gravitons with gravitational wave detectors

          @misc{ pirsa_PIRSA:25050023,
            doi = {10.48660/25050023},
            url = {https://pirsa.org/25050023},
            author = {Tobar, Germain},
            keywords = {Quantum Gravity},
            language = {en},
            title = {Detecting single gravitons with gravitational wave detectors},
            publisher = {Perimeter Institute},
            year = {2025},
            month = {may},
            note = {PIRSA:25050023 see, \url{https://pirsa.org}}
          }
          

Abstract

The quantization of gravity is widely believed to result in gravitons -- particles of discrete energy that form gravitational waves. But their detection has so far been considered impossible. In this talk, I will show that laboratory experiments can reveal signatures of single graviton exchange. I will outline how both interferometric and resonant-mass gravitational wave detectors can be adapted into single graviton detectors with future detector modifications. Drawing a close analogy to the photoelectric effect, I will argue that such experiments may offer the first direct evidence for the quantum nature of gravity.   References: [1] G. Tobar, S. K. Manikandan, T. Beitel, and I. Pikovski, “Detecting single gravitons with quantum sensing,” Nature Communications, vol. 15, no. 7229, 2024. [arXiv:2308.15440]