Do Gravitons Attract Other Gravitons?

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In summary, the discussion revolves around the question of whether gravitons feel the pull of other gravitons and if a singularity emits gravitons, how they escape the event horizon to pull in other matter. It is explained that gravity does self-interact, but this effect is often ignored in a flat background. It is also clarified that gravitating objects do not emit gravitons, and gravity is present before the event horizon forms. The evidence of Jupiter's changing gravitational field and the possibility of gravitons being virtual and existing only briefly are also mentioned.
  • #1
mjacobsca
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As the title suggests, I'm wondering if gravitons feel the pull of other gravitons. And secondly, if a singularity emits gravitons, how do the gravitons get out of the event horizon to pull in other matter?
 
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  • #2
Yes they do. The question is equivalent to asking whether gravity gravitates and the answer is yes.

Sometimes we ignore this effect (b/c if itself interaction its going to be loop supressed and small in a flat background) but it has to be there in the full picture and this sort of physics does become important at some scale..
 
  • #3
mjacobsca said:
And secondly, if a singularity emits gravitons

It doesn't. A gravitating object does not emit gravitons, just as a charged object doesn't glow (emit photons).
 
  • #4
the fact that gravity IS self interacting made it's formulation difficult,,,via Einstein's tensor.


And secondly, if a singularity emits gravitons, how do the gravitons get out of the event horizon to pull in other matter?

Gravity is present before the event horizon forms. Once the star, for example, collapses beyond the critical circumference where the event horizon forms, only random radiation leaks out...via virtual particle formation just outside the horizon...
 
  • #5
Gravity is present before the event horizon forms. Once the star, for example, collapses beyond the critical circumference where the event horizon forms, only random radiation leaks out...via virtual particle formation just outside the horizon

Does this imply that the gravitational field once formed is frozen? What about the evidence that Jupiter's field changes with its motion and moves at the speed of light? What about the possibility that gravitons are virtual and exist for only an instant?
 

1. How do gravitons interact with each other?

Gravitons are carriers of the gravitational force and they interact with each other through the exchange of virtual gravitons. This exchange creates a force between two objects with mass, causing them to attract each other.

2. Do gravitons have a mass?

According to the current understanding of physics, gravitons are believed to be massless particles. This means that they do not have any physical mass, but they still have energy and momentum.

3. Can gravitons be detected?

Gravitons have not yet been directly detected, but their existence is predicted by the theory of quantum mechanics. Scientists are currently working on experiments to indirectly observe the effects of gravitons.

4. How do gravitons affect the curvature of spacetime?

Gravitons are thought to be responsible for the curvature of spacetime, as described by Einstein's theory of general relativity. The exchange of gravitons between objects with mass creates a gravitational field, which in turn causes the curvature of spacetime.

5. Can gravitons attract or repel each other?

Gravitons are believed to only have attractive forces, meaning that they can only cause objects to attract each other. However, this is still a topic of debate among scientists and further research is needed to fully understand the behavior of gravitons.

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