Are Gamma-Ray Bursts the Key to Confirming LQG Theory?

[H.M. Murdock]

I heard there were currently some tests trying to prove LQG.
One had to do with the radiation from distant cosmic explosions called gamma-ray bursts they might provide a way to test whether the theory of loop quantum gravity is correct or not.
Does anyone know any up to date info about these tests, and about how LQG is doing with them?

 

[turbo]

Fotini Markopoulou positied years ago that ultra-high-energy gamma rays should interact more frequently with the space through which they propagate and thus be slowed relative to EM of lower energies. Given the distances involved to GRBs, she believed that GLAST might be able to detect such a delay. GLAST has not yet launched, but the MAGIC consortium has observed a delay in the arrival of such energetic gamma rays in a single GRB observation last summer. They use a Cherenkov air-shower telescope to observe GRBs. It should be noted that the delay could be intrinsic to some as-yet understood mechanics at the source. If GLAST does indeed detect energy-dependent delays, AND if the length of the delays are proportional to the redshift of the emitter, LQG would get a big shot in the arm.

 

[BenTheMan]

Does anyone know any up to date info about these tests, and about how LQG is doing with them?

Well you can bet that marcus would be the first person to link you to the abstract of the paper.

 

[turbo]

Oops! As-NOT-yet understood mechanics. If we assume that a GRB sheds EM at all frequencies at the same time, we've got a puzzle here that needs to be probed. If there is a mechanism by which the body responsible for the GRB sheds EM in stages and can release ultra-high frequency EM later than the initial burst, LQG gets no brownie points.