Does gravitation obey wave-particle duality?

[Swapnil Das]

Hello.

Modern Physics explains Gravitation in two general ways:

• In accordance to the General Theory of Relativity, Gravitation is thought of as an effect of the curvature of space-time continuum. This results in the formation of the recently and famously detected Gravitational Waves.
• Quantum Field Theory explains Gravitation to be mediated by a hypothetical particle called the graviton.

So can we say that even Gravitation obeys wave particle duality? Please express your views.

Thanks!

Swapnil

 

[Drakkith]

So can we say that even Gravitation obeys wave particle duality?

No. Gravitation is like the electric force. An electron or photon obeys the wave-particle duality, but the electric force does not. Gravitons, if they exist, would obey the same duality, but gravitation would not.

 

[Swapnil Das]

No. Gravitation is like the electric force. An electron or photon obeys the wave-particle duality, but the electric force does not. Gravitons, if they exist, would obey the same duality, but gravitation would not.

Thanks for your valuable reply!

 

[haushofer]

The wave-particle duality is a property of a wavefunction, not of a force. A graviton is a perturbation of a vacuum and has a certain wavefunction in the quantum formalism. Hence it will obey the wave-particle duality.

Btw, see chapter 2 of this paper,

http://arxiv.org/pdf/quant-ph/0609163.pdf

by one of our PF-users, for a clear explanation of the duality.

 

[rootone]

Gravitons have not been detected, although if they were that would certainly upset a few apple carts.