Graviton represented as a gluon pair

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    Gluon Graviton Pair
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the idea that the graviton may be represented as a gluon pair, exploring its implications for gravitational force and its relationship to the strong force and Higgs particle. Participants examine the validity of this concept within theoretical physics, its origins, and its representation in popular science media.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants propose that there is a growing school of thought suggesting the graviton is an extension of the strong force conveyed by gluon pairs.
  • Others express skepticism, questioning the credibility of the idea and requesting references from reputable theoretical physicists.
  • A participant mentions that the concept may stem from misinterpretations of scientific papers and is not widely accepted in the physics community.
  • Concerns are raised about the influence of popular science shows in promoting fringe ideas without consensus support.
  • One participant notes a mathematical similarity between gravitons and gluons, suggesting that this relationship is still under investigation.
  • Another participant discusses the implications of string theory, indicating that a graviton is represented as a closed string while gluons are open strings, hinting at deeper connections yet to be fully understood.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally disagree on the validity and seriousness of the concept that gravitons are gluon pairs. While some find it speculative and lacking support, others acknowledge potential mathematical similarities and connections to string theory, indicating that the discussion remains unresolved.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty regarding the origins of the idea and its representation in popular media. There are indications that the relationship between the strong force and gravitation, as well as the implications of string theory, are complex and not fully settled.

Feeble Wonk
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I'm not a physicist, but I'm pathologically curious about such things. I've recently heard that there is a growing school of thought among theoretical physicists that the graviton (and resultant gravitational force) is actually just an extension of the strong force conveyed by a gluon pair. This concept seemed counter intuitive to me for many reasons, including the fact that the gravitational force gradually weakens at increasing distances.

So, my question... Is this idea actually becoming even close to a consensus opinion, and how does the strong force then relate to the Higgs particle and to the space-time effects produced by gravitation?
 
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Can you give a reference for this idea? It sounds highly speculative to me.
 
Feeble Wonk said:
I've recently heard that there is a growing school of thought among theoretical physicists that the graviton (and resultant gravitational force) is actually just an extension of the strong force conveyed by a gluon pair

By reputable theoretical physicists? Where? Please provide a better reference.

This sounds like someone who didn't know what he was talking about picked some words out of papers by Dixon, Bern and Kosower, and then rearranged them. That's as close to real science that this idea will get.
 
I wish I could, but no. I just heard about the "theory" while watching an episode of the "Through the Wormhole" series on the science channel. That's the problem with these pop-science shows. They often float fringe ideas as if they have consensus support.
I take it that the concept is not a serious school of thought among theoretical physicists?
 
Feeble Wonk said:
That's the problem with these pop-science shows. They often float fringe ideas as if they have consensus support.
Right.
Feeble Wonk said:
I take it that the concept is not a serious school of thought among theoretical physicists?
jtbell, V50 and I never heard of it and the concept sounds really odd. That is not a proof, but it is evidence against such a concept as serious physics. Currently there is nothing to discuss. If you find a reputable source, please write me a message and I will open the thread again.
 
ChrisVer found something: Paper / arXiv

As far as I understand it, it is just a mathematical similarity.
 
I am reminded of the Monty Python sketch "Great Actors". "I don't want you to get the impression it's just a question of the number of words. Getting them in the right order is just as important."
 
It probably has something to do with the fact that in many forms of string theory, a graviton is a closed string (a loop) and a gluon / gauge boson is an open string (segment of a loop), and you can create a loop by attaching the ends of two loop-segments to each other. Also that there are deep relations between field theory and string theory - something like this second part is needed for the stringy relation to have implications for field theory... But the details are still being worked out, last I heard.
 
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