Question about the nature of Gravitation

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the nature of gravitation, exploring its representation in modern physics through General Relativity and Quantum Field Theory. Participants examine whether gravitation can be considered to exhibit wave-particle duality, a concept typically associated with particles like electrons and photons.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants describe gravitation in the context of General Relativity as an effect of the curvature of space-time, while Quantum Field Theory posits the existence of a graviton as a mediator of gravitational interactions.
  • One participant argues that gravitation itself does not obey wave-particle duality, comparing it to the electric force, which also does not exhibit this duality.
  • Another participant clarifies that wave-particle duality pertains to wavefunctions rather than forces, suggesting that if gravitons exist, they would exhibit wave-particle duality due to their nature as perturbations of the vacuum.
  • It is noted that gravitons have not been detected, and their existence remains hypothetical, which could have significant implications for current understanding of gravitation.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on whether gravitation can be said to exhibit wave-particle duality, indicating a lack of consensus on this topic.

Contextual Notes

The discussion involves assumptions about the existence of gravitons and the definitions of wave-particle duality, which may not be universally accepted or resolved among participants.

Swapnil Das
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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
 
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Swapnil Das said:
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.
 
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Drakkith said:
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!
 
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.
 
Gravitons have not been detected, although if they were that would certainly upset a few apple carts.
 

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