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arxiv: 1505.04843 · v3 · pith:6LFFDED3new · submitted 2015-05-19 · 🌀 gr-qc · hep-th

Gravitons to Photons -- attenuation of gravitational waves

classification 🌀 gr-qc hep-th
keywords gammaattenuationdecaydetectorgravitationalunruh-dewittgravitonsphotons
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In this essay we examine the response of an Unruh-DeWitt detector (a quantum two-level system) to a gravitational wave background. The spectrum of the Unruh-Dewitt detector is of the same form as some scattering processes or three body decays such as muon-electron scattering or muon decay. Based on this similarity we propose that the Unruh-DeWitt detector response implies a "decay" or attenuation of gravitons, $G$, into photons, $\gamma$, via $G + G \rightarrow \gamma + \gamma $ or $G \rightarrow \gamma + \gamma + G$. Over large distances such a decay/attenuation may have consequences in regard to the detection of gravitational waves.

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