What Do We Know About Gravitons and Their Role in Understanding Gravity?

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In summary, the conversation discusses the topic of gravitons and Einstein's theory of gravity. The speaker admits to being new to physics and requests someone to explain what is known about gravitons and why Einstein's theory is no longer the main focus. The response explains that gravitons are particles that mediate gravitational interaction and their existence is still uncertain. It also mentions the issue with Einstein's theory being classical and not incorporating quantum mechanics. The conversation ends with a comment on the elegance of both theories.
  • #1
DoubleX
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Hi I freely admit that I am new to this forum site and pretty new to physics in general, however I am eager to learn. I know extremely little about Quantom mechanics. I won't ask you to explain it all now, I simply request that somone explain to me what is known about Gravitons, why do we no longer look to Einsteins ideal of Gravity? Please, anyone who can teach me please post.



- Thanks for any help
 
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  • #2
Gravitons are essentially particles which would have to mediate the gravitational interaction between masses...There existence is still questionable,as no experiment has indicated so...I could tell you much more,but i don't know your level of knowledge,especially of Quantum Field Theory.

As for Einstein's theory of gravity,it's simply staggering with its simplicity.It's a brilliant theory with one HUGE PROBLEM:it's classical.It does not use (among its axioms) the axioms of Quantum Mechanics.Again,the story here's much longer.

Daniel.
 
  • #3
As for Einstein's theory of gravity,it's simply staggering with its simplicity
as a matter of fact, einstein's theory is so simple and makes so much sense, it makes me feel malice towards quantum mechanics
 
  • #4
I think both theories are elegant...

Daniel.

P.S.It's not a matter of tastes,really.
 

FAQ: What Do We Know About Gravitons and Their Role in Understanding Gravity?

What are gravitons?

Gravitons are hypothetical particles that are believed to be the carrier of the force of gravity in quantum theories of gravity.

How were gravitons discovered?

Gravitons have not been discovered yet. They are a theoretical concept proposed by physicists to explain the nature of gravity at a quantum level.

What is known about the properties of gravitons?

According to current theories, gravitons are massless and have a spin of 2. They are also believed to have an infinite range, meaning they can affect objects at any distance.

Can gravitons be detected?

As gravitons are predicted to be extremely weak and interact very rarely with matter, it is currently not possible to detect them directly. Scientists are working on developing new technologies and experiments to detect gravitons indirectly.

What is the significance of gravitons in our understanding of the universe?

The existence of gravitons would provide a way to unify the theories of gravity and quantum mechanics, which are currently incompatible. It would also help us better understand the fundamental workings of the universe, particularly in relation to the behavior of matter and energy at a very small scale.

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