Spin gravitational resonance and graviton detection

TL;DR

This paper introduces spin gravitational resonance as a method to detect gravitons by observing spin transitions in particles caused by gravitational waves, supporting Dyson's conjecture that individual gravitons are undetectable in practice.

Contribution

It develops the concept of spin gravitational resonance and analyzes its potential for graviton detection, providing theoretical support for Dyson's conjecture.

Findings

No fundamental laws prevent graviton detection via this method

Practical limitations prevent using spin gravitational resonance for graviton detection

Supports Dyson's conjecture that single gravitons are undetectable

Abstract

We develop a gravitational analogue of spin magnetic resonance, called spin gravitational resonance, whereby a gravitational wave interacts with a magnetic field to produce a spin transition. In particular, an external magnetic field separates the energy spin states of a spin-1/2 particle, and the presence of the gravitational wave produces a perturbation in the components of the magnetic field orthogonal to the gravitational wave propagation. In this framework we test Dyson's conjecture that individual gravitons cannot be detected. Although we find no fundamental laws preventing single gravitons being detected with spin gravitational resonance, we show that it cannot be used in practice, in support of Dyson's conjecture.