Constraining the generalized uncertainty principle with the gravitational wave event GW150914

TL;DR

This paper uses gravitational wave data from GW150914 to place new constraints on the parameters of the generalized uncertainty principle, linking quantum gravity effects to observable astrophysical phenomena.

Contribution

It introduces a method to constrain GUP parameters using gravitational wave observations, providing the first bounds based on GW150914 data.

Findings

Upper bounds on GUP parameters: β₀ < 2.3×10^{60} and α₀ < 1.8×10^{20}

Derived modified graviton speeds consistent with quantum gravity models

Established a link between quantum gravity effects and gravitational wave data

Abstract

In this letter, we show that the dimensionless parameter in the generalized uncertainty principle (GUP) can be constrained by the gravitational wave event GW150914, which was discovered by the LIGO Scientific and Virgo Collaborations. Firstly, according to the Heisenberg uncertainty principle (HUP) and the data of gravitational wave event GW150914, we derive the standard energy-momentum dispersion relation and calculate the difference between the propagation speed of gravitons and the speed of light, i.e., $\Delta \upsilon$. Next, using two proposals regarding the GUP, we also generalize our study to the quantum gravity case and obtain the modified speed of gravitons. Finally, based on the modified speed of gravitons and $\Delta \upsilon$, the improved upper bounds on the GUP parameters are obtained. The results show that the upper limits of the GUP parameters $\beta_0$ and $\alpha_0$ are $2.3 \times 10^ {60}$ and $1.8 \times 10^{20}$.