Different ways to estimate graviton mass

TL;DR

This paper reviews various methods to estimate a non-zero graviton mass, discussing theoretical challenges and observational constraints from gravitational wave data and stellar orbits.

Contribution

It compiles and compares different approaches to constraining graviton mass, highlighting recent observational bounds and theoretical developments.

Findings

Graviton mass constrained to about 1.2 x 10^{-22} eV from gravitational wave observations.

Stellar orbit analysis yields a graviton mass limit around 2.9 x 10^{-21} eV.

Theoretical models have evolved to address initial pathologies of massive gravity theories.

Abstract

An experimental detection of graviton is extremely hard problem, however, there are different ways to evaluate a graviton mass if it is non-vanishing. Theories of massive gravity or theories with non-vanishing graviton mass initially have a number of pathologies such as discontinuities, ghosts etc. In last years theorists found ways to overcome weaknesses of such theories meanwhile observational features are also discussed. In the first publication reporting about the discovery of gravitational waves from the binary black hole system the LIGO-Virgo collaboration obtained the graviton mass constraint around $1.2 \times 10^{-22}$ eV (later the estimate was improved with new data). A comparable and consistent graviton mass constraint around $2.9 \times 10^{-21}$ eV has been obtained from analysis of the bright star S2 trajectory near the Galactic Center.