Potential tests of the Generalized Uncertainty Principle in the advanced LIGO experiment

TL;DR

This paper explores how the generalized uncertainty principle could cause detectable Planck-scale effects in advanced LIGO's measurements, potentially revealing a minimal length and constraining quantum gravity theories.

Contribution

It introduces a modified commutator for the electromagnetic field, calculates Planck-scale corrections to LIGO's noise, and assesses LIGO's potential to detect these effects.

Findings

Advanced LIGO could be sensitive enough to observe Planck-scale effects.

Planck-scale corrections could influence radiation pressure and shot noise.

Bounds on quantum gravity parameters can be estimated from LIGO data.

Abstract

The generalized uncertainty principle and a minimum measurable length arise in various theories of gravity and predict Planck-scale modifications of the canonical position-momentum commutation relation. Postulating a similar modified commutator between the canonical variables of the electromagnetic field in quantum optics, we compute Planck-scale corrections to the radiation pressure noise and shot noise of Michelson-Morley interferometers, with particular attention to gravity wave detectors such as LIGO. We show that advanced LIGO is potentially sensitive enough to observe Planck-scale effects and thereby indirectly a minimal length. We also propose estimates for the bounds on quantum gravity parameters from current and future advanced LIGO experiments.