Stimulated emission or absorption of gravitons by light

TL;DR

This paper proposes a method to detect and manipulate gravitons using electromagnetic waves in a Sagnac geometry, potentially enabling new gravitational wave detection techniques and quantum tests of gravity.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach to observe stimulated emission or absorption of gravitons through electromagnetic interactions in a Sagnac setup, advancing gravitational wave detection and quantum gravity research.

Findings

Feasibility of observing graviton interactions with current technology

Proposal of a new detection scheme using electromagnetic-gravitational wave exchange

Potential to test quantum aspects of gravity with non-classical photon states

Abstract

We study the exchange of energy between gravitational and electromagnetic waves in a Sagnac type geometry, in analogy to an ``optical Weber bar.'' In the presence of a gravitational wave (such as the ones measured by LIGO), we find that it should be possible to observe signatures of stimulated emission or absorption of gravitons with present day technology. Apart from marking the transition from passively observing to actively manipulating such a natural phenomenon, this could also be used as a complementary detection scheme. Non-classical photon states may improve the sensitivity and might even allow us to test certain quantum aspects of the gravitational field.