On the issue of gravitons

TL;DR

This paper explores the theoretical nature of gravitons, arguing they differ fundamentally from photons and cannot be predicted from classical general relativity, highlighting limitations in analogies between classical fields and quantum quanta.

Contribution

It demonstrates that gravitons cannot be approximated by classical wave solutions and that the energy-frequency relation does not hold for gravitons in general relativity.

Findings

Large number coincidence between emitted gravitons and nucleons

Classical analogies for gravitons are invalid in GR

Energy and frequency relationship $E=\hbar \omega$ does not apply

Abstract

We investigate the problem of whether one can anticipate any features of the graviton without a detailed knowledge of a full quantum gravity. Assuming that in linearized gravity the graviton is in a sense similar to the photon, we derive a curious large number coincidence between the number of gravitons emitted by a solar planet during its orbital period and the number of its nucleons. In Einstein's GR the analogy between the graviton and the photon is ill founded. A generic relationship between quanta of a quantum field and plane waves of the corresponding classical field is broken in the case of GR. The graviton cannot be classically approximated by a generic pp wave nor by the exact plane wave. Most important, the ADM energy is a zero frequency characteristic of any asymptotically flat spacetime and this means that any general relationship between energy and frequency is a priori impossible. In particular the formula $E=\hbar \omega$ does not hold. The graviton must have features different from those of the photon and these cannot be predicted from classical general relativity.