Gravitational radiation by quantum systems

The limits of validity of the semiclassical theory in which gravity is unquantized are discussed. This is done by comparing the emission of classical gravitational waves in the semiclassical theory with graviton emission in quantum gravity theory. It is shown that these can be quite different even for macroscopic systems. Thus quantum gravitational effects can manifest themselves on a macroscopic scale. A hypothetical experiment to demonstrate the existence of gravitons by means of such effects is discussed.     

Fractal structure of quantum gravity and relic radiation anisotropy

It is argued that the large-scale (>7°) cosmic microwave background anisotropy detected in the COBE cosmic experiment can be considered as a trace of the fractal structure of quantum gravity.     

Gravitational energy-momentum density in teleparallel gravity

In the context of a gauge theory for the translation group, a conserved energy-momentum gauge current for the gravitational field is obtained. It is a true spacetime and gauge tensor, and transforms covariantly under global Lorentz transformations. By rewriting the gauge gravitational field equation in a purely spacetime form, it becomes the teleparallel equivalent of Einstein's equation, and the gauge current reduces to the Moller's canonical energy-momentum density of the gravitational field.     

Gravitational effects in quantum mechanics

To date, both quantum theory and Einstein’s theory of general relativity have passed every experimental test in their respective regimes. Nevertheless, almost since their inception, there has been debate surrounding whether they should be unified, and by now, there exists strong theoretical arguments pointing to the necessity of quantising the gravitational field. In recent years, a number of experiments have been proposed which, if successful, should give insight into features at the Planck scale. Here, we review some of the motivations, from the perspective of semi-classical arguments, to expect new physical effects at the overlap of quantum theory and general relativity. We conclude with a short introduction to some of the proposals being made to facilitate empirical verification.     

Gravitational radiation and the ultimate speed in Rosen's bimetric theory of gravity

In Rosen's “bimetric” theory of gravity the (local) speed of gravitational radiation υ_g is determined by the combined effects of cosmological boundary values and nearby concentrations of matter. It is possible for υ_g to be less than the speed of light. I show here that emission of gravitational radiation prevents particles of nonzero rest mass from exceeding the speed of gravitational radiation. Observations of relativistic particles place limits on υ_g and the cosmological boundary values today, and observations of synchrotron radiation from compact radio sources place limits on the cosmological boundary values in the past.     

Gravitational radiation in spherical coordinates

The law of gravitation is taken in the formR ₄₄=0, whereR ₄₄ is the time curvature component of the Ricci tensor. Space-time separable equations are developed in spherical coordinates for the nonlinear wave equation determined byR ₄₄=0. One exact solution is examined in detail.     

Scaling in quantum gravity

The 2-point function is the natural object in quantum gravity for extracting critical behavior: The exponential falloff of the 2-point function with geodesic distance determines the fractal dimension d_H of space-time. The integral of the 2-point function determines the entropy exponent γ, i.e. the fractal structure related to baby universes, while the short distance behavior of the 2-point function connects γ and d_H by a quantum gravity version of Fisher's scaling relation. We verify this behavior in the case of 2d gravity by explicit calculation.     

Gravitational radiation and neutrinos

A class of neutrino-gravitational fields with zero energy-momentum tensor is defined. These space-times may also be interpreted as describing gravitational waves and are of Petrov typeD orN. A wave-like example of the latter is given.     

Continuum-regularized quantum gravity

The recent continuum regularization ofd-dimensional Euclidean gravity is generalized to arbitrary power-law measure and studied in some detail as a representative example of coordinate-invariant regularization. The weak-coupling expansion of the theory illustrates a generic geometrization of regularized Schwinger-Dyson rules, generalizing previous rules in flat space and flat superspace. The rules are applied in a non-trivial explicit check of Einstein invariance at one loop: The cosmological counterterm is computed and its contribution is included in a verification that the graviton mass is zero.     

Bohm's quantum potentials and quantum gravity

A generally covariant theory, written in the spirit of Bohm's theory of quantum potentials, which applies to spinless, non interacting, gravitating systems, is formulated. In this theory the quantum state is coupled to the metric tensor g, and the effect of the quantum potential is absorbed in the geometry. At the same time, satisfies a covariant wave equation with respect to the very same g. This provides sufficient constraints to derive 11 coupled equations in the 11 unknowns: and the components of the metric tensor g_µv. The states of stable localized particles are identified, and vacuum-state solutions for both the Euclidean and the Lorentzian case are explicitly presented.     

Gravitational radiation of isolated systems

The gravitational radiation of isolated systems is studied by introducing a class of reference systems that is the analog of the class of inertial systems in flat space. Expressions for the total energy of these systems and the flux of gravitational radiation are obtained. The fundamental role of the Bondi-Metzner-Sachs asymptotic symmetry groups in the general theory of relativity is explained; transformations of the group characterize transitions from one reference system of a given class to another.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 11, pp. 47–54, November, 1973.     

Gravitational scattering of electromagnetic radiation

The scattering of electromagnetic radiation by linearized gravitational fields is studied to second order in a perturbation expansion. The incoming electromagnetic radiation can be of arbitrary multipole structure, and the gravitational fields are also taken to be advanced fields of arbitrary multipole structure. All electromagnetic multipole radiation is found to be scattered by gravitational monopole and time-varying dipole fields. No case has been found, however, in which any electromagnetic multipole radiation is scattered by gravitational fields of quadrupole or higher-order multipole structure. This lack of scattering is established for infinite classes of special cases, and is conjectured to hold in general. The results of the scattering analysis are applied to the case of electromagnetic radiation scattered by a moving mass. It is shown how the mass and velocity may be determined by a knowledge of the incident and scattered radiation.This work was supported in part by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the National Science Foundation. It incorporates some of the results of the first author's doctoral dissertation at the University of Pittsburgh.