Surely that would require gravity to be quantized.
Do gravitational waves exhibit wave-particle duality?
Submitted 1 year ago by btaf45@lemmy.world to astronomy@mander.xyz
https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/gravitational-waves-wave-particle-duality/
atzanteol@sh.itjust.works 1 year ago
My understanding is that “gravitational waves” are mechanical waves, like water, not “quantum waves” like light.
This article seems to confuse what wave particle duality means:
When it comes to duality it’s the particles that exhibit wave-like properties individually.
Eufalconimorph@discuss.tchncs.de 1 year ago
Wave/Particle duality of quantum objects (quanta) is a bit like bicycle/car duality when looking at motorcycles. Light isn’t a wave or a particle, but it has properties of both. Motorcycles aren’t pedal-powered bikes or cars, but have properties of both.
There are no particles, just quanta.
atzanteol@sh.itjust.works 1 year ago
Right - that’s what I’m saying. But this article seems to think that if you make a bicycle out of cars then you have a motorcycle… Unless I’m not understanding it.
AFAIK gravity waves are ripples in actual space (mechanical waves) - not a property of “gravitons”.
btaf45@kbin.social 1 year ago
And waves exhibit particle behavior because waves are particles and particles are waves. Light comes in waves. But when we see light it doesn't mean we are seeing a single light photon.