Photon-graviton scattering: A new way to detect anisotropic gravitational waves?

Abstract

Gravitons are the quantum counterparts of gravitational waves in low-energy theories of gravity. Using Feynman rules one can compute scattering amplitudes describing the interaction between gravitons and other fields. Here, we consider the interaction between gravitons and photons. Using the quantum Boltzmann equation formalism, we derive fully general equations describing the radiation transfer of photon polarization, due to the forward scattering with gravitons. We show that the Q and U photon linear polarization modes couple with the V photon circular polarization mode, if gravitons have anisotropies in their power-spectrum statistics. As an example, we apply our results to the case of primordial gravitons, considering models of inflation where an anisotropic primordial graviton distribution is produced. Finally, we evaluate the effect on cosmic microwave background (CMB) polarization, showing that in general the expected effects on the observable CMB frequencies are very small. However, our result is promising, since it could provide a novel tool for detecting anisotropic backgrounds of gravitational waves, as well as for getting further insight on the physics of gravitational waves.

arXiv comment15 pages, 1 figure. v2: references added, typos corrected, replaced to match published version in PRD

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• The Imprint of Relativistic Particles on the Anisotropies of the Stochastic Gravitational-Wave Background
• Primordial Non-Gaussianity $f_{\mathrm{NL}}$ and Anisotropies in Scalar-Induced Gravitational Waves
• Probing pre-Recombination Physics by the Cross-Correlation of Stochastic Gravitational Waves and CMB Anisotropies
• Complete analysis of the background and anisotropies of scalar-induced gravitational waves: primordial non-Gaussianity $f_{\mathrm{NL}}$ and $g_{\mathrm{NL}}$ considered
• CMB circular and B-mode polarization from new interactions
• Circular polarization of the cosmic microwave background from vector and tensor perturbations
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• Chiral photons from chiral gravitational waves
• Anisotropies in Scalar-Induced Gravitational-Wave Background from Inflaton-Curvaton Mixed Scenario with Sound Speed Resonance
• CMB $V$ modes from photon-photon forward scattering revisited
• Open Quantum System Approach to the Gravitational Decoherence of Spin-1/2 Particles
• Generation of Circular Polarization of CMB via Polarized Compton Scattering
• Angular bispectrum and trispectrum of scalar-induced gravitational waves: all contributions from primordial non-Gaussianity $f_{\mathrm{NL}}$ and $g_{\mathrm{NL}}$
• Boltzmann equations for astrophysical Stochastic Gravitational Wave Backgrounds scattering off of massive objects
• Axion-Like Dark Matter Detection Using Stern-Gerlach Interferometer
• Circularly Polarized EM Radiation from GW Binary Sources
• Characteristics of interaction between Gravitons and Photons
• Hunting for Statistical Anisotropy in Tensor Modes with B-mode Observations
• Quantum Boltzmann equation for fermions: An attempt to calculate the NMR relaxation and decoherence times using quantum field theory techniques
• Probing Virtual ALPs by Precision Phase Measurements: Time-Varying Magnetic Field Background
• Hypothesis of a bi-isotropic-like plasma permeating the interstellar space
• Exploring gravitational impulse via quantum Boltzmann equation