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submitted 10 months ago by btaf45@lemmy.world to c/astronomy@mander.xyz
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[-] atzanteol@sh.itjust.works 5 points 10 months 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:

just like water waves are waves that are made of particles, we fully expect that gravitational waves are made of particles, too.

When it comes to duality it's the particles that exhibit wave-like properties individually.

[-] Eufalconimorph@discuss.tchncs.de 3 points 10 months 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 0 points 10 months 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 points 10 months ago

Gravity waves are completely different from gravitational waves.

https://coco1453.wordpress.com/home/gravity-related-terms/

Gravitational waves are not 'mechanical waves'. It is thought that gravitational radiation is a lot like electromagnetic radiation. Therefore gravitational waves might work like light waves, and have a particle like light does.

[-] atzanteol@sh.itjust.works 1 points 10 months ago

Ah! Thanks! I wasn't aware there was a difference!

[-] btaf45@lemmy.world 1 points 10 months ago

Common mistake

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this post was submitted on 10 Nov 2023
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