Gravitational Waves in Effective Quantum Gravity

Understand

In this short paper we investigate quantum gravitational effects on Einstein's equations using effective field theory techniques.

• We consider the leading order quantum gravitational correction to the wave equation.
• Besides the usual massless mode, we find a pair of modes with complex masses.
• These massive particles have a width and could thus lead to a damping of gravitational waves if excited in violent astrophysical processes producing gravitational waves such as e.g.