graviton

[ grav-i-ton ]

noun

, Physics.

1. the theoretical quantum of gravitation, usually assumed to be an elementary particle that is its own antiparticle and that has zero rest mass and charge and a spin of two.

graviton

/ ˈɡrævɪˌtɒn /

noun

1. a postulated quantum of gravitational energy, usually considered to be a particle with zero charge and rest mass and a spin of 2 Compare photon

graviton

/ grăv′ĭ-tŏn′ /

1. A hypothetical particle postulated in supergravity theory to be the quantum of gravitational interaction, mediating the gravitational force. Like all force carriers , the graviton is a boson. It is presumed to have an indefinitely long lifetime, zero electric charge, a spin of 2, and zero rest mass (thus travelling at the speed of light). The graviton has never been detected.
2. See also supersymmetrySee Table at subatomic particle

Word History and Origins

Origin of graviton¹

First recorded in 1940–45; gravit(y) + -on ¹

Example Sentences

In the 1930s, Wolfgang Pauli and Markus Fierz proposed a graviton with mass.

From Quanta Magazine

When you start thinking about gravity in terms of gravitons, you find that all of these pillars actually emerge just by requiring the theory to be stable.

From Quanta Magazine

In fact, Parikh, Wilczek and Zahariade found that the noise increases exponentially the more the gravitons are squeezed.

From Quanta Magazine

Many physicists assume that gravitons exist, but few think that we will ever see them.

From Quanta Magazine

They found that one quantum state in particular, called a squeezed state, produces a much more pronounced graviton noise.

From Quanta Magazine