Imagine the Universe!
Imagine Home  |   Ask an Astrophysicist  |  
Ask an Astrophysicist

The Question

(Submitted March 19, 1998)

What is the graviton?

The Answer

In quantum theory, force is mediated by an exchange of virtual particles. Although general relativity is a classical, not a quantum, theory, we expect that gravity is also mediated by a particle. We call this the graviton.

Best wishes,
Koji Mukai
for Ask an Astrophysicist

Previous question
Prev
Main topic
Main
Next question
Next

If words seem to be missing from the articles, please read this.

Imagine the Universe! is a service of the High Energy Astrophysics Science Archive Research Center (HEASARC), Dr. Alan Smale (Director), within the Astrophysics Science Division (ASD) at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.

The Imagine Team
Project Leader: Dr. Jim Lochner
Curator:Meredith Gibb
Responsible NASA Official:Phil Newman
All material on this site has been created and updated between 1997-2009.
Last Updated: Thursday, 03-Jul-2008 14:26:32 EDT