Universe  ID: 10489

Gamma-ray Burst Photon Delay as Expected by Quantum Gravity

Released on October 28, 2009
In this illustration, one photon (purple) carries a million times the energy of another (yellow). Some theorists predict travel delays for higher-energy photons, which interact more strongly with the proposed frothy nature of space-time. Yet Fermi data on two photons from a gamma-ray burst fail to show this effect, eliminating some approaches to a new theory of gravity.
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Animation showing how the photons may have acted if the structure of space-time was foamy. However, Fermi data has shown that that effect does not exist.
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Print resolution still. In this illustration, one photon (purple) carries a million times the energy of another (yellow). Some theorists predict travel delays for higher-energy photons, which interact more strongly with the proposed frothy nature of space-time. Yet Fermi data on two photons from a gamma-ray burst fail to show this effect, eliminating some approaches to a new theory of gravity. Credit: NASA/Sonoma State University/Aurore Simonnet

Credits

Cruz deWilde (Avant Gravity): Lead Animator
Julie McEnery (NASA/GSFC): Scientist
Francis Reddy (SPSYS): Writer
Please give credit for this item to:
NASA/Sonoma State University/Cruz deWilde/Aurore Simonnet

Short URL to share this page:
https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/10489

Missions:
Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope
GLAST

Data Used:
Fermi
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Note: While we identify the data sets used in these visualizations, we do not store any further details nor the data sets themselves on our site.

This item is part of these series:
Fermi
Astrophysics Animations
Astrophysics Stills

Keywords:
SVS >> HDTV
DLESE >> Space science
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Spectral/Engineering >> Gamma Ray
SVS >> Gamma Ray Burst
SVS >> Astrophysics
SVS >> Universe
SVS >> GLAST
SVS >> Space
SVS >> Gamma Ray Observatory
SVS >> Fermi
SVS >> Astronomy
NASA Science >> Universe

GCMD keywords can be found on the Internet with the following citation: Olsen, L.M., G. Major, K. Shein, J. Scialdone, S. Ritz, T. Stevens, M. Morahan, A. Aleman, R. Vogel, S. Leicester, H. Weir, M. Meaux, S. Grebas, C.Solomon, M. Holland, T. Northcutt, R. A. Restrepo, R. Bilodeau, 2013. NASA/Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Earth Science Keywords. Version 8.0.0.0.0