Minimal length scale correction in the noise of gravitons

Abstract: In this paper we have considered a quantized and linearly polarized gravitational wave interacting with a gravitational wave detector (interferometer detector) in the generalized uncertainty principle (GUP) framework. Following the analysis in Phys. Rev. Lett. 127 (2021) 081602 (https://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevLett.127.081602), we consider a quantized gravitational wave interacting with a gravitational wave detector (LIGO/VIRGO etc.) using a path integral approach. Although the incoming gravitational wave was quantized, no Planck-scale quantization effects were considered for the detector in earlier literatures. In our work, we consider a modified Heisenberg uncertainty relation with a quadratic order correction in the momentum variable between the two phase space coordinates of the detector. Using a path integral approach, we have obtained a stochastic equation involving the separation between two point-like objects. It is observed that random fluctuations (noises) and the correction terms due to the generalized uncertainty relation plays a crucial role in dictating such trajectories. Finally, we observe that the solution to the stochastic equation leads to time dependent standard deviation due to the GUP insertion, and for a primordial gravitational wave (where the initial state is a squeezed state) both the noise effect and the GUP effects exponentially enhance which may be possible to detect in future generation of gravitational wave detectors. We have also given a plot of the dimensionless standard deviation with time depicting that the GUP effect will carry a distinct signature which may be detectable in the future space based gravitational wave observatories.