Effective Field Theory Calculation of LIGO-like Compton Scattering and Experiment Proposal for Graviton Detection

Abstract: Despite the lack of a universally accepted quantum gravity theory, gravitons are considered the quantum noise in gravitational waves. Wave mediation requires that gravitons be in a coherence state, with an abundance number of order $\sim10^{79}$. Thus, the detection of coherent-state gravitons may be possible in a LIGO-like experiment via Compton scattering with a nanospherical test mass. This work presents the associating scattering amplitude calculation using effective field theory, calculating a total cross section approximately $100 ~\mathrm{cm^2}$ for a coherence state and $\sim10^{-81}~\mathrm{m^2}$ for a single graviton. An experiment proposal involving levitation techniques of a nanosphere is given in full description.