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On wikipedia we can read:

Astronomical observations of the kinematics of galaxies, especially the galaxy rotation problem and modified Newtonian dynamics, might point toward gravitons having non-zero mass.

But what does it mean for a graviton, the particle itself being the carrier of gravity force occuring between all massive objects to have mass? Does that mean that two gravitons actually could be attracted towards each other through other gravitons? In this case assuming in finite space amount of gravitons is finite there would be no gravitons left to be force carriers of other gravitons.

To explain my reasoning:

Let there are 3 gravitons in the area.

Suppose gravitons $g_1$ and $g_2$ are participating in gravity. They can only do it using other gravitons. Well, let they do it using only one graviton $g_3$. But then why would not $g_3$ participate in gravity with $g_1$ and $g_2$ themselves? In this sense the idea of massive graviton seems self-refuting.

Is there any model allowing massive gravitons which handles this issue and do physicists really assume the idea of massive gravitons to be plausible?

Qmechanic
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1 Answers1

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In the classical limit:

$$ V(r) \propto G \frac 1 r e^{-r/m} $$

so in the limit $m\rightarrow 0$, $V(r)\rightarrow$ Newton.

Meanwhile, gravitons (like photons) are their own anti-particle, so their number isn't conserved.

Regarding a quantum field theory of massive gravitons: why not? The massless one doesn't work anyway.

JEB
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