Why does the LIGO observation disprove higher dimensions?

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I recently read this article which claims that last year’s LIGO observation of gravitational waves is proof that, at least on massive scales, there cannot be more than three spatial dimensions.



I don’t understand the physics fully, so could someone please explain this to me? I know it’s been theorized that gravity is relatively weak when compared to other forces because it leeches into other dimensions, and I think I understand how these observations disprove that, but how does this prove that there must be three and only three spatial dimensions?






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    Perhaps this previous question I asked and the answer therein would provide a little illumination (the question is regarding the same paper): physics.stackexchange.com/q/428790
    – enumaris
    4 hours ago















up vote
2
down vote

favorite












I recently read this article which claims that last year’s LIGO observation of gravitational waves is proof that, at least on massive scales, there cannot be more than three spatial dimensions.



I don’t understand the physics fully, so could someone please explain this to me? I know it’s been theorized that gravity is relatively weak when compared to other forces because it leeches into other dimensions, and I think I understand how these observations disprove that, but how does this prove that there must be three and only three spatial dimensions?






gravity gravitational-waves spacetime-dimensions







share|cite|improve this question

















  • 1




    Perhaps this previous question I asked and the answer therein would provide a little illumination (the question is regarding the same paper): physics.stackexchange.com/q/428790
    – enumaris
    4 hours ago













up vote
2
down vote

favorite









up vote
2
down vote

favorite











I recently read this article which claims that last year’s LIGO observation of gravitational waves is proof that, at least on massive scales, there cannot be more than three spatial dimensions.



I don’t understand the physics fully, so could someone please explain this to me? I know it’s been theorized that gravity is relatively weak when compared to other forces because it leeches into other dimensions, and I think I understand how these observations disprove that, but how does this prove that there must be three and only three spatial dimensions?






gravity gravitational-waves spacetime-dimensions







share|cite|improve this question













I recently read this article which claims that last year’s LIGO observation of gravitational waves is proof that, at least on massive scales, there cannot be more than three spatial dimensions.



I don’t understand the physics fully, so could someone please explain this to me? I know it’s been theorized that gravity is relatively weak when compared to other forces because it leeches into other dimensions, and I think I understand how these observations disprove that, but how does this prove that there must be three and only three spatial dimensions?






gravity gravitational-waves spacetime-dimensions




gravity gravitational-waves spacetime-dimensions






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asked 5 hours ago









DonielF

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  • 1




    Perhaps this previous question I asked and the answer therein would provide a little illumination (the question is regarding the same paper): physics.stackexchange.com/q/428790
    – enumaris
    4 hours ago













  • 1




    Perhaps this previous question I asked and the answer therein would provide a little illumination (the question is regarding the same paper): physics.stackexchange.com/q/428790
    – enumaris
    4 hours ago








1




1




Perhaps this previous question I asked and the answer therein would provide a little illumination (the question is regarding the same paper): physics.stackexchange.com/q/428790
– enumaris
4 hours ago





Perhaps this previous question I asked and the answer therein would provide a little illumination (the question is regarding the same paper): physics.stackexchange.com/q/428790
– enumaris
4 hours ago











1 Answer
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I’m the lead author of the paper. Thanks for being interested in the work! Your question is a good one. Really, our work can’t say anything about extra spatial dimensions if they’re not doing anything to gravity or light. As you correctly mention, we can only constrain higher dimensions where gravity is actually leaking into them.



If there are higher dimensions, but our physics experiments can’t see or hear them, are they really there? :p (this isn’t to say there might not be other ways of detecting extra spatial dimensions — but really, if they aren’t affecting physics in any measurable way, there’s not much we can say)






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up vote
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I’m the lead author of the paper. Thanks for being interested in the work! Your question is a good one. Really, our work can’t say anything about extra spatial dimensions if they’re not doing anything to gravity or light. As you correctly mention, we can only constrain higher dimensions where gravity is actually leaking into them.



If there are higher dimensions, but our physics experiments can’t see or hear them, are they really there? :p (this isn’t to say there might not be other ways of detecting extra spatial dimensions — but really, if they aren’t affecting physics in any measurable way, there’s not much we can say)






share|cite|improve this answer








New contributor




kris is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

















  • welcome, kris!!
    – niels nielsen
    6 mins ago














up vote
4
down vote













I’m the lead author of the paper. Thanks for being interested in the work! Your question is a good one. Really, our work can’t say anything about extra spatial dimensions if they’re not doing anything to gravity or light. As you correctly mention, we can only constrain higher dimensions where gravity is actually leaking into them.



If there are higher dimensions, but our physics experiments can’t see or hear them, are they really there? :p (this isn’t to say there might not be other ways of detecting extra spatial dimensions — but really, if they aren’t affecting physics in any measurable way, there’s not much we can say)






share|cite|improve this answer








New contributor




kris is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.

















  • welcome, kris!!
    – niels nielsen
    6 mins ago












up vote
4
down vote










up vote
4
down vote









I’m the lead author of the paper. Thanks for being interested in the work! Your question is a good one. Really, our work can’t say anything about extra spatial dimensions if they’re not doing anything to gravity or light. As you correctly mention, we can only constrain higher dimensions where gravity is actually leaking into them.



If there are higher dimensions, but our physics experiments can’t see or hear them, are they really there? :p (this isn’t to say there might not be other ways of detecting extra spatial dimensions — but really, if they aren’t affecting physics in any measurable way, there’s not much we can say)






share|cite|improve this answer








New contributor




kris is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









I’m the lead author of the paper. Thanks for being interested in the work! Your question is a good one. Really, our work can’t say anything about extra spatial dimensions if they’re not doing anything to gravity or light. As you correctly mention, we can only constrain higher dimensions where gravity is actually leaking into them.



If there are higher dimensions, but our physics experiments can’t see or hear them, are they really there? :p (this isn’t to say there might not be other ways of detecting extra spatial dimensions — but really, if they aren’t affecting physics in any measurable way, there’s not much we can say)







share|cite|improve this answer








New contributor




kris is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









share|cite|improve this answer



share|cite|improve this answer






New contributor




kris is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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answered 2 hours ago









kris

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kris is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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kris is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.











  • welcome, kris!!
    – niels nielsen
    6 mins ago
















  • welcome, kris!!
    – niels nielsen
    6 mins ago















welcome, kris!!
– niels nielsen
6 mins ago




welcome, kris!!
– niels nielsen
6 mins ago

















 

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