Quantum Corrections to the Gravitational Backreaction

Abstract

Effective Field Theory techniques are used to study the leading order quantum corrections to the gravitational wave backreaction. The effective stress-energy tensor is calculated and it is shown that it has a non-vanishing trace that contributes to the cosmological constant. By comparing the result obtained with LIGO's data, the first bound on the amplitude of the massive mode is found: $\epsilon < 1.4\times 10^{-33}$.