Principle of equivalence at Planck scales and the zero-point length of spacetime — A synergistic description of quantum matter and geometry

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (14) ◽  
pp. 2042005
Author(s):  
T. Padmanabhan

At mesoscopic scales close to, but somewhat larger than, Planck length, one could describe quantum spacetime and matter in terms of a quantum-corrected geometry. The key feature of such a description is the introduction of a zero-point length into the spacetime. When we proceed from quantum geometry to quantum matter, the zero-point length will introduce corrections in the propagator of matter field in a specific manner. On the other hand, one cannot ignore the self-gravity of matter fields at the mesoscopic scales and this will also modify the form of the propagator. Consistency demands that these two modifications coming from two different directions are the same. I show that this nontrivial demand is actually satisfied. Surprisingly, the principle of equivalence, operating at Planck scales, ensures this consistency in a subtle manner.

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (32) ◽  
pp. 2375-2389 ◽  
Author(s):  
PHILIP D. MANNHEIM

We propose that gravity be intrinsically quantum-mechanical, so that in the absence of quantum mechanics the geometry of the universe would be Minkowski. We show that in such a situation gravity does not require any independent quantization of its own, with it being quantized simply by virtue of its being coupled to the quantized matter fields that serve as its source. We show that when the gravitational and matter fields possess an underlying conformal symmetry, the gravitational field and fermionic matter-field zero-point fluctuations cancel each other identically. Then, when the fermions acquire mass by a dynamical symmetry breaking procedure that induces a cosmological constant in such conformal theories, the zero-point fluctuations readjust so as to cancel the induced cosmological constant identically. The zero-point vacuum problem and the cosmological constant vacuum problems thus mutually solve each other. We illustrate our ideas in a completely solvable conformal-invariant model, namely two-dimensional quantum Einstein gravity coupled to a Nambu–Jona-Lasinio self-consistent fermion.


2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (08) ◽  
pp. 1450073 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luca Fabbri

We will consider the least-order torsional completion of gravity for a spacetime filled with fermionic Dirac matter fields, and we study the effects of the background-induced nonlinear potentials for the matter field themselves, in terms of their effects for both standard models of physics: from the one of cosmology to that of particles, we will discuss the mechanisms of generation of the cosmological constant and particles masses as well as the phenomenology of leptonic weak-like forces and neutrino oscillations, the problem of zero-point energy, how there can be neutral massive fields as candidates for dark matter, and the avoidance of gravitationally-induced singularity formation; we will show the way in which all these different effects can nevertheless be altogether described in terms of just a single model, which will be discussed in the beginning.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Keiya Ishiguro ◽  
Tatsuo Kobayashi ◽  
Hajime Otsuka

Abstract We study the impacts of matter field Kähler metric on physical Yukawa couplings in string compactifications. Since the Kähler metric is non-trivial in general, the kinetic mixing of matter fields opens a new avenue for realizing a hierarchical structure of physical Yukawa couplings, even when holomorphic Yukawa couplings have the trivial structure. The hierarchical Yukawa couplings are demonstrated by couplings of pure untwisted modes on toroidal orbifolds and their resolutions in the context of heterotic string theory with standard embedding. Also, we study the hierarchical couplings among untwisted and twisted modes on resolved orbifolds.


1966 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 313-335 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Van Kranendonk ◽  
V. F. Sears

The effects of the interaction between the rotational motion of the molecules in solid hydrogen and the lattice vibrations, resulting from the anisotropic van der Waals forces, have been investigated theoretically. For the radial part of the anisotropic intermolecular potential an exp–6 model has been adopted. First, the effect of the lattice vibrations, and of the anistropic blowing up of the crystal by the zero-point lattice vibrations, is discussed. The effective anisotropic interaction resulting from averaging the instantaneous interaction over the lattice vibrations is calculated by assuming a Gaussian distribution for the modulation of the relative intermolecular separations by the lattice vibrations. Secondly, the displacement of the rotational levels due to the self-energy of the molecules in the lattice is calculated both classically and quantum mechanically, and the resulting shifts in the frequencies of the rotational transitions in solid hydrogen are given. Finally, the splitting of the rotational levels due to the anisotropy of the self-energy effect is calculated. The theory is applied to the calculation of the asymmetry of the S0(0) triplet in the rotational Raman spectrum of solid parahydrogen, and of the specific heat anomaly in solid hydrogen at low ortho-concentrations.


2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (33) ◽  
pp. 1750193 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Srinivas ◽  
R. P. Malik

We derive the off-shell nilpotent symmetries of the two [Formula: see text]-dimensional (2D) non-Abelian 1-form gauge theory by using the theoretical techniques of the geometrical superfield approach to Becchi–Rouet–Stora–Tyutin (BRST) formalism. For this purpose, we exploit the augmented version of superfield approach (AVSA) and derive theoretically useful nilpotent (anti-)BRST, (anti-)co-BRST symmetries and Curci–Ferrari (CF)-type restrictions for the self-interacting 2D non-Abelian 1-form gauge theory (where there is no interaction with matter fields). The derivation of the (anti-)co-BRST symmetries and all possible CF-type restrictions are completely novel results within the framework of AVSA to BRST formalism where the ordinary 2D non-Abelian theory is generalized onto an appropriately chosen [Formula: see text]-dimensional supermanifold. The latter is parametrized by the superspace coordinates [Formula: see text] where [Formula: see text] (with [Formula: see text]) are the bosonic coordinates and a pair of Grassmannian variables [Formula: see text] obey the relationships: [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]. The topological nature of our 2D theory allows the existence of a tower of CF-type restrictions.


2020 ◽  
Vol 640 ◽  
pp. L15
Author(s):  
Ayano Nakajima ◽  
Shigeru Ida ◽  
Yota Ishigaki

Context. Saturn’s mid-sized moons (satellites) have a puzzling orbital configuration with trapping in mean-motion resonances with every-other pairs (Mimas-Tethys 4:2 and Enceladus-Dione 2:1). To reproduce their current orbital configuration on the basis of a recent model of satellite formation from a hypothetical ancient massive ring, adjacent pairs must pass first-order mean-motion resonances without being trapped. Aims. The trapping could be avoided by fast orbital migration and/or excitation of the satellite’s eccentricity caused by gravitational interactions between the satellites and the rings (the disk), which are still unknown. In our research we investigate the satellite orbital evolution due to interactions with the disk through full N-body simulations. Methods. We performed global high-resolution N-body simulations of a self-gravitating particle disk interacting with a single satellite. We used N ∼ 105 particles for the disk. Gravitational forces of all the particles and their inelastic collisions are taken into account. Results. Dense short-wavelength wake structure is created by the disk self-gravity and a few global spiral arms are induced by the satellite. The self-gravity wakes regulate the orbital evolution of the satellite, which has been considered as a disk spreading mechanism, but not as a driver for the orbital evolution. Conclusions. The self-gravity wake torque to the satellite is so effective that the satellite migration is much faster than was predicted with the spiral arm torque. It provides a possible model to avoid the resonance capture of adjacent satellite pairs and establish the current orbital configuration of Saturn’s mid-sized satellites.


2014 ◽  
Vol 29 (30) ◽  
pp. 1430034 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilya L. Shapiro ◽  
Ana M. Pelinson ◽  
Filipe de O. Salles

Understanding the role of higher derivatives is probably one of the most relevant questions in quantum gravity theory. Already at the semiclassical level, when gravity is a classical background for quantum matter fields, the action of gravity should include fourth derivative terms to provide renormalizability in the vacuum sector. The same situation holds in the quantum theory of metric. At the same time, including the fourth derivative terms means the presence of massive ghosts, which are gauge-independent massive states with negative kinetic energy. At both classical and quantum level such ghosts violate stability and hence the theory becomes inconsistent. Several approaches to solve this contradiction were invented and we are proposing one more, which looks simpler than those what were considered before. We explore the dynamics of the gravitational waves on the background of classical solutions and give certain arguments that massive ghosts produce instability only when they are present as physical particles. At least on the cosmological background one can observe that if the initial frequency of the metric perturbations is much smaller than the mass of the ghost, no instabilities are present.


2000 ◽  
Vol 529 (1) ◽  
pp. 109-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroyuki Fukuda ◽  
Asao Habe ◽  
Keiichi Wada

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