SearcharxivSearch

arXiv · 2207.05484

On the Weyl gravity extension of Higgs inflation

Abstract

We consider the embedding of Higgs inflation with a non-minimal coupling into the Weyl gravity. In this model, the effective current-current interactions from the heavy Weyl gauge field cancel the non-canonical Higgs kinetic term in Einstein frame, so the unitarity problem of the original Higgs inflation becomes less severe. For a simple case where the couplings of the heavy Weyl gauge field appears from the non-minimal couplings to the Ricci curvature scalar in Weyl gravity, we find that the resultant model for Higgs inflation is the same as in the Palatini formulation for Higgs inflation. The crucial difference of our model from the Palatini formulation for Higgs inflation is that there is a light Weyl gauge field coupled to the Higgs fields. We also generalize the unitarization of Higgs inflation with general covariant kinetic terms for the dilaton and the Higgs fields, and realize a successful Higgs inflation, interpolating between the Palatini formulation for Higgs inflation and a Higgs-like inflation. We also discuss the Higgs mechanism for the light Weyl gauge field with an extra singlet scalar and show some interesting signatures for Higgs physics, such as the overall suppression of Higgs couplings and the direct couplings of the light Weyl gauge field to the Higgs boson.

Explore related subjects

Keep this discovery

BibTeXRIS

Shuntaro Aoki, Hyun Min Lee. 2022-07-12. On the Weyl gravity extension of Higgs inflation. https://arxiv.org/abs/2207.05484

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related papers

Axionic Wormholes in Metric-Affine Gravity

The axion is a promising candidate for solving the strong CP problem. To solve this problem, the global U(1) symmetry must be preserved to a high degree of accuracy. However, it is well known that global symmetries are explicitly violated by quantum gravity effects, giving rise to what is referred to as the axion quality problem. In this paper, we investigate axionic wormholes as a source of explicit U(1) violation in Metric-Affine Gravity. This framework allows for spacetime torsion and non-metricity, which accommodate additional curvature-like and topological terms, such as the Holst and Nieh--Yan terms, that are absent from the metric and Palatini formalisms. We show that non-minimal couplings to these terms modify the wormhole dynamics and enhance the Euclidean wormhole action, thereby alleviating the axion quality problem. We also find that the viable parameter space is enlarged when two of these couplings are simultaneously present. We further identify representative parameter regions where the alleviation of the axion quality problem is compatible with inflationary constraints.

hep-ph

Qubit-Qutrit Quantum Tomography of hadronic $\Lambda\phi$ and $\Lambda K^{\ast 0}$ systems

Quantum-information observables have emerged in recent years as new tools in nuclear and particle physics, from entanglement in top-quark pairs to spin correlations in $\Lambda\bar{\Lambda}$ production. Extending these studies to unequal-spin hadronic final states poses a fundamental challenge: the $6\times6$ density matrix of a qubit-qutrit system contains 35 independent spin parameters, but the decays of $\Lambda V$ pairs, with $V=\phi$ or $K^{*0}$, provide access to only 23 due to the hidden vector polarization from the strong decay. In this Letter, we formulate a qubit-qutrit quantum tomography (QQQT) technique for these spin-$\tfrac{1}{2}\otimes1$ systems and establish exact criteria for entanglement certification from the \textit{incomplete} density matrix. Compared with the $\Lambda\bar{\Lambda}$ system, QQQT of $\Lambda\phi$ and $\Lambda K^{*0}$ provides a new probe of nonperturbative QCD hadronization, enabling a direct comparison of the spin evolution of entangled quark pairs produced from the vacuum as they hadronize into a baryon or a vector meson.

hep-ph

Twist decomposition of exclusive heavy meson production cross sections

We study the twist decomposition of the total cross sections for exclusive heavy vector meson electroproduction and photoproduction in the $\gamma^\ast p$ processes, within the leading logarithmic $1/x$ BFKL formalism. The Mellin transforms of the impact factors of the vector meson are calculated. We show that the higher twist contributions are strongly suppressed in the low-$x$ kinematical regime. Possible enhancement of the higher twists effects for nuclei targets is discussed.

hep-ph