arXiv subjects

Alessia Platania

Publications and source records attributed to Alessia Platania.

36 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2021

Asymptotic Safety: Swampland or Wonderland?

We investigate the consequences of combining swampland conjectures with the requirement of asymptotic safety. To this end, we explore the infrared regime of asymptotically safe gravity in the quadratic one-loop approximation, and we identify the hypersurface spanned by the endpoints of asymptotically safe renormalization group trajectories. These comprise the allowed values of higher-derivative couplings as well as standard logarithmic form factors. We determine the intersection of this hypersurface with the regions of parameter space allowed by the weak-gravity conjecture, the swampland de Sitter conjecture, and the trans-Planckian censorship conjecture. The latter two depend on some order-one constants, for generic values of which we show that the overlap region is a proper subspace of the asymptotically safe hypersurface. Moreover, the latter lies inside the region allowed by the weak gravity conjecture assuming electromagnetic duality. Our results suggest a non-trivial interplay between the consistency conditions stemming from ultraviolet completeness of the RG flow, black hole physics, and cosmology.

hep-th↗

arXiv2021

Cosmological $α'$-corrections from the functional renormalization group

We employ the techniques of the Functional Renormalization Group in string theory, in order to derive an effective mini-superspace action for cosmological backgrounds to all orders in the string scale $α'$. To this end, T-duality plays a crucial role, classifying all perturbative curvature corrections in terms of a single function of the Hubble parameter. The resulting renormalization group equations admit an exact, albeit non-analytic, solution in any spacetime dimension $D$, which is however incompatible with Einstein gravity at low energies. Within an $ε$-expansion about $D=2$, we also find an analytic solution which exhibits a non-Gaussian ultraviolet fixed point with positive Newton coupling, as well as an acceptable low-energy limit. Yet, within polynomial truncations of the full theory space, we find no evidence for an analog of this solution in $D=4$. Finally, we comment on potential cosmological implications of our findings.

hep-th↗

arXiv2020

Non-perturbative unitarity and fictitious ghosts in quantum gravity

We discuss aspects of non-perturbative unitarity in quantum field theory. The additional ghost degrees of freedom arising in "truncations" of an effective action at a finite order in derivatives could be fictitious degrees of freedom. Their contributions to the fully-dressed propagator -- the residues of the corresponding ghost-like poles -- vanish once all operators compatible with the symmetry of the theory are included in the effective action. These "fake ghosts" do not indicate a violation of unitarity.

hep-th↗

arXiv2020

Lorentz invariance violations in the interplay of quantum gravity with matter

We explore the interplay of matter with quantum gravity with a preferred frame to highlight that the matter sector cannot be protected from the symmetry-breaking effects in the gravitational sector. Focusing on Abelian gauge fields, we show that quantum gravitational radiative corrections induce Lorentz-invariance-violating couplings for the Abelian gauge field. In particular, we discuss how such a mechanism could result in the possibility to translate observational constraints on Lorentz violation in the matter sector into strong constraints on the Lorentz-violating gravitational couplings.

hep-th↗

arXiv2020

From renormalization group flows to cosmology

According to the asymptotic-safety conjecture, the gravitational renormalization group flow features an ultraviolet-attractive fixed point that makes the theory renormalizable and ultraviolet complete. The existence of this fixed point entails an antiscreening of the gravitational interaction at short distances. In this paper we review the state-of-the-art of phenomenology of Asymptotically Safe Gravity, focusing on the implications of the gravitational antiscreening in cosmology.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2020

Gravitational antiscreening in stellar interiors

A new class of relativistic stellar structure equations which include the effects of an energy-dependent Newton coupling is presented. Significant modifications in the mass-radius relation for neutron stars are possible only if the running of the Newton coupling due to quantum gravity occurs at low energies. A new Buchdahl limit is derived and its physical implications are discussed. In particular, sub-Planckian self-gravitating objects with arbitrarily small radii are possible.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2019

The inflationary mechanism in Asymptotically Safe Gravity

According to the asymptotic safety conjecture, gravity is a renormalizable quantum field theory whose continuum limit is defined by an interacting fixed point of the renormalization group flow. In these proceedings we review some implications of the existence of this non-trivial fixed point in cosmological contexts. Specifically, we discuss a toy model exemplifying how the departure from the fixed-point regime can explain the approximate scale-invariance of the power spectrum of temperature fluctuations in the cosmic microwave background.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2019

Dynamical renormalization of black-hole spacetimes

We construct a black-hole spacetime which includes the running of the gravitational coupling in a self-consistent way. Starting from a classical Schwarzschild black hole, the backreaction effects produced by the running Newton's coupling are taken into account iteratively. The sequence, described by a simple recurrence relation, flows towards a self-consistent solution that can be derived analytically. As a key result, if the gravitational renormalization group flow attains a non-trivial fixed point at high energies, the sequence converges to a "renormalized" black-hole spacetime of the Dymnikova-type, which is free of singularities.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2018

Cosmological bounds on the field content of asymptotically safe gravity-matter models

We use the non-Gaussian fixed points (NGFPs) appearing in the renormalization group flow of gravity and gravity-matter systems to construct models of NGFP-driven inflation via a renormalization group improvement scheme. The cosmological predictions of these models depend sensitively on the characteristic properties of the NGFPs, including their position and stability coefficients, which in turn are determined by the field content of the underlying matter sector. We demonstrate that the NGFPs appearing in gravity-matter systems where the matter content is close to the one of the standard model of particle physics are the ones compatible with cosmological data. Somewhat counterintuitively, the negative fixed point value of the dimensionless cosmological constant is essential for these findings.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2018

Towards conditions for black-hole singularity-resolution in asymptotically safe quantum gravity

We explore the fate of the curvature singularity of Schwarzschild (deSitter) black holes in asymptotically safe quantum gravity. Specifically, we upgrade the classical spacetime by including the running of the Newton coupling and cosmological constant. In this setting, the antiscreening character of the gravitational interaction can remove the singularity, yet a nonzero value of the cosmological constant in the ultraviolet appears to reintroduce it. We find hints that a finite value of the cosmological constant in the infrared is compatible with singularity resolution provided that the cosmological constant is driven to zero fast enough in the ultraviolet. We compare the corresponding bounds on the critical exponents to the literature.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2017

Gravitational collapse in Quantum Einstein Gravity

The existence of spacetime singularities is one of the biggest problems of nowadays physics. According to Penrose, each physical singularity should be covered by a "cosmic censor" which prevents any external observer from perceiving their existence. However, classical models describing the gravitational collapse usually results in strong curvature singularities, which can also remain "naked" for a finite amount of advanced time. This proceedings studies the modifications induced by Asymptotically Safe Gravity on the gravitational collapse of generic Vaidya spacetimes. It will be shown that, for any possible choice of the mass function, Quantum Gravity makes the internal singularity gravitationally weak, thus allowing a continuous extension of the spacetime beyond the singularity.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2017

Bouncing and emergent cosmologies from ADM RG flows

The Asymptotically Safe Gravity provides a framework for the description of gravity from the trans-Planckian regime to cosmological scales. According to this scenario, the cosmological constant and Newton's coupling are functions of the energy scale whose evolution is dictated by the renormalization group equations. The formulation of the renormalization group equations on foliated spacetimes, based on the Arnowitt-Deser-Misner (ADM) formalism, furnishes a natural way to construct the RG energy scale from the spectrum of the laplacian operator on the spatial slices. Combining this idea with a Renormalization Group improvement procedure, in this work we study quantum gravitational corrections to the Einstein-Hilbert action on Friedmann-Lemaître-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) backgrounds. The resulting quantum-corrected Friedmann equations can give rise to both bouncing cosmologies and emergent universe solutions. Our bouncing models do not require the presence of exotic matter and emergent universe solutions can be constructed for any allowed topology of the spatial slices.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2017

Functional Renormalization Group flows on Friedman-Lema\^ıtre-Robertson-Walker backgrounds

We reanalyze the construction of the gravitational functional renormalization group equation tailored to the Arnowitt-Deser-Misner formulation emphasizing its connection to the covariant formulation. The results obtained from projecting the renormalization group flow onto the Einstein-Hilbert action are reviewed in detail and we provide a novel example illustrating how the formalism may be connected to the Causal Dynamical Triangulations approach to quantum gravity.

hep-th↗

arXiv2017

Cosmic Censorship in Quantum Einstein Gravity

We study the quantum gravity modification of the Kuroda-Papapetrou model induced by the running of the Newton's constant at high energy in Quantum Einstein Gravity. We argue that although the antiscreening character of the gravitational interaction favours the formation of a naked singularity, quantum gravity effects turn the classical singularity into a "whimper" singularity which remains naked for a finite amount of advanced time.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2017

Renormalization group fixed points of foliated gravity-matter systems

We employ the Arnowitt-Deser-Misner formalism to study the renormalization group flow of gravity minimally coupled to an arbitrary number of scalar, vector, and Dirac fields. The decomposition of the gravitational degrees of freedom into a lapse function, shift vector, and spatial metric equips spacetime with a preferred (Euclidean) "time"-direction. In this work, we provide a detailed derivation of the renormalization group flow of Newton's constant and the cosmological constant on a flat Friedmann-Robertson-Walker background. Adding matter fields, it is shown that their contribution to the flow is the same as in the covariant formulation and can be captured by two parameters $d_g$, $d_λ$. We classify the resulting fixed point structure as a function of these parameters finding that the existence of non-Gaussian renormalization group fixed points is rather generic. In particular the matter content of the standard model and its most common extensions gives rise to one non-Gaussian fixed point with real critical exponents suitable for Asymptotic Safety. Moreover, we find non-Gaussian fixed points for any number of scalar matter fields, making the scenario attractive for cosmological model building.

hep-th↗

arXiv2016

Quantum gravity on foliated spacetime - asymptotically safe and sound

Asymptotic Safety provides a mechanism for constructing a consistent and predictive quantum theory of gravity valid on all length scales. Its key ingredient is a non-Gaussian fixed point of the gravitational renormalization group flow which controls the scaling of couplings and correlation functions at high energy. In this work we use a functional renormalization group equation adapted to the ADM-formalism for evaluating the gravitational renormalization group flow on a cosmological Friedmann-Robertson-Walker background. Besides possessing the UV-non-Gaussian fixed point characteristic for Asymptotic Safety the setting exhibits a second non-Gaussian fixed point with a positive Newton's constant and real critical exponents. The new fixed point alters the phase diagram in such a way that all renormalization group trajectories connected to classical general relativity are well-defined on all length scales. In particular a positive cosmological constant is dynamically driven to zero in the deep infrared. Moreover, the scaling dimensions associated with the universality classes emerging within the causal setting exhibit qualitative agreement with results found within the $ε$-expansion around two dimensions, Monte Carlo simulations based on Lattice Quantum Gravity, and the discretized Wheeler-deWitt equation.

hep-th↗

arXiv2015

Asymptotically safe inflation from quadratic gravity

Asymptotically Safe theories of gravity have recently received much attention. In this work we discuss a class of inflationary models derived from quantum-gravity modification of quadratic gravity according to the induced scaling around the non-Gaussian fixed point at very high energies. It is argued that the presence of a three dimensional ultraviolet critical surface generates operators of non-integer power of the type $R^{2-θ/2}$ in the effective Lagrangian, where $θ>0$ is a critical exponent. The requirement of a successful inflationary model in agreement with the recent Planck 2015 data puts important constraints on the strenght of this new type of couplings.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2014

Top mass determination, Higgs inflation, and vacuum stability

The possibility that new physics beyond the Standard Model (SM) appears only at the Planck scale $M_P$ is often considered. However, it is usually argued that new physics interactions at $M_P$ do not affect the SM stability phase diagram, so the latter is obtained neglecting these terms. According to this diagram, for the current experimental values of the top and Higgs masses, our universe lives in a metastable state (with very long lifetime), near the edge of stability. Contrary to these expectations, however, we show that the stability phase diagram strongly depends on new physics and that, despite claims to the contrary, a more precise determination of the top (as well as of the Higgs) mass will not allow to discriminate between stability, metastability or criticality of the electroweak vacuum. At the same time, we show that the conditions needed for the realization of Higgs inflation scenarios (all obtained neglecting new physics) are too sensitive to the presence of new interactions at $M_P$. Therefore, Higgs inflation scenarios require very severe fine tunings that cast serious doubts on these models.

hep-ph↗