arXiv subjects

Astrid Eichhorn

Publications and source records attributed to Astrid Eichhorn.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2023

Light fermions in color: why the quark mass is not the Planck mass

We investigate whether quantum gravity fluctuations can break chiral symmetry for fermions that are charged under a $U(1)$ and an $SU(N_\text{c})$ gauge symmetry and thus closely resemble Standard-Model fermions. Unbroken chiral symmetry in the quantum-gravity regime is a necessary prerequisite to recover the Standard Model from a joint gravity-matter theory; if chiral symmetry is broken by quantum gravity, fermions cannot generically be much lighter than the Planck mass and the theory is ruled out. To answer this, we work in a Fierz-complete basis of four-fermion interactions and explore whether they are driven to criticality. We discover that the interplay of quantum gravity with the non-Abelian gauge theory results in chiral symmetry breaking, because gravitational and gauge field fluctuations act together to produce bound states. Chiral symmetry breaking is triggered by four-fermion channels that first appear when non-Abelian charges are introduced and that become critical if the non-Abelian symmetry is gauged. Extrapolating our result to the Standard Model fermions, we conjecture that the non-Abelian gauge coupling, Abelian gauge coupling and Newton coupling are all bounded from above, if Standard Model fermions are to remain much lighter than the Planck mass. In contrast, fermions that are charged under a global non-Abelian group can remain light for arbitrarily large values of the Newton coupling. We find that different chiral symmetries are emergent at low energies, depending on the strength of the gravitational coupling. This is an example of fixed points with different degrees of enhanced global symmetry trading stability in fixed-point collisions driven by gravitational fluctuations.

hep-th↗

arXiv2023

Towards a bound on the Higgs mass in causal set quantum gravity

In the Standard Model of particle physics, the mass of the Higgs particle can be linked to the scale at which the Standard Model breaks down due to a Landau pole/triviality problem: for a Higgs mass somewhat higher than the measured value, the Standard Model breaks down before the Planck scale. We take a first step towards investigating this relation in the context of causal set quantum gravity. We use a scalar-field propagator that carries the imprints of spacetime discreteness in a modified ultraviolet behavior that depends on a nonlocality scale. We investigate whether the modification can shift the scale of the Landau pole in a scalar field theory with quartic interaction. We discover that the modifications speed up the onset of the Landau pole considerably, so that the scale of new physics occurs roughly at the nonlocality scale. Our results call into question, whether a separation between the nonlocality scale and the discreteness scale, which is postulated within causal set quantum gravity, and which has been argued to give rise to phenomenological consequences, is in fact achievable. Methodologically, our paper is the first to apply continuum functional Renormalization Group techniques in the context of a causal-set inspired setting.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2023

Shift-symmetric Horndeski gravity in the asymptotic-safety paradigm

Horndeski gravity is a popular contender for a phenomenological model of dynamical dark energy, and as such subject to observational constraints. In this work, we ask whether Horndeski gravity can be more than a phenomenological model and instead become a fundamental theory, which extends towards high energy scales and includes quantum effects. We find that within the asymptotic-safety paradigm, an ultraviolet completion of a simple class of models of Horndeski gravity is achievable, but places strong constraints on the couplings of the theory. These constraints are not compatible with dynamical dark energy. Further, we find a similar result in an effective-field theory approach to this class of models of Horndeski gravity: under the assumption that there is no new strongly-coupled physics below the Planck scale, quantum gravity fluctuations force the Horndeski couplings to be too small to achieve an explanation of dynamical dark energy.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2023

Higher-order curvature operators in causal set quantum gravity

We construct higher-order curvature invariants in causal set quantum gravity. The motivation for this work is twofold: first, to characterize causal sets, discrete operators that encode geometric information on the emergent spacetime manifold, e.g., its curvature invariants, are indispensable. Second, to make contact with the asymptotic-safety approach to quantum gravity in Lorentzian signature and find a second-order phase transition in the phase diagram for causal sets, going beyond the discrete analogue of the Einstein-Hilbert action may be critical.\\ Therefore, we generalize the discrete d'Alembertian, which encodes the Ricci scalar, to higher orders. We prove that curvature invariants of the form $R^2 -2 \Box R$ (and similar invariants at higher powers of derivatives) arise in the continuum limit.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2022

Black holes in asymptotically safe gravity and beyond

Asymptotically safe quantum gravity is an approach to quantum gravity that achieves formulates a standard quantum field theory for the metric. Therefore, even the deep quantum gravity regime, that is expected to determine the true structure of the core of black holes, is described by a spacetime metric. The essence of asymptotic safety lies in a new symmetry of the theory -- quantum scale symmetry -- which characterizes the short-distance regime of quantum gravity. It implies the absence of physical scales. Therefore, the Newton coupling, which corresponds to a scale, namely the Planck length, must vanish asymptotically in the short-distance regime. This implies a weakening of the gravitational interaction, from which a resolution of classical spacetime singularities can be expected. In practise, properties of black holes in asymptotically safe quantum gravity cannot yet be derived from first principles, but are constructed using a heuristic procedure known as Renormalization Group improvement. The resulting asymptotic-safety inspired black holes have been constructed both for vanishing and for nonvanishing spin parameter. They are characterized by (i) the absence of curvature singularities, (ii) a more compact event horizon and photon sphere, (iii) a second (inner) horizon even at vanishing spin and (iv) a cold remnant as a possible final product of the Hawking evaporation. Observations can start to constrain the quantum-gravity scale that can be treated as a free parameter in asymptotic-safety inspired black holes. For slowly-spinning black holes, constraints from the EHT and X-ray observations can only constrain quantum-gravity scales far above the Planck length. In the limit of near-critical spin, asymptotic-safety inspired black holes may ``light up" in a way the ngEHT may be sensitive to, even for a quantum-gravity scale equalling the Planck length.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2022

Asymptotic safety of gravity with matter

The asymptotic-safety paradigm posits that the symmetry of quantum theories of gravity and matter is enhanced to quantum scale symmetry, i.e., scale symmetry in the presence of quantum fluctuations, at very high energies. To achieve such a symmetry enhancement, the effect of quantum fluctuations must balance out. It is to be expected that such a balance can only be achieved within a set of theories with limited field content and interaction structure. In this chapter, we review how much is known about these limits. From the quantum scale invariant regime, the theory transits to a theory with distinct physical scales - most importantly masses for various elementary particles - at low energies. There, quantum scale invariance can leave its imprint in relations between various interactions and mass scales of the theory. These relations can be compared to experimental data, which has two possible implications: first, if the relations do not match the data, the underlying quantum theory of gravity and matter, formulated at and beyond the Planck scale, has been ruled out using experimental data from energies much below the Planck scale. Second, if the relations match the data, the asymptotic-safety paradigm provides a first-principles derivation of free parameters of the Standard Model. Most importantly, this may include the ratios of the Higgs mass to the electroweak scale as well as the value of the finestructure constant. Similarly, theories beyond the Standard Model may come with fewer free parameters than in their effective-field-theory incarnation without gravity. This may lead to an explanation of the smallness of neutrinos masses and predictions for the nature and interactions of dark matter.

hep-th↗

arXiv2022

Climate impacts of particle physics

The pursuit of particle physics requires a stable and prosperous society. Today, our society is increasingly threatened by global climate change. Human-influenced climate change has already impacted weather patterns, and global warming will only increase unless deep reductions in emissions of CO$_2$ and other greenhouse gases are achieved. Current and future activities in particle physics need to be considered in this context, either on the moral ground that we have a responsibility to leave a habitable planet to future generations, or on the more practical ground that, because of their scale, particle physics projects and activities will be under scrutiny for their impact on the climate. In this white paper for the U.S. Particle Physics Community Planning Exercise ("Snowmass"), we examine several contexts in which the practice of particle physics has impacts on the climate. These include the construction of facilities, the design and operation of particle detectors, the use of large-scale computing, and the research activities of scientists. We offer recommendations on establishing climate-aware practices in particle physics, with the goal of reducing our impact on the climate. We invite members of the community to show their support for a sustainable particle physics field (https://indico.fnal.gov/event/53795/).

physics.soc-ph↗

arXiv2022

Frontiers of Quantum Gravity: shared challenges, converging directions

Understanding the quantum nature of spacetime and gravity remains one of the most ambitious goals of theoretical physics. It promises to provide key new insights into fundamental particle theory, astrophysics, cosmology and the foundations of physics. Despite this common goal, the community of quantum gravity researchers is sometimes seen as divided into sub-communities working on different, mutually exclusive approaches. In practice however, recent years have shown the emergence of common techniques, results and physical ideas arising from different sub-communities, suggesting exciting new prospects for collaboration and interaction between traditionally distinct approaches. In this White Paper we discuss some of the common themes which have seen a growing interest from various directions, and argue that focusing on them will help the quantum gravity community as a whole towards shared objectives.

hep-th↗

arXiv2022

Quantum gravity lights up spinning black holes

Quantum-gravity effects in black holes are generally expected to be unobservable if they set in at transplanckian curvature scales. Here, we challenge this expectation. A near-critical spin parameter can serve as a lever arm that translates Planckian quantum-gravity effects to a global change in the spacetime: the horizon dissolves and the black hole "lights up". We investigate this transition between a black hole and a horizonless spacetime and find that additional lensing features appear instantaneously, when the quantum-gravity effect is added. In the presence of an accretion disk, a second set of internal photon rings appears in addition to the exponentially stacked set of external photon rings. The internal and external photon rings merge into cresent-like features as a function of increasing spin parameter. We explore how these simulated images would be reconstructed by a radio-very-long-baseline-interferometry array like the Event Horizon Telescope. We find that a future next-generation Event Horizon Telescope may be sensitive to the additional lensing features.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2022

Parameterizations of black-hole spacetimes beyond circularity

We discuss parameterizations of black-hole spacetimes in and beyond General Relativity in view of their symmetry constraints: within the class of axisymmetric, stationary spacetimes, we propose a parameterization that includes non-circular spacetimes, both in Boyer-Lindquist as well as in horizon-penetrating coordinates. We show how existing parameterizations, which make additional symmetry assumptions (first, circularity; second, a hidden constant of motion), are included in the new parameterization. Further, we explain why horizon-penetrating coordinates may be more suitable to parameterize non-circular deviations from the Kerr geometry. Our investigation is motivated by our result that the regular, spinning black-hole spacetimes proposed in [1,2] are non-circular. This particular deviation from circularity can result in cusps, a dent and an asymmetry in the photon rings surrounding the black-hole shadow. Finally, we explore a new class of non-circular deviations from Kerr black holes, which promote the spin parameter to a function, and find indications that regularity cannot be achieved in this setting. This result strengthens the case for regular black holes based on a promotion of the mass parameter to a function.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2022

Are there ALPs in the asymptotically safe landscape?

We investigate axion-like particles (ALPs) in the context of asymptotically safe gravity-matter systems. The ALP-photon interaction, which facilitates experimental searches for ALPs, is a dimension-5-operator. Quantum fluctuations of gravity lower its scaling dimension, and the ALP-photon coupling can become asymptotically free or even asymptotically safe. However, quantum fluctuations of gravity need to be strong to overcome the canonical scaling and this strong-gravity regime is in tension with the weak-gravity bound in asymptotic safety. Thus, we tentatively conclude that fundamental ALPs can likely not be accommodated in asymptotically safe gravity-matter systems. In turn, an experimental discovery of an ALP would thus shed valuable light on the quantum nature of gravity.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2022

Horizonless spacetimes as seen by present and next-generation Event Horizon Telescope arrays

We study the capabilities of present and future radio very-long-baseline-interferometry arrays to distinguish black holes from horizonless spacetimes. We consider an example of a horizonless spacetime, obtained by overspinning a regular black hole. Its image is distinct from the image of a Kerr spacetime due to a second set of photon rings interior to the shadow. These photon rings cannot be directly resolved by present and even next-generation Event Horizon telescope arrays, but instead imprint themselves in horizon-scale images as excess central brightness relative to that of a black hole. We demonstrate that future arrays can detect such indirect imprints.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2022

Dynamically vanishing Dirac neutrino mass from quantum scale symmetry

We present a mechanism which drives Dirac neutrino masses to tiny values along the Renormalization Group flow, starting from an asymptotically safe ultraviolet completion of the third generation of the Standard Model including quantum gravity. At the same time, the mechanism produces a mass-splitting between the neutrino and the quark sector and also generates the mass splitting between top and bottom quark. The mechanism hinges on the hypercharges of the fermions and produces a tiny neutrino Yukawa coupling, because the right-handed neutrino is sterile and does not carry hypercharge.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2022

Universal signatures of singularity-resolving physics in photon rings of black holes and horizonless objects

Within quantum-gravity approaches and beyond, different mechanisms for singularity resolution in black holes exist. Under a set of assumptions that we spell out in detail, these mechanisms leave their imprint in shadow images of spherically symmetric black holes. We find that even current EHT accuracy is sufficient to place nontrivial constraints on the scale of new physics within one modified spacetime, if the EHT measurement of M87* is combined with an independent measurement of the black-hole mass. In other spacetimes, increased accuracy is required that the next-generation EHT may deliver. We show how the combination of $n=1$ and $n=2$ photon rings is a powerful probe of the spacetime geometry of regular black holes, even when considering astrophysical uncertainties in accretion disks. Further, we generate images containing a localized emission region, inspired by the idea of hotspots in accretion flows. Finally, we investigate the photon-ring structure of a horizonless object, which is characterized by either two or no photon spheres. We show how photon rings annihilate each other, when there is no photon sphere in the spacetime.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2022

Status update: asymptotically safe gravity-matter systems

The field of asymptotically safe matter-gravity systems is maturing from the study of simple toy models to the exploration of sectors of the Standard Model and beyond. This status update reviews the current state of the art and points out open questions and future perspectives.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2022

Nonvanishing gravitational contribution to matter beta functions for vanishing dimensionful regulators

We explore the effect of quantum gravity on matter within a Renormalization Group framework. First, our results provide an explicit example of how misleading conclusions can be drawn by analyzing the gravitational contributions to beta functions, instead of analyzing universal quantities, such as critical exponents, that can be extracted from the beta functions. This could be key to explain differences between perturbative studies and Functional Renormalization Group studies. Second, we strengthen the evidence that asymptotically safe gravity could generate a predictive ultraviolet completion for matter theories with gauge interactions, even in the limit of vanishing dimensionful regulator function. We also find that the situation can be more subtle with higher-order, gravity-induced matter interactions.

hep-th↗

arXiv2022

The weak-gravity bound and the need for spin in asymptotically safe matter-gravity models

We discover a weak-gravity bound in scalar-gravity systems in the asymptotic-safety paradigm. The weak-gravity bound arises in these systems under the approximations we make, when gravitational fluctuations exceed a critical strength. Beyond this critical strength, gravitational fluctuations can generate complex fixed-point values in higher-order scalar interactions. Asymptotic safety can thus only be realized at sufficiently weak gravitational interactions. We find that within truncations of the matter-gravity dynamics, the fixed point lies beyond the critical strength, unless spinning matter, i.e., fermions and vectors, is also included in the model.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2021

The weak-gravity bound in asymptotically safe gravity-gauge systems

The weak-gravity bound has been discovered in asymptotically safe gravity-matter systems, where it limits the maximum strength of gravitational fluctuations. In the present paper, we explore it for the first time in systems with more than one gauge field, to discover whether systems with 12 gauge fields (like the Standard Model) exhibit a weak-gravity bound and whether the gravitational fixed point evades it. Further, we test the robustness of the present and previous results on the weak-gravity bound by exploring their dependence on a gravitational gauge parameter. Finally, the existence of the weak-gravity bound also has important phenomenological consequences: it is key to a proposed mechanism that bounds the spacetime dimensionality from above to four or five dimensions. In this paper, we strengthen the evidence for this mechanism. Thus, the predictive power of the asymptotic safety paradigm could extend to parameters of the spacetime geometry, such that the four-dimensionality of our universe could be explained from first principles.

gr-qc↗