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Cristobal Laporte

Publications and source records attributed to Cristobal Laporte.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2026

Starobinsky-inflation in asymptotically safe shift-symmetric scalar-tensor theory

We investigate the constraining power of scalaron-driven inflation on asymptotically safe scalar-tensor theories. Starting from a Horndeski-type theory and applying a renormalization group improvement procedure generates higher-derivative couplings which are fixed in terms of the microscopic parameters - a structure that is expected to occur also within first principle computations based on the asymptotic safety mechanism. The latter are taken to be the free parameters appearing at the Gaussian fixed point. We find that the free parameter initially associated with the non-minimal gravity-matter coupling is not confined to the gravity-matter sector of the theory and also enters the effective higher-derivative couplings in the gravitational sector. We review the setting of multi-field inflationary models which is appropriate to analyze the inflationary dynamics in this context and illustrate their applicability by working out the explicit bounds on the non-minimal gravity-matter coupling resulting from cosmological observations. Given the fixed point structure of asymptotically safe scalar-tensor theories, the results indicate that UV-completions by two of the three available non-Gaussian fixed points can be ruled out while pinpointing phenomenologically viable RG trajectories emanating from the third fixed point.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2025

Equivalence of scalar-tensor theories and scale-dependent gravity

We present a novel equivalence between scale-dependent gravity and scalar-tensor theories that have only a single scalar field with a canonical kinetic term in the Einstein frame and a conformal coupling to the metric tensor. In particular, we show that the set of well-behaved scale-dependent gravity theories can be fully embedded into scalar-tensor theories in a unique way. Conversely, there are multiple ways to write a scalar-tensor theory as a scale-dependent theory. This equivalence is established both on the level of the actions and on the level of field equations. We find that, in the context of this equivalence, the scale-setting relation $k(x)$ is naturally promoted to a dynamical field, which is made manifest by including a corresponding kinetic term in the scale-dependent action. In addition, we demonstrate that the new equivalence fits well into the framework of existing equivalences involving the aforementioned theories and $f(R)$-gravity. Finally, we apply the equivalence relations to explicit examples from both scale-dependent gravity and scalar-tensor theories.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2025

Zooming into the horizon region of black hole-type objects

A universal prediction of quantum gravity is that the dynamics of general relativity is augmented by interactions that are of higher order in the spacetime curvature. Numerical explorations indicate that such terms may have a drastic impact on black hole-type solutions by modifying the geometry close to the would-be event horizon in a substantial way. In this work, we perform the first systematic investigation of this blow-up mechanism within general relativity supplemented by quadratic gravity terms, the Goroff-Sagnotti counterterm, the combination of the two, and Einstein-Cubic Gravity. By studying linear perturbations of the Schwarzschild solution close to the Schwarzschild radius, we discover the following picture: the higher-derivative terms giving rise to extra degrees of freedom play a distinguished role. Once couplings associated with these terms enter the solution in the asymptotically flat region, a blow-up mechanism removes the event horizon and one deals with either a naked singularity or a wormhole. We believe that this finding is highly relevant when constraining the coefficients appearing in the Wilsonian description of gravity by observations.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2024

Universal black hole solutions for all F(R) gravitational theories

Extended gravitational models have gained large attention in the last couple of decades. In this work, we examine the solution space of vacuum, static, and spherically symmetric spacetimes within $F(R)$ theories, introducing novel methods that reduce the vacuum equations to a single second-order equation. For the first time, we derive analytic expressions for the metric functions in terms of the arbitrary functional $F(R)$, providing detailed insight into how the gravitational action impacts the structure of spacetime. We analyze conditions under which solutions are asymptotically flat, regular at the core, and contain an event horizon, obtaining explicit expressions for entropy, temperature, and specific heat in terms of $F(R)$. By using a single metric degree of freedom, we identify the most general solution and examine its (un)physical properties, showing that resolving singularities is not possible within this restricted framework in vacuum. For the general case involving two metric functions, we use several approximation schemes to explore corrections to Schwarzschild-(anti)de Sitter spacetimes, finding that $F(R)$ extensions to General Relativity induce instabilities that are not negligible. Finally, through an analysis of axial perturbations, we derived a general expression for the potential of quasinormal modes of a black hole as a function of the arbitrary Lagrangian.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2024

Rethinking the Effective Field Theory formulation of Gravity

General relativity is highly successful in explaining a wide range of gravitational phenomena including the gravitational waves emitted by binary systems and the shadows cast by supermassive black holes. From a modern perspective the theory is not fundamental though, but constitutes the lowest order term in an effective field theory description of the gravitational force. As a consequence, the gravitational dynamics should receive corrections by higher-derivative terms. This essay discusses structural aspects associated with these corrections and summarizes their imprint on static, spherically symmetric geometries. Along these lines, we critically reassess the common practice of using local field redefinitions in order to simplify the dynamics at the danger of shifting physics effects into sectors which are beyond the approximation under consideration.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2024

Cosmological constraints on scale-dependent cosmology

This paper examines a cosmological model of scale-dependent gravity. The gravitational action is taken to be the Einstein-Hilbert term supplemented with a cosmological constant, where the couplings, $G_k$ and $Λ_k$, run with the energy scale $k$. % Also, notice that, by construction, our formalism recovers general relativity when in the limit of constant Newton's coupling. % Two sub-models based on the scale-dependent cosmological model are confronted with recent observational data from: i) the Hubble parameter $H(z)$, ii) distance modulus $μ(z)$, and iii) baryon acoustic scale evolution as functions of redshift (BAO). % The viability of the model is discussed, obtaining the best-fit parameters and the maximum likelihood contours for these observables. Finally, a joint analysis is performed for $H(z)$+$μ(z)$+BAO.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2024

On the impact of perturbative counterterms on black holes

We determine the corrections to the Schwarzschild geometry arising from including the Goroff- Sagnotti counterterm in the gravitational dynamics. We find that static, asymptotically flat, and spherically symmetric geometries are completely characterized by their asymptotic mass and the coupling associated with the counterterm. The latter induces distinct corrections at sixth order of the parameterized post-Newtonian expansion. The resulting spacetime geometries still exhibit an event horizon. In the parameter space accessible to numerical integration, the horizon area is smaller than its Schwarzschild counterpart, leading to an increase in the Hawking temperature. Corrections to the shadow size can be determined analytically and are used to give a first bound on the new coupling. While it is difficult to access the geometry inside of the event horizon, our analysis also provides evidence that the counterterm could resolve the curvature singularity appearing in the Schwarzschild geometry.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2022

The effects of running gravitational coupling on three dimensional black holes

In the present work, we investigate the consequences of running gravitational coupling on the properties of the three-dimensional BTZ black hole. We take as starting point the functional form of gravitational coupling obtained in the context of asymptotic safe gravity theory. By using the standard scale setting relation where $k\sim ξ/r^n$, we compute the solution of the Einstein field equations. We get and analyze the horizon and the thermodynamic properties of this new class of black hole solutions. The impact of the scale--dependent parameter $ξ$ on the cosmological "constant" and metric functions are briefly discussed. We find that the null energy condition is also violated in this setup when scale-dependent gravity and Newton's coupling (coming from the asymptotic safety scenario of gravity) are simultaneously taken into account.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2022

Evidence for a novel shift-symmetric universality class from the functional renormalization group

Wetterich's equation provides a powerful tool for investigating the existence and universal properties of renormalization group fixed points exhibiting quantum scale invariance. Motivated by recent works on asymptotically safe scalar-tensor theories, we develop a novel approximation scheme which projects the functional renormalization group equation onto functions of the kinetic term. Applying this projection to scalars and gauge fields, our analysis identifies a new universality class with a very special spectrum of stability coefficients. The implications of our findings in the context of asymptotically safe gravity-matter systems are discussed.

hep-th↗
arXiv2022

Statefinder analysis of scale-dependent cosmology

We study the statefinder parameters of a cosmological model based on scale-dependent gravity. The effective Einstein field equations come from an average effective action. From the dynamical system, we derive analytical expressions that improve the convergence of the numerical solutions. We determine the statefinder parameters for moderate redshift and compare them with well-known alternatives to $Λ$CDM.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2021

Scalar-Tensor theories within Asymptotic Safety

Asymptotic Safety provides an elegant mechanism for obtaining a consistent high-energy completion of gravity and gravity-matter systems. Following the initial idea by Steven Weinberg, the construction builds on an interacting fixed point of the theories renormalization group (RG) flow. In this work we use the Wetterich equation for the effective average action to investigate the RG flow of gravity supplemented by a real scalar field. We give a non-perturbative proof that the subspace of interactions respecting the global shift-symmetry of the scalar kinetic term is closed under RG transformations. Subsequently, we compute the beta functions in an approximation comprising the EinsteinHilbert action supplemented by the shift-symmetric quartic scalar self-interaction and the two lowest order shift-symmetric interactions coupling scalar-bilinears to the spacetime curvature. The computation utilizes the background field method with an arbitrary background, demonstrating that the results are manifestly background independent. Our beta functions exhibit an interacting fixed point suitable for Asymptotic Safety, where all matter interactions are non-vanishing. The presence of this fixed point is rooted in the interplay of the matter couplings which our work tracks for the first time. The relation of our findings with previous results in the literature is discussed in detail and we conclude with a brief outlook on potential phenomenological applications.

hep-th↗
arXiv2021

Can scale-dependent cosmology alleviate the $H_0$ tension?

Scale-dependence is a common feature to all effective models of quantum gravity. In this paper, a cosmological model based on the scale-dependent scenario of gravity is presented. It is argued that such models, where the scale-dependence appears as a correction to the classical $Λ$CDM evolution, have the potential of addressing the tensions between early and late time measurements of $H_0$. After defining criteria to parametrize this tension, we perform a numerical scan over the parameter space of the scale-dependent model, subject to these criteria. In this analysis, it is found that, indeed, the tension can be released.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2021

A technique for natural gauge boson masses

In this work, a novel mechanism for spontaneous symmetry breaking is presented. This mechanism avoids quadratic divergencies and is thus capable of addressing the hierarchy problem in gauge theories. Using the scale-dependent effective action $Γ_{k}$ minimally coupled to a gravitational sector, variational parameter setting is applied. This provides a mass and vacuum expectation value as a function of the constants arising in the low scale expansion of Newtons' and cosmological couplings. A comparison with experimental data, such as the Higgs mass, allows putting restrictions on these constants. With this generic approach one can compare with explicit candidates for an effective field theory of gravity. As an example, we use the asymptotic safety scenario, where we find restrictions on the matter content of the theory.

hep-th↗
arXiv2019

Cosmological constant problem: deflation during inflation

We argue that the discrepancy between the Planck mass scale and the observed value of the cosmological constant can be largely attenuated if those quantities are understood as a result of effective, and thus scale-dependent, couplings. We exemplify this mechanism for the early inflationary epoch of the universe by solving the corresponding effective gap equations, subject to an energy condition. Several non-trivial checks and extensions are discussed. A comparison of our results to the renormalization group flow, obtained within the asymptotic safety program reveals a stunning agreement.

gr-qc↗