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J. M. Isidro

Publications and source records attributed to J. M. Isidro.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

On Padmanabhan's duality invariance and the quantum of length

We provide a field-theoretic construction of Padmanabhan's duality-invariant Feynman propagator for a massive point particle in Euclidean space $\mathbb{R}^D$. Padmanabhan's propagator includes quantum-gravity effects due to the existence of a quantum of length $\ell$. Including $O(\ell^2)$ corrections, the corresponding field-theory model turns out to be a free, massive scalar defined in $\mathbb{R}^{D+2}$. The two additional dimensions with respect to the original $\mathbb{R}^D$ provide the necessary room, so to speak, for quantum-gravity fluctuations.

hep-th

Landauer entropy of spacetime

Based on Landauer's principle, we provide a geometrical definition for the entropy of a given static, spherically symmetric spacetime. Considering a congruence of geodesics across a surface, one defines the entropy of a congruence as the surface integral of the entropy of the constituent geodesics. Under certain mild assumptions, we establish a second law for the entropy function thus defined (Landauer entropy), and relate it to Bekenstein-Hawking entropy.

gr-qc

Gravity and electroweak sector from symmetry breaking of an $SO(3,3)$ BF theory

An $SO(3,3)$ BF-type gauge theory is formulated on a six-dimensional spacetime of split signature $(3,3)$, interpreted as the pre-electroweak-symmetry-breaking phase. A MacDowell--Mansouri-type symmetry breaking to $SU(2)\times SU(2)$ is implemented, and the corresponding stabilizer and coset structures are computed. The curvature decomposes into chiral sectors, and effective tetrads are introduced using components of the higher-dimensional connection. The resulting left and right sectors are formulated as constrained BF/Plebanski-like theories with appropriate simplicity and reality conditions. The six-dimensional theory yields two overlapping four-dimensional Lorentzian sectors of opposite signature, related via gluing constraints across their intersection. In the first sector, the selfdual two-forms ($\Sigma^{(+)}$) satisfy simplicity constraints that select the non-degenerate branch and reproduce Einstein gravity. Subsequently, the $SU(2)_R\times U(1)_{Y{\rm dem}}\to U(1)_{\rm dem}$ breaking pattern is outlined which admits an ultra-soft regime consistent with current phenomenological bounds under sufficiently suppressed couplings. In the second sector, the antiself dual two-forms ($\Sigma^{(-)}$) satisfy analogous simplicity constraints, realizing weak gauge dynamics as gravity on the opposite-signature sector. Subsequently, the $SU(2)_L\otimes U(1)_Y$ electroweak symmetry is realized within the Yang--Mills branch of the BF theory which incorporates the standard Higgs mechanism $SU(2)_L\otimes U(1)_Y \to U(1)_{\mathrm{EM}}$, recovering the conventional electroweak $W^\pm$, $Z$, and photon spectrum.

hep-th

Analysis of observables in FLRW spacetime

We consider a positively curved FLRW spacetime as a background in which a nonrelativistic quantum particle propagates according to the Schroedinger equation. The probability fluid for the corresponding quantum states is taken as a model for the cosmological fluid filling this FLRW Universe. The Hamiltonian operator governing this fictitious particle is proportional to the Laplacian operator derived from the FLRW metric, while the mass of the particle equals the overall matter of the Universe (baryonic and dark). A complete, orthonormal set of quantum eigenstates of the Hamiltonian is obtained. Restricting to radially symmetric states, the latter are then used to compute matrix elements and expectation values of two observables for which quantum operators are identified, namely, the cosmological constant and the gravitational Boltzmann entropy. This entropy is regarded as corresponding to a positively-curved FLRW geometry when the cosmological fluid filling the Universe occupies a given quantum state.

gr-qc

Theoretically motivated dark electromagnetism as the origin of relativistic MOND

The present paper is a modest attempt to initiate the research program outlined in this abstract. We propose that general relativity and relativistic MOND (RelMOND) are analogues of the broken electroweak symmetry. That is, $SU(2)_R \times U(1)_{YDEM} \rightarrow U(1)_{DEM}$ (DEM stands for dark electromagnetism), and GR is assumed to arise from the broken $SU(2)_R$ symmetry, and is analogous to the weak force. RelMOND is identified with dark electromagnetism $U(1)_{DEM}$, which is the remaining unbroken symmetry after spontaneous symmetry breaking of the darkelectro-grav sector $SU(2)_R \times U(1)_{YDEM}$. This sector, as well as the electroweak sector, arise from the breaking of an $E_8 \times E_8$ symmetry, in a recently proposed model of unification of the standard model with pre-gravitation, this latter being an $SU(2)_R$ gauge theory. The source charge for the dark electromagnetic force is square-root of mass, motivated by the experimental fact that the square-roots of the masses of the electron, up quark, and down quark, are in the ratio 1:2:3, which is a flip of their electric charge ratios 3:2:1 The introduction of the dark electromagnetic force helps understand the weird mass ratios of the second and third generation of charged fermions. We also note that in the deep MOND regime, acceleration is proportional to square-root of mass, which motivates us to propose the relativistic $U(1)_{DEM}$ gauge symmetry as the origin of MOND. We explain why the dark electromagnetic force falls inversely with distance, as in MOND, and not as the inverse square of distance. We conclude that dark electromagnetism is a good mimicker of cold dark matter, and the two are essentially indistinguishable in those cosmological situations where CDM is successful in explaining observations, such as CMB anisotropies, and gravitational lensing.

gr-qc

Causal Fermion Systems and Octonions

We compare the structures and methods in the theory of causal fermion systems with approaches to fundamental physics based on division algebras, in particular the octonions. We find that octonions and, more generally, tensor products of division algebras come up naturally to describe the symmetries of the vacuum configuration of a causal fermion system. This is achieved by associating the real and imaginary octonion basis elements with the neutrino and charged sectors of the vacuum fermionic projector, respectively. Conversely, causal fermion systems provide octonionic theories with spacetime structures and dynamical equations via the causal action principle. In this way, octonionic theories and causal fermion systems complement each other..

math-ph

Spacetime metric from quantum-gravity corrected Feynman propagators

Differentiation of the scalar Feynman propagator with respect to the spacetime coordinates yields the metric on the background spacetime that the scalar particle propagates in. Now Feynman propagators can be modified in order to include quantum-gravity corrections as induced by a zero-point length $L>0$. These corrections cause the length element $\sqrt{s^2}$ to be replaced with $\sqrt{s^2 + 4L^2}$ within the Feynman propagator. In this paper we compute the metrics derived from both the quantum-gravity free propagators and from their quantum-gravity corrected counterparts. We verify that the latter propagators yield the same spacetime metrics as the former, provided one measures distances greater than the quantum of length $L$. We perform this analysis in the case of the background spacetime $\mathbb{R}^D$ in the Euclidean sector.

gr-qc

Thermality of the zero-point length and gravitational selfduality

It has been argued that the existence of a zero-point length is the hallmark of quantum gravity. In this letter we suggest a thermal mechanism whereby this quantum of length arises in flat, Euclidean spacetime $\mathbb{R}^d$. For this we consider the infinite sequence of all flat, Euclidean spacetimes $\mathbb{R}^{d'}$ with $d'\geq d$, and postulate a probability distribution for each $d'$ to occur. The distribution considered is that of a canonical ensemble at temperature $T$, the energy levels those of a 1-dimensional harmonic oscillator. Since both the harmonic energy levels and the spacetime dimensions are evenly spaced, one can identify the canonical distribution of harmonic-oscillator eigenvalues with that of dimensions $d'$. The state describing this statistical ensemble has a mean square deviation in the position operator, that can be interpreted as a quantum of length. Thus placing an oscillator in thermal equilibrium with a bath provides a thermal mechanism whereby a zero-point length is generated. The quantum-gravitational implications of this construction are then discussed. In particular, a model is presented that realises a conjectured duality between a weakly gravitational, strongly quantum system and a weakly quantum, strongly gravitational system.

gr-qc

A Mechanism for Dark Matter and Dark Energy in the Theory of Causal Fermion Systems

It is shown that the theory of causal fermion systems gives rise to a novel mechanism for dark matter and dark energy. This mechanism is first worked out for cubical subsets of Minkowski space with periodic boundary conditions. Then it is studied in Friedmann-Lemaître-Roberson-Walker spacetimes. The magnitude of the effect scales like one over the lifetime of the universe squared. In contrast to most models of dark matter and dark energy, our mechanism does not postulate any new particles. Instead, it is a result of the collective behavior of all the wave functions which form the Dirac sea, needed in order to arrange correlated initial and end quantum states of the universe.

gr-qc

On the emergent origin of the inertial mass

In the context of a particular framework of emergent quantum mechanics, it is argued the emergent origin of the inertial mass of a physical systems. Two main consequences of the theory are discussed: an emergent interpretation of the law of inertia and a derivation of the energy-time uncertainty relation.

quant-ph

On the cosmological constant of flat FLRW spacetime

We consider an exponentially expanding, flat, Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) Universe filled with a free Schroedinger field. The probability fluid of the latter is used to mimic the cosmological fluid (baryonic plus dark matter), thus providing the matter density and pressure terms in the corresponding Friedmann-Lemaitre equations. We first obtain the eigenfunctions of the Laplacian operator on flat FLRW space. A quantum operator qualifying as a cosmological constant is defined to act on the Schroedinger field. We then compute the matrix representing the cosmological constant in the basis of Laplacian eigenfunctions. For an estimate of the orders of magnitude involved it suffices to determine the expectation values of this operator. The expectation value that best fits the experimentally measured value of the cosmological constant allows us to identify the quantum state of the Schroedinger field that best represents the matter contents (baryonic and dark) of the current Universe. Finally, the operator inverse (modulo dimensional factors) to the one representing the cosmological constant provides a measure of the gravitational Boltzmann entropy of the Universe. We compute its matrix in the basis of Laplacian eigenfunctions and verify that the expectation values of this entropy operator comply with the upper bound set by the holographic principle.

gr-qc

On the cosmological constant as a quantum operator

We regard the cosmological fluid within an exponentially expanding FLRW spacetime as the probability fluid of a nonrelativistic Schroedinger field. The scalar Schroedinger particle so described has a mass equal to the total (baryonic plus dark) matter content of the Universe. This procedure allows a description of the cosmological fluid by means of the operator formalism of nonrelativistic quantum theory. Under the assumption of radial symmetry, a quantum operator proportional to $1/r^2$ represents the cosmological constant $Λ$. The experimentally measured value of $Λ$ is one of the eigenvalues of $1/r^2$. Next we solve the Poisson equation $\nabla^2U=Λ$ for the gravitational potential $U(r)$, with the cosmological constant $Λ(r)=1/r^2$ playing the role of a source term. It turns out that $U(r)$ includes, besides the standard Newtonian potential $1/r$, a correction term proportional to $\ln r$ identical to that appearing in theories of modified Newtonian dynamics.

gr-qc

Spherical space in the Newtonian limit: The cosmological constant

We compute the cosmological constant of a spherical space in the limit of weak gravity. To this end we use a duality developed by the present authors in a previous work. This duality allows one to treat the Newtonian cosmological fluid as the probability fluid of a single particle in nonrelativistic quantum mechanics. We apply this duality to the case when the spacetime manifold on which this quantum mechanics is defined is given by $\mathbb{R}\times\mathbb{S}^3$. Here $\mathbb{R}$ stands for the time axis and $\mathbb{S}^3$ is a 3-dimensional sphere endowed with the standard round metric. A quantum operator $Λ$ satisfying all the requirements of a cosmological constant is identified, and the matrix representing $Λ$ within the Hilbert space $L^2\left(\mathbb{S}^3\right)$ of quantum states is obtained. Numerical values for the expectation value of the operator $Λ$ in certain quantum states are obtained, that are in good agreement with the experimentally measured cosmological constant.

gr-qc

Two-Dimensional Area and Matter Flux in the Theory of Causal Fermion Systems

The notions of two-dimensional area, Killing fields and matter flux are introduced in the setting of causal fermion systems. It is shown that for critical points of the causal action, the area change of two-dimensional surfaces under a Killing flow in null directions is proportional to the matter flux through these surfaces. This relation generalizes an equation in classical general relativity due to Ted Jacobson to the setting of causal fermion systems.

math-ph

Machinery Failure Approach and Spectral Analysis to study the Reaction Time Dynamics over Consecutive Visual Stimuli

The reaction times of individuals over consecutive visual stimuli have been studied using spectral analysis and a failure machinery approach. The used tools include the fast Fourier transform and a spectral entropy analysis. The results indicate that the reaction times produced by the independently responding individuals to visual stimuli appear to be correlated. The spectral analysis and the entropy of the spectrum yield that there are features of similarity in the response times of each participant and among them. Furthermore, the analysis of the mistakes made by the participants during the reaction time experiments concluded that they follow a behavior which is consistent with the MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures) model, widely used in industry for the predictive diagnosis of electrical machines and equipment.

q-bio.QM

The cosmological constant of emergent spacetime in the Newtonian approximation

We present a simple quantum-mechanical estimate of the cosmological constant of a Newtonian Universe. We first mimic the dynamics of a Newtonian spacetime by means of a nonrelativistic quantum mechanics for the matter contents of the Universe (baryonic and dark) within a fixed (i.e., nondynamical) Euclidean spacetime. Then we identify an operator that plays, on the matter states, a role analogous to that played by the cosmological constant. Finally we prove that there exists a quantum state for the matter fields, in which the above mentioned operator has an expectation value equal to the cosmological constant of the given Newtonian Universe.

gr-qc

Summing over spacetime dimensions in quantum gravity

Quantum-gravity corrections (in the form of a minimal length) to the Feynman propagator for a free scalar particle in $\mathbb{R}^D$ are shown to be the result of summing over all dimensions $D'\geq D$ of $\mathbb{R}^{D'}$, each summand taken in the absence of quantum gravity.

gr-qc