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Jorge Alfaro

Publications and source records attributed to Jorge Alfaro.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Quantum Gravity and Maximum Attainable Velocities in the Standard Model

A main difficulty in the quantization of the gravitational field is the lack of experiments that discriminate among the theories proposed to quantize gravity. Recently we showed that the Standard Model(SM) itself contains tiny Lorentz invariance violation(LIV) terms coming from QG. All terms depend on one arbitrary parameter $α$ that set the scale of QG effects. In this talk we review the LIV for mesons nucleons and leptons and apply it to study several effects, including the GZK anomaly.

hep-th↗

Quantum Gravity induced Lorentz invariance violation in the Standard Model:hadrons

The most important problem of fundamental Physics is the quantization of the gravitational field. A main difficulty is the lack of available experimental tests that discriminate among the theories proposed to quantize gravity. Recently we showed that the Standard Model(SM) itself contains tiny Lorentz invariance violation(LIV) terms coming from QG. All terms depend on one arbitrary parameter $α$ that set the scale of QG effects. In this paper we obtain the LIV for mesons and nucleons and apply it to study several effects, including the GZK anomaly.

hep-th↗

Quantum Gravity and Lorentz invariance violation in the Standard Model

The most important problem of fundamental Physics is the quantization of the gravitational field. A main difficulty is the lack of available experimental tests that discriminate among the theories proposed to quantize gravity. Recently, Lorentz invariance violation by Quantum Gravity(QG) have been the source of a growing interest. However, the predictions depend on ad-hoc hypothesis and too many arbitrary parameters. Here we show that the Standard Model(SM) itself contains tiny Lorentz invariance violation(LIV) terms coming from QG. All terms depend on one arbitrary parameter $α$ that set the scale of QG effects. This parameter can be estimated using data from the Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays spectrum to be $|α|<\sim 10^{-22}-10^{-23}$.

hep-th↗

LIV Dimensional Regularization and Quantum Gravity effects in the Standard Model

Recently, we have remarked that the main effect of Quantum Gravity(QG) will be to modify the measure of integration of loop integrals in a renormalizable Quantum Field Theory. In the Standard Model this approach leads to definite predictions, depending on only one arbitrary parameter. In particular, we found that the maximal attainable velocity for particles is not the speed of light, but depends on the specific couplings of the particles within the Standard Model. Also birrefringence occurs for charged leptons, but not for gauge bosons. Our predictions could be tested in the next generation of neutrino detectors such as NUBE. In this paper, we elaborate more on this proposal. In particular, we extend the dimensional regularization prescription to include Lorentz invariance violations(LIV) of the measure, preserving gauge invariance. Then we comment on the consistency of our proposal.

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Loop Quantum Gravity Effects on the High Energy Cosmic Ray Spectrum

Recent observations on ultra high energy cosmic rays (those cosmic rays with energies greater than $\sim 4 \times 10^{18}$ eV) suggest an abundant flux of incoming particles with energies above $1 \times 10^{20}$ eV. These observations violate the Greisen-Zatsepin-Kuzmin cutoff. To explain this anomaly we argue that quantum-gravitational effects may be playing a decisive role in the propagation of ultra high energy cosmic rays. We consider the loop quantum gravity approach and provide useful techniques to establish and analyze constraints on the loop quantum gravity parameters arising from observational data. In particular, we study the effects on the predicted spectrum for ultra high energy cosmic rays and conclude that is possible to reconcile observations.

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Quark-Antiquark Bound States in an Extended QCD_2 Model

We study an extended QCD model in 2D obtained from QCD in 4D by compactifying two spatial dimensions and projecting onto the zero-mode subspace. This system is found to induce a dynamical mass for transverse gluons -- adjoint scalars in QCD(2), and to undergo a chiral symmetry breaking with the full quark propagators yielding non-tachyonic, dynamical quark masses, even in the chiral limit. We construct the hadronic color singlet bound-state scattering amplitudes and study quark-antiquark bound states which can be classified in this model by their properties under Lorentz transformations inherited from 4D.

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Extended QCD(2) from dimensional projection of QCD(4)

We study an extended QCD model in (1+1) dimensions obtained from QCD in 4D by compactifying two spatial dimensions and projecting onto the zero-mode subspace. We work out this model in the large $N_c$ limit and using light cone gauge but keeping the equal-time quantization. This system is found to induce a dynamical mass for transverse gluons -- adjoint scalars in QCD(2), and to undergo a chiral symmetry breaking with the full quark propagators yielding non-tachyonic, dynamical quark masses, even in the chiral limit. We study quark-antiquark bound states which can be classified in this model by their properties under Lorentz transformations inherited from 4D. The scalar and pseudoscalar sectors of the theory are examined and in the chiral limit a massless ground state for pseudoscalars is revealed with a wave function generalizing the so called 't Hooft pion solution.

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On alternative approaches to Lorentz violation in loop quantum gravity inspired models

Recent claims point out that possible violations of Lorentz symmetry appearing in some semiclassical models of extended matter dynamics motivated by loop quantum gravity can be removed by a different choice of canonically conjugated variables. In this note we show that such alternative is inconsistent with the choice of variables in the underlying quantum theory together with the semiclassical approximation, as long as the correspondence principle is maintained. A consistent choice will violate standard Lorentz invariance. Thus, to preserve a relativity principle in this framework, the linear realization of Lorentz symmetry should be extended or superseded.

gr-qc↗

Loop Quantum Gravity and Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays

There are two main sets of data for the observed spectrum of ultra high energy cosmic rays (those cosmic rays with energies greater than $\sim 4 \times 10^{18}$ eV), the High Resolution Fly's Eye (HiRes) collaboration group observations, which seem to be consistent with the predicted theoretical spectrum (and therefore with the theoretical limit known as the Greisen-Zatsepin-Kuzmin cutoff), and the observations from the Akeno Giant Air Shower Array (AGASA) collaboration group, which reveal an abundant flux of incoming particles with energies above $1 \times 10^{20}$ eV violating the Greisen-Zatsepin-Kuzmin cutoff. As an explanation of this anomaly it has been suggested that quantum-gravitational effects may be playing a decisive role in the propagation of ultra high energy cosmic rays. In this article we take the loop quantum gravity approach. We shall provide some techniques to establish and analyze new constraints on the loop quantum gravity parameters arising from both sets of data, HiRes and AGASA . We shall also study their effects on the predicted spectrum for ultra high energy cosmic rays. As a result we will state the possibility of reconciling the AGASA observations.

hep-th↗

Loop quantum gravity and light propagation

Within loop quantum gravity we construct a coarse-grained approximation for the Einstein-Maxwell theory that yields effective Maxwell equations in flat spacetime comprising Planck scale corrections. The corresponding Hamiltonian is defined as the expectation value of the electromagnetic term in the Einstein-Maxwell Hamiltonian constraint, regularized a la Thiemann, with respect to a would-be semiclassical state. The resulting energy dispersion relations entail Planck scale corrections to those in flat spacetime. Both the helicity dependent contribution of Gambini and Pullin [GP] and, for a value of a parameter of our approximation, that of Ellis et. al. [ELLISETAL] are recovered. The electric/magnetic asymmetry in the regularization procedure yields nonlinearities only in the magnetic sector which are briefly discussed. Observations of cosmological Gamma Ray Bursts might eventually lead to the needed accuracy to study some of these quantum gravity effects.

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Loop Quantum Gravity Corrections and Cosmic Ray Decays

Loop quantum gravity effective theories are reviewed in the context of the observed GZK limit anomaly and related processes. This is accomplished through a kinematical analysis of the modified threshold conditions for the involved decay reactions, arising from the theory. Specially interesting is the possibility of an helicity dependant violation of the limit, whose primary effect would be the observation of favoured helicity states for highly energetic particles.

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Semiclassical Gauge Theories

We study the properties of a non-abelian gauge theory subjected to a gauge invariant constraint given by the classical equations of motion. The constraint is not imposed by hand, but appears naturally when we study a particular type of local gauge transformations. In this way, all standard techniques to treat gauge theories are available. We will show that this theory lives at one-loop. Also this model retains some quantum characteristic of the usual non-abelian gauge theories as asymptotic freedom.

hep-th↗

Quantum gravity corrections to neutrino propagation

Massive spin-1/2 fields are studied in the framework of loop quantum gravity by considering a state approximating, at a length scale $\cal L$ much greater than Planck length $\ell_P=1.2\times 10^{-33}$cm, a spin-1/2 field in flat spacetime. The discrete structure of spacetime at $\ell_P$ yields corrections to the field propagation at scale $\cal L$. Next, Neutrino Bursts (${\bar p}\approx 10^5$GeV) accompaning Gamma Ray Bursts that have travelled cosmological distances, $L\approx 10^{10}$l.y., are considered. The dominant correction is helicity independent and leads to a time delay w.r.t. the speed of light, $c$, of order $({\bar p} \ell_P) L/c\approx 10^4$s. To next order in ${\bar p} \ell_P$ the correction has the form of the Gambini and Pullin effect for photons. Its contribution to time delay is comparable to that caused by the mass term. Finally, a dependence $L_{\rm os}^{-1} \propto {\bar p}^2 \ell_P$ is found for a two-flavour neutrino oscillation length.

gr-qc↗

Quantum description of the orientational degrees of freedom in a biaxial nematic liquid

The quantum mechanical version of a classical model for studying the orientational degrees of freedom corresponding to a nematic liquid composed of biaxial molecules is presented. The effective degrees of freedom are described by operators carrying an SU(3) representation, which allows the explicit calculation of the partition function in the mean field approximation. The algebraic consistency conditions are solved numerically and the equilibrium phases of the system are determined. In particular, the entropy, the specific heat and the order parameters are presented for different choices of the constituent biaxial molecules. Our results reproduce the classical calculation in the limit of high temperatures and high quantum numbers.

cond-mat↗

Symmetries and the Antibracket: The Batalin-Vilkovisky Method

These lectures on the Batalin-Vilkovisky method of quantization were delivered at "VII Mexican School of Particles and Fields", Mérida, México, October 30-November 6, 1996. In section II, we study the derivation of BV from Schwinger-Dyson-BRST symmetry; in section III, we consider some generalizations of the BV structure suggested by our approach. In section IV, we present a connection between the Poisson bracket and the antibracket and use it to relate the Nambu bracketc with the generalized $n$-brackets of section III.

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Bv Gauge Theories

Using the Non-Abelian Batalin-Vilkovisky formalism introduced recently, we present a generalization of the Yang-Mills gauge transformations , to include antisymmetric tensor fields as gauge bosons. The Freedman-Townsend transformation for the two-form gauge field is automatically recovered. New characteristic classes involving this two-form field and the Yang-Mills one-form field are derived. We also show how to include, in an unified way, a gauge invariant coupling of the new gauge bosons to fermionic and bosonic matter.

hep-th↗

Generalized Hirota Equations in Models of 2D Quantum Gravity

We derive a set of bilinear functional equations of Hirota type for the partition functions of the $sl(2)$ related integrable statistical models defined on a random lattice. These equations are obtained as deformations of the Hirota equations for the KP integrable hierarchy, which are satisfied by the partition function of the ensemble of planar graphs.

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