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M. Consoli

Publications and source records attributed to M. Consoli.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
arXiv2003

Indications on the Higgs boson mass from lattice simulations

The `triviality' of $Φ^4_4$ has been traditionally interpreted within perturbation theory where the prediction for the Higgs boson mass depends on the magnitude of the ultraviolet cutoff $Λ$. This approach crucially assumes that the vacuum field and its quantum fluctuations rescale in the same way. The results of the present lattice simulation, confirming previous numerical indications, show that this assumption is not true. As a consequence, large values of the Higgs mass $m_H$ can coexist with the limit $Λ\to \infty $. As an example, by extrapolating to the Standard Model our results obtained in the Ising limit of the one-component theory, one can obtain a value as large as $m_H=760 \pm 21$ GeV, independently of $Λ$.

hep-lat↗
arXiv2003

Vacuum condensates and `ether-drift' experiments

The idea of a `condensed' vacuum state is generally accepted in modern elementary particle physics. We argue that this should motivate a new generation of precise `ether-drift' experiments with present-day technology.

physics.gen-ph↗
arXiv2003

Approximate Lorentz invariance of the vacuum: a physical solution of the `hierarchy problem' ?

In the `condensed phase' of effective quantum field theories one expects deviations from exact Lorentz invariance at ultralow momenta | k| < delta where the shell 'delta' should only vanish in the strict local limit of the theory when the ultraviolet cutoff 'Lambda' tends to infinity. I explore this idea for the Higgs condensate suggesting that, in this case, the resulting relation connecting 'delta', 'Lambda' and the Fermi scale might provide a simple physical solution of the `hierarchy problem'. In this picture, the Planck scale is not a purely ultraviolet quantity but embodies in its numerical value the peculiar infrared-ultraviolet connection that is realized in the scalar condensate.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2003

New indications on the Higgs boson mass from lattice simulations

The `triviality' of $Φ^4_4$ has been traditionally interpreted within perturbation theory where the prediction for the Higgs boson mass depends on the magnitude of the ultraviolet cutoff $Λ$. This approach crucially assumes that the vacuum field and its quantum fluctuations rescale in the same way. The results of the present lattice simulation, confirming previous numerical indications, show that this assumption is not true. As a consequence, large values of the Higgs mass $m_H$ can coexist with the limit $Λ\to \infty $. As an example, by extrapolating to the Standard Model our results obtained in the Ising limit of the one-component theory, one can obtain a value as large as $m_H=760 \pm 21$ GeV, independently of $Λ$.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2002

A connection between gravity and the Higgs field

Several arguments suggest that an effective curved space-time structure (of the type as in General Relativity) can actually find its dynamical origin in an underlying condensed medium of spinless quanta. For this reason, we exploit the recent idea of density fluctuations in a `Higgs condensate' with the conclusion that such long-wavelength effects might represent the natural dynamical agent of gravity.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2002

Spontaneous symmetry breaking and the $p \to 0$ limit

We point out a basic ambiguity in the $p \to 0$ limit of the connected propagator in a spontaneously broken phase. This may represent an indication that the conventional singlet Higgs boson, rather than being a purely massive field, might have a gap-less branch. This would dominate the energy spectrum for ${\bf{p}} \to 0$ and give rise to a very weak, long-range force. The natural interpretation is in terms of density fluctuations of the `Higgs condensate': in the region of very long wavelengths, infinitely larger than the Fermi scale, it cannot be treated as a purely classical c-number field.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2001

A weak, attractive, long-range force in Higgs condensates

Due to the peculiar nature of the underlying medium, density fluctuations in a `Higgs condensate' are predicted to propagate for infinitely long wavelengths with a group velocity $c_s\to \infty $. On the other hand, for any large but finite $c_s$ there is a weak, attractive $1/r$ potential of strength ${{1}\over{c^2_s}}$ and the energy spectrum deviates from the purely massive form $\sqrt{p}^2 + M^2_h}$ at momenta smaller than $δ\sim {{M_h}\over{c_s}}$. Physically, the length scale $δ^{-1}$ corresponds to the mean free-path for the elementary constituents in the condensate and would naturally be placed in the millimeter range.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2001

Dynamics of the Scalar Condensate in thermal 4D self-interacting Scalar Field Theory on the Lattice

We simulate a four dimensional self-interacting scalar field theory on the lattice at finite temperature. By varying temperature, the system undergoes a phase transition from broken phase to symmetric phase. Our data show that the zero-momentum field renormalization increases by approaching critical temperature. On the other hand, finite-momentum wave-function renormalization remains remarkably constant.

hep-lat↗
arXiv2001

Newtonian gravity from the Higgs field: the sublimation of aether

We illustrate why a space-time structure as in General Relativity is not in contradiction with a dynamical origin of gravity from a scalar field. Further, we argue that the recently discovered gap-less mode of the singlet Higgs field represents the most natural dynamical agent of Newtonian gravity.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2001

Long-wavelength excitations of Higgs condensates

Quite independently of the Goldstone phenomenon, recent lattice data suggest the existence of gap-less modes in the spontaneously broken phase of a $λΦ^4$ theory. This result is a direct consequence of the quantum nature of the `Higgs condensate' that cannot be treated as a purely classical c-number field.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2001

A gap-less mode of the singlet Higgs field

Recent lattice results suggest the existence of a gap-less mode of the singlet Higgs field. We present a description of spontaneous symmetry breaking in $λΦ^4$ theories showing why one is faced with long-wavelength, collective modes of the scalar condensate with $\tilde{E}({\bf{p}}) \to 0$ energy in the ${\bf{p}} \to 0$ limit.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2001

Lattice measurement of the energy-gap in a spontaneously broken phase

Using lattice simulations of a one-component $(λΦ^4)_4$ theory, we have measured the energy spectrum $ω({\mathbf{k}})$ in the broken phase at various lattice sizes. Our data show that the energy-gap $ω(0)$ is {\it not} the `Higgs mass' $M_h$ but an infrared-sensitive quantity that becomes smaller and smaller by increasing the lattice size and may even vanish in the infinite-volume limit.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2001

Lattice measurement of the scalar propagator near the symmetry breaking phase transition

Recent lattice simulations of $(λΦ^4)_4$ theories in the broken phase show that : a) the shifted field propagator is well reproduced by the simple 2-parameter form ${Z_{\rm prop}\over{p^2 + M^2_h}}$ at finite momenta but strongly differs for $p \to 0$ b) the bare zero-momentum two-point function $Γ_2(0)= \frac{d^2 V_{\rm eff}}{d ϕ^2_B}|_{ϕ_B= \pm v_B}$ gives a value of $Z_ϕ\equiv {{M^2_h}\over{Γ_2(0)}}$ that increases when approaching the continuum limit. This supports theoretical expectations where $v_B$ is related by an infinite re-scaling to the `physical Higgs condensate' $v_R$ defined through $\frac{d^2 V_{\rm eff}}{d ϕ^2_R}|_{ϕ_R= \pm v_R}=M^2_h$. New lattice data collected around the phase transition confirm this scenario. By denoting $M_{\rm SB} \equiv M_h ={\cal O} (v_R)$ the scale of the broken phase, our results suggest the existence of a `hierarchy' of scales $Γ_2(0) \ll M^2_{\rm SB} \ll v^2_B$ that become infinitely far in the continuum limit. This may open unexpected possibilities to reconcile an infinitesimal slope of the effective potential with finite values of $M_h$ and accomodate very different mass scales in the framework of a spontaneously broken theory.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2000

On the infrared behaviour of the (singlet) Higgs propagator

We present a simple semi-perturbative argument in favour of a peculiar infrared behaviour of the (singlet) Higgs propagator. On the basis of `triviality' one expects a continuum limit with a two-point function $Γ_2(q) \to (q^2 + M^2_h)$. However, this is not valid in the limit $q \to 0$ where one actually finds a singular behaviour. This is in agreement with both non-perturbative analyses of the effective potential and with lattice computations of the propagator and of the zero-momentum susceptibility in the broken phase. The singular behaviour persists in an O(N) continuous-symmetry theory, the case first pointed out by Symanzik, and supports the existence of an extremely weak $1/r$ potential that does not disappear when coupling the scalar fields to gauge bosons.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2000

Gravitational forces from Bose-Einstein condensation

The basic idea that gravity can be a long-wavelength effect {\it induced} by the peculiar ground state of an underlying quantum field theory leads to consider the implications of spontaneous symmetry breaking through an elementary scalar field. We point out that Bose-Einstein condensation implies the existence of long-range order and of a gap-less mode of the (singlet) Higgs-field. This gives rise to a $1/r$ potential and couples with infinitesimal strength to the inertial mass of known particles. If this is interpreted as the origin of Newtonian gravity one finds a natural solution of the hierarchy problem. As in any theory incorporating the Equivalence Principle, the classical tests in weak gravitational fields are fulfilled as in general relativity. On the other hand, our picture suggests that Einstein general relativity may represent the weak field approximation of a theory generated from flat space with a sequence of conformal transformations. This explains naturally the absence of a {\it large} cosmological constant from symmetry breaking. Finally, one also predicts new phenomena that have no counterpart in Einstein theory such as typical `fifth force' deviations below the centimeter scale or further modifications at distances $10^{17}$ cm in connection with the Pioneer anomaly and the mass discrepancy in galactic systems.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1999

Newtonian gravity from Higgs condensates

We propose a description of {\it Newtonian} gravity as a long wavelength excitation of the scalar condensate inducing electroweak symmetry breaking. Indeed, one finds a $-{{G_F}\overη}{{m_im_j}\over{r}}$ long-range potential where $G_F$ is the Fermi constant and $η\equiv {{M^2_h}\over{2m^2}} $ is determined by the ratio between the Higgs mass $M_h$ and the mass m of the elementary quanta of the symmetric phase (`phions'). The parameter $η$ would diverge in a true continuum theory so that its magnitude represents a measure of non-locality of the underlying field theory. By identifying $G\equiv {{G_F}\overη}$ with the Newton constant and assuming the range of Higgs mass $M_h \sim 10^{2}-10^{3}$ GeV one obtains $m=10^{-4}-10^{-5}$ eV and predicts typical `fifth-force' deviations below the centimeter scale. Relation to Einstein gravity and string theory is discussed. The crucial role of the first-order nature of the phase transition for the solution of the so-called `hierarchy problem' is emphasized. The possible relevance of the picture for the self-similarity of the universe and for a new approach to the problem of dark matter is discussed.

hep-ph↗
arXiv1999

Large rescaling of the Higgs condensate: theoretical motivations and lattice results

In the Standard Model the Fermi constant is associated with the vacuum expectation value of the Higgs field, `the condensate', usually believed to be a cutoff-independent quantity. General arguments related to the `triviality' of $Φ^4$ theory in 4 space-time dimensions suggest, however, a dramatic renormalization effect in the continuum limit that is clearly visible on the relatively large lattices available today. The result can be crucial for the Higgs phenomenology and in any context where spontaneous symmetry breaking is induced through scalar fields.

hep-lat↗