arXiv subjects

P. J. Mora

Publications and source records attributed to P. J. Mora.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2014

The Perils of Analytic Continuation

A nice paper by Morrison demonstrates the recent convergence of opinion that has taken place concerning the graviton propagator on de Sitter background. We here discuss the few points which remain under dispute. First, the inevitable decay of tachyonic scalars really does result in their 2-point functions breaking de Sitter invariance. This is obscured by analytic continuation techniques which produce formal solutions to the propagator equation that are not propagators. Second, Morrison's de Sitter invariant solution for the spin two sector of the graviton propagator involves derivatives of the scalar propagator at $M^2 = 0$, where it is not meromorphic unless de Sitter breaking is permitted. Third, de Sitter breaking does not require zero modes. Fourth, the ambiguity Morrison claims in the equation for the spin two structure function is fixed by requiring it to derive from a mode sum. Fifth, Morrison's spin two sector is not "physically equivalent" to ours because their coincidence limits differ. Finally, it is only the noninvariant propagator that gets the time independence and scale invariance of the tensor power spectrum correctly.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2013

Hartree Approximation to the One Loop Quantum Gravitational Correction to the Graviton Mode Function on de Sitter

We use the Hartree approximation to the Einstein equation on de Sitter background to solve for the one loop correction to the graviton mode function. This should give a reasonable approximation to how the ensemble of inflationary gravitons affects a single external graviton. At late times we find that the one loop correction to the plane wave mode function $u(η,k)$ goes like $G H^2 \ln(a)/a^2$, where $a$ is the inflationary scale factor. One consequence is that the one loop corrections to the "electric" components of the linearized Weyl tensor grow compared to the tree order result.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2012

Graviton Propagator in a General Invariant Gauge on de Sitter

We construct the graviton propagator on de Sitter background in the one parameter family of exact, de Sitter invariant gauges. Our result takes the form of a universal spin two part and a gauge dependent spin zero part. Scalar equations are derived for the structure functions of each part. There is no de Sitter invariant solution for either structure function, although the de Sitter breaking contribution to the spin zero part may drop out for certain choices of the gauge parameter. Our results imply that de Sitter breaking is universal for the graviton propagator, and hence that there is an error in the contrary results derived by analytic continuation of average gauge fixing techniques.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2012

Weyl-Weyl Correlator in de Donder Gauge on de Sitter

We compute the linearized Weyl-Weyl correlator using a new solution for the graviton propagator on de Sitter background in de Donder gauge. The result agrees exactly with a previous computation in a noncovariant gauge. We also use dimensional regularization to compute the one loop expectation value of the square of the Weyl tensor.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2011

Generalizing the ADM Computation to Quantum Field Theory

The absence of recognizable, low energy quantum gravitational effects requires that some asymptotic series expansion be wonderfully accurate, but the correct expansion might involve logarithms or fractional powers of Newton's constant. That would explain why conventional perturbation theory shows uncontrollable ultraviolet divergences. We explore this possibility in the context of the mass of a charged, gravitating scalar. The classical limit of this system was solved exactly in 1960 by Arnowitt, Deser and Misner, and their solution does exhibit nonanalytic dependence on Newton's constant. We derive an exact functional integral representation for the mass of the quantum field theoretic system, and then develop an alternate expansion for it based on a correct implementation of the method of stationary phase. The new expansion entails adding an infinite class of new diagrams to each order and subtracting them from higher orders. The zeroth order term of the new expansion has the physical interpretation of a first quantized Klein-Gordon scalar which forms a bound state in the gravitational and electromagnetic potentials sourced by its own probability current. We show that such bound states exist and we obtain numerical results for their masses.

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