The question whether global symmetries can be realized in quantum-gravity-matter-systems has far-reaching phenomenological consequences. Here, we collect evidence that within an asymptotically safe context, discrete global symmetries of the form $\mathbb{Z}_n$, $n>4$, cannot be realized in a near-perturbative regime. In contrast, an effective-field-theory approach to quantum gravity might feature such symmetries, providing a mechanism to generate mass hierarchies in the infrared without the need for additional fine-tuning.
Gauge symmetries are known to be respected by gravity because gauge charges carry flux lines, but global charges do not carry flux lines and are not conserved by gravitational interaction. For discrete symmetries, they are spontaneously broken in the Universe, forming domain walls. Since the realization of discrete symmetries in the Universe must involve the vacuum expectation values of Higgs fields, a string-like configuration (hair) at the intersection of domain walls in the Higgs vacua can be realized. Therefore, we argue that discrete charges are also respected by gravity.
Due to seminal works of Weinberg, Cachazo and Strominger we know that tree level quantum gravity amplitudes satisfy three factorization constraints. Building on previous works which relate two of these constraints to symmetries of quantum gravity at null infinity, we present rather strong evidence that the third constraint is also equivalent to a new set of symmetries of (perturbative) quantum gravity. Our analysis implies that the symmetry group of quantum gravity may be even richer than the BMS group (or infinite dimensional extension thereof) previously considered.
We study effective field theories (EFTs) enjoying (maximal) biform symmetries. These are defined by the presence of a conserved (electric) current that has the symmetries of a Young tableau with two columns of equal length. When these theories also have a topological (magnetic) biform current, its conservation law is anomalous. We go on to show that this mixed anomaly uniquely fixes the two-point function between the electric and magnetic currents. We then perform a Källén-Lehmann spectral decomposition of the current-current correlator, proving that there is a massless mode in the spectrum, w…
We study the gauge symmetries in a Mielke-Baekler type model of gravity in 2+1 dimensions. The model is built in a Poincare gauge theory framework where localisation of Poincare symmetries lead to gravity. However, explicit construction of gauge symmetries in the model through a Hamiltonian procedure yields an apparently different set of symmetries, as has been noted by various authors. Here, we show that the two sets of symmetries are actually equivalent in a canonical sense, their difference being just a set of trivial symmetries.
We discuss a topological reason why global symmetries are not conserved in quantum gravity, at least when the symmetry comes from compactification of a higher form symmetry. The mechanism is purely topological and does not require any explicit breaking term in the UV Lagrangian. Local current conservation does not imply global charge conservation in a sum over geometries in the path integral. We explicitly consider the shift symmetry of an axion-like field which originates from the compactification of a $p$-form gauge field. Our topological construction is motivated by the brane/black-brane co…
We study gauge properties of the general teleparallel theory of gravity, defined in the framework of Poincare gauge theory. It is found that the general theory is characterized by two kinds of gauge symmetries: a specific gauge symmetry that acts on Lagrange multipliers, and the standard Poincare gauge symmetry. The canonical generators of these symmetries are explicitly constructed and investigated.
We construct the generator of hamiltonian gauge symmetries in a 2+1 dimensional massive theory of gravity, proposed recently, through a systematic off-shell algorithm. Using a field dependant map among gauge parameters we show that the symmetries obtained from this generator are on-shell equivalent to the Poincaré gauge symmetries. We also clarify certain subtle issues concerning the implementation of this map.
We study the nature of asymptotic symmetries in topological 3d gravity with torsion. After introducing the concept of asymptotically anti-de Sitter configuration, we find that the canonical realization of the asymptotic symmetry is characterized by the Virasoro algebra with classical central charge, the value of which is the same as in general relativity: c=3l/2G.
In this paper we explicitly prove the invariance of the time-dependent string gravity Lagrangian with up to four derivatives under the global $O(d,d)$ symmetry.
Defining a new r-matrix compatible with the scalar product at the basis of the Chern-Simons action for a particle coupled to (2+1) Lorentzian gravity with cosmological constant, I show how deformed symmetries of $κ$-de Sitter and, in the vanishing cosmological limit, of $κ$-Poincaré kind, arise naturally as quantum-deformation of three dimensional gravity. I obtain moreover the non-commutative spacetime associated to these kinds of symmetries.
A method to find the symmetries of a theory in the first order formalism of gravity is presented. This method is applied to the minimal gravity sector of the Standard Model Extension. It is argued that no inconsistencies arise when Lorentz violation is explicit and the relation between Lorentz violation and invariance under (active) diffeomorphisms is clearly exposed.
A systematic analysis of the symmetries of topological 3D gravity with torsion and a cosmological term, in the first order formalism, has been performed in details - both in the hamiltonian and lagrangian formalisms. This illuminates the connection between the symmetries of curved spacetime (diffeomorphisms plus local Lorentz transformations) with the Poincare gauge transformations. The Poincare gauge symmetries of the action are shown to be inequivalent to its gauge symmetries. Finally, the complete analysis is compared with the metric formulation where the diffeomorphism symmetry is shown to…
In this note we show that the cosmological domain wall and the de Sitter quantum breaking problems complement each other in theories with discrete symmetries that are spontaneously broken at low energies. Either the symmetry is exact and there is a domain wall problem, or it is approximate and there exists an inconsistent de Sitter minimum. This leaves no room for many extension of the Standard Model based on such discrete symmetries. We give some examples that include NMSSM, spontaneous CP violation at the weak scale and some versions of the Peccei-Quinn scenario with discrete symmetries.
We study the structure of asymptotic symmetries in N=1+1 supersymmetric extension of three-dimensional gravity with torsion. Using a natural generalization of the bosonic anti-de Sitter asymptotic conditions, we show that the asymptotic Poisson bracket algebra of the canonical generators has the form of two independent super-Virasoro algebras with different central charges.
In this paper, we present a complete Noether Symmetry analysis in the framework of scalar-tensor cosmology. Specifically, we consider a non-minimally coupled scalar field action embedded in the FLRW spacetime and provide a full set of Noether symmetries for related minisuperspaces. The presence of symmetries implies that the dynamical system becomes integrable and then we can compute cosmological analytical solutions for specific functional forms of coupling and potential functions selected by the Noether Approach.
In this paper we discuss the absolutely anticommuting nilpotent symmetries for perturbative quantum gravity in general curved spacetime in linear and non-linear gauges. Further, we analyze the finite field-dependent BRST (FFBRST) transformation for perturbative quantum gravity in general curved spacetime. The FFBRST transformation changes the gauge-fixing and ghost parts of the perturbative quantum gravity within functional integration. However, the operation of such symmetry transformation on the generating functional of perturbative quantum gravity does not affect the theory on physical grou…
It is an open question whether fluctuations at the Planck scale in a non-perturbative theory of quantum gravity behave in such a way that the resulting semi-classical geometry can be modelled by a space that admits (approximate) Killing symmetries. We have investigated whether the notion of approximate Killing vector fields is suitable to address this question in lattice theories of quantum gravity, such as (Causal) Dynamical Triangulations. We show that it is possible to construct quantum observables related to approximate Killing vector fields using the framework of Discrete Exterior Calculu…
We apply the Noether Symmetry Approach to point-like teleparallel Lagrangians in view to derive minisuperspaces suitable for Quantum Cosmology. Adopting the Arnowitt-Deser-Misner formalism, we find out related Wave Functions of the Universe. Specifically, by means of appropriate changes of variables suggested by the existence of Noether symmetries, it is possible to obtain the cosmological Hamiltonians whose solutions are classical trajectories interpretable as observable universes.
Spherical symmetry for f(R)-gravity is discussed by searching for Noether symmetries. The method consists in selecting conserved quantities in form of currents that reduce dynamics of f(R)-models compatible with symmetries. In this way we get a general method to obtain constants of motion without setting a priori the form of f(R). In this sense, the Noether symmetry results a physical criterium. Relevant cases are discussed.
The spinfoam approach to quantum gravity rests on a "quantization" of BF theory using 2-complexes and group representations. We explain why, in dimension three and higher, this "spinfoam quantization" must be amended to be made consistent with the gauge symmetries of discrete BF theory. We discuss a suitable generalization, called "cellular quantization", which (1) is finite, (2) produces a topological invariant, (3) matches with the properties of the continuum BF theory, (4) corresponds to its loop quantization. These results significantly clarify the foundations - and limitations - of the sp…
We calculate canonical charges in four dimensional conformal gravity using the generalised boundary conditions presented in \cite{Grumiller:2013mxa}. We show that the charges are finite and conserved. The asymptotic symmetry algebras generated by these charges are classified according to the conditions imposed on the first subleading term in the generalised Fefferman-Graham expansion.
After a brief review of topological gravity, we present a superspace approach to this theory. This formulation allows us to recover in a natural manner various known results and to gain some insight into the precise relationship between different approaches to topological gravity. Though the main focus of our work is on the vielbein formalism, we also discuss the metric approach and its relationship with the former formalism.
We relate three-dimensional loop quantum gravity to the combinatorial quantisation formalism based on the Chern-Simons formulation for three-dimensional Lorentzian and Euclidean gravity with vanishing cosmological constant. We compare the construction of the kinematical Hilbert space and the implementation of the constraints. This leads to an explicit and very interesting relation between the associated operators in the two approaches and sheds light on their physical interpretation. We demonstrate that the quantum group symmetries arising in the combinatorial formalism, the quantum double of …
We study the canonical structure of the Bergshoeff-Hohm-Townsend massive gravity, linearized around a maximally symmetric background. At the critical point in the space of parameters, defined by $Λ_0/m^2=-1$, we discover an extra gauge symmetry, which reflects the existence of the partially massless mode. The number of the Lagrangian degrees of freedom is found to be 1. We show that the canonical structure of the theory at the critical point is unstable under linearization.
Over the last decade there were significant advances in the understanding of quantum gravity coupled to point particles in 3D (2+1-dimensional) spacetime. Most notably it is emerging that the theory can be effectively described as a theory of free particles on a momentum space with anti-deSitter geometry and with noncommutative spacetime coordinates of the type $[x^μ,x^ν]=i \hbar \ell \varepsilon^{μν}_{\phantom{μν}ρ} x^ρ$. We here show that the recently proposed relative-locality curved-momentum-space framework is ideally suited for accommodating these structures characteristic of 3D quantum g…
We study the finite distance boundary symmetry current algebra of the most general first order theory of 3d gravity. We show that the space of quadratic generators contains diffeomorphisms but also a notion of dual diffeomorphisms, which together form either a double Witt or centreless BMS$_3$ algebra. The relationship with the usual asymptotic symmetry algebra relies on a duality between the null and angular directions, which is possible thanks to the existence of the dual diffeomorphisms.
We study the differences between Poincare and canonical hamiltonian symmetries in models of gravity through the corresponding Noether identities and show that they are equivalent modulo trivial gauge symmetries.
It is possible that relativistic symmetries become deformed in the semiclassical regime of quantum gravity. Mathematically, such deformations lead to the noncommutativity of spacetime geometry and non-vanishing curvature of momentum space. The best studied example is given by the $κ$-Poincaré Hopf algebra, associated with $κ$-Minkowski space. On the other hand, the curved momentum space is a well-known feature of particles coupled to three-dimensional gravity. The purpose of this thesis was to explore some properties and mutual relations of the above two models. In particular, I study extensiv…
We discuss the Hamiltonian dynamics for cosmologies coming from Extended Theories of Gravity. In particular, minisuperspace models are taken into account searching for Noether symmetries. The existence of conserved quantities gives selection rule to recover classical behaviors in cosmic evolution according to the so called Hartle criterion, that allows to select correlated regions in the configuration space of dynamical variables. We show that such a statement works for general classes of Extended Theories of Gravity and is conformally preserved. Furthermore, the presence of Noether symmetries…
Adopting Noether point symmetries, we classify and integrate dynamical systems coming from Horndeski cosmologies. The method is particularly effective both to select the form of Horndeski models and to derive exact cosmological solutions. Starting from the Lagrangians selected by the Noether symmetries, it is possible to derive several modified theories of gravity like $f(R)$ gravity, Brans-Dicke gravity, string inspired gravity and so on. In any case, exact solutions are found out.
Spherically symmetric solutions for f(T) gravity models are derived by the so called Noether Symmetry Approach. First, we present a full set of Noether symmetries for some minisuperspace models. Then, we compute analytical solutions and find that spherically symmetric solutions in f(T) gravity can be recast in terms of Schwarzschild-like solutions modified by a distortion function depending on a characteristic radius. The obtained solutions are more general than those obtained by the usual solution methods.
New features of the generalized symmetries of generic two-dimensional dilaton models of gravity are presented and invariant gravity-matter couplings are introduced. We show that there is a continuum set of Noether symmetries, which contains half a de Witt algebra. Two of these symmetries are area-preserving transformations. We show that gravity-matter couplings which are invariant under area preserving transformations only contribute to the dynamics of the dilaton-gravity sector with a reshaping of the dilaton potential. The interaction with matter by means of invariant metrics is also conside…
We describe an infinite-dimensional algebra of hidden symmetries for the self-dual gravity equations. Besides the known diffeomorphism-type symmetries (affine extension of w(infinity) algebra), this algebra contains new hidden symmetries, which are an affine extension of the Lorentz rotations. The full symmetry algebra has both Kac-Moody and Virasoro-like generators, whose exponentiation maps solutions of the field equations to other solutions. Relations to problems of string theories are briefly discussed.
The symmetries of generic 2D dilaton models of gravity with (and without) matter are studied in some detail. It is shown that $δ_2$, one of the symmetries of the matterless models, can be generalized to the case where matter fields of any kind are present. The general (classical) solution for some of these models, in particular those coupled to chiral matter, which generalizes the Vaidya solution of Einstein Gravity, is also given.
None of the previous versions of this article is the one published in Int Journ Mod Phys A which can be found on the journal server. A more recent and living review of the DArk Gravity Theory can be found in gr-qc/0610079 .
We present new classes of exact solutions with noncommutative symmetries constructed in vacuum Einstein gravity (in general, with nonzero cosmological constant), five dimensional (5D) gravity and (anti) de Sitter gauge gravity. Such solutions are generated by anholonomic frame transforms and parametrized by generic off-diagonal metrics. For certain particular cases, the new classes of metrics have explicit limits with Killing symmetries but, in general, they may be characterized by certain anholonomic noncommutative matrix geometries. We argue that different classes of noncommutative symmetrie…
We consider extensions of General Relativity based on the non-local function $f(R, \Box^{-1} R)$, where $R$ is the Ricci curvature scalar and the non-locality is due to the term $\Box^{-1} R$. We focus on cosmological minisuperspaces and select viable models by the Noether Symmetry Approach. Then we find viable exact solutions pointing out the role of non-locality in cosmology.
We generalize the eigenstate thermalization hypothesis to systems with global symmetries. We present two versions, one with microscopic charge conservation and one with exponentially suppressed violations. They agree for correlation functions of simple operators, but differ in the variance of charged one-point functions at finite temperature. We then apply these ideas to holography and to gravitational low-energy effective theories with a global symmetry. We show that Euclidean wormholes predict a non-zero variance for charged one-point functions, which is incompatible with microscopic charge …
We summarize the use of Noether symmetries in Minisuperspace Quantum Cosmology. In particular, we consider minisuperspace models, showing that the existence of conserved quantities gives selection rules that allow to recover classical behaviors in cosmic evolution according to the so called Hartle criterion. Such a criterion selects correlated regions in the configuration space of dynamical variables whose meaning is related to the emergence of classical observable universes. Some minisuperspace models are worked out starting from Extended Gravity, in particular coming from scalar tensor, f(R)…
Small violations of spacetime symmetries have recently been identified as promising Planck-scale signals. This talk reviews how such violations can arise in various approaches to quantum gravity, how the emergent low-energy effects can be described within the framework of relativistic effective field theories, how suitable tests can be identified, and what sensitivities can be expected in current and near-future experiments.
The Noether symmetry approach is useful tool to restrict the arbitrariness in a gravity theory when the equations of motion are underdetermined due to the high number of functions to be determined in the ansatz. We consider two scalar-coupled theories of gravity, one motivated by induced gravity, the other more standard; in Bianchi I, Bianchi III and Kantowski-Sachs cosmological models. For these models, we present a full set of Noether gauge symmetries, which are more general than those obtained by the strict Noether symmetry approach in our recent work. Some exact solutions are derived using…
We review the {\it Noether Symmetry Approach} as a geometric criterion to select theories of gravity. Specifically, we deal with Noether Symmetries to solve the field equations of given gravity theories. The method allows to find out exact solutions, but also to constrain arbitrary functions in the action. Specific cosmological models are taken into account.
We show that recent, persistent discrepancies between theory and experiment can be interpreted as corrections to the gyro-gravitational ratio of the muon and lead to improved upper limits on the violation of discrete symmetries in rotational inertia.
Symmetries play important roles in modern theories of physical laws. In this paper, we review several experimental tests of important symmetries associated with the gravitational interaction, including the universality of free fall for self-gravitating bodies, time-shift symmetry in the gravitational constant, local position invariance and local Lorentz invariance of gravity, and spacetime translational symmetries. Recent experimental explorations for post-Newtonian gravity are discussed, of which, those from pulsar astronomy are highlighted. All of these tests, of very different aspects of gr…
We explore Noether gauge symmetries of FRW and Bianchi I universe models for perfect fluid in scalar-tensor gravity with extra term $R^{-1}$ as curvature correction. Noether symmetry approach can be used to fix the form of coupling function $ω(ϕ)$ and the field potential $V(ϕ)$. It is shown that for both models, the Noether symmetries, the gauge function as well as the conserved quantity, i.e., the integral of motion exist for the respective point like Lagrangians. We determine the form of coupling function as well as the field potential in each case. Finally, we investigate solutions through …
We investigate two-dimensional higher derivative gravitational theories in a Riemann-Cartan framework and obtain the most general static black hole solutions in conformal coordinates. We also consider the hamiltonian formulation of the theory and discuss its symmetries, showing they are implemented by a non-linear generalizations of the 2-dimensional Poincaré algebra. Finally, we discuss the quantization in the Dirac formalism.
Discrete symmetries, parity, time reversal, antipodal, and charge conjugation transformations for spinor field in de Sitter space, are presented in the ambient space notation, i.e. in a coordinate independent way. The PT and PCT transformations are also discussed in this notation. The five-current density is studied and their transformation under the discrete symmetries is discussed.
We present three types of non-conformal symmetries for a wide class of 2D dilaton-gravity models. For the particular CGHS, or string-inspired model, a linear combination of these symmetries is conformal and turns out to be the well-known symmetry which allows to construct the exactly solvable semiclassical RST and BPP models. We show that one of these non-conformal symmetries can be converted into a conformal one by means of a suitable field redefinition involving the metric and the derivatives of the dilaton. As a consequence of this, and by defining a Polyakov-type term in terms of an invari…
We discuss an extended Teleparallel gravity models comprising functions of scalar invariants constructed by torsion, torsion Gauss-Bonnet and boundary terms. We adopt the Noether Symmetry Approach to select the functional forms, the first integrals and, eventually, the exact solutions of the dynamics in the context of flat Friedman-Robertson-Walker cosmology. Standard perfect fluid matter, minimally coupled to geometry, is considered. Several physically consistent models are derived with related exact solutions.
We review and discuss the role of diffeomorphism symmetry in quantum gravity models. Such models often involve a discretization of the space-time manifold as a regularization method. Generically this leads to a breaking of the symmetries to approximate ones, however there are incidences in which the symmetries are exactly preserved. Both kind of symmetries have to be taken into account in covariant and canonical theories in order to ensure the correct continuum limit. We will sketch how to identify exact and approximate symmetries in the action and how to define a corresponding canonical theor…
