Asymptotically nonlocal field theories represent a sequence of higher-derivative theories whose limit point is a ghost-free, infinite-derivative theory. Here we extend this framework, developed previously in a theory of real scalar fields, to gauge theories. We focus primarily on asymptotically nonlocal scalar electrodynamics, first identifying equivalent gauge-invariant formulations of the Lagrangian, one with higher-derivative terms and the other with auxiliary fields instead. We then study mass renormalization of the complex scalar field in each formulation, showing that an emergent nonlocal scale (i.e., one that does not appear as a fundamental parameter in the Lagrangian of the finite-derivative theories) regulates loop integrals as the limiting theory is approached, so that quadratic divergences can be hierarchically smaller than the lightest Lee-Wick partner. We conclude by making preliminary remarks on the generalization of our approach to non-Abelian theories, including an asymptotically nonlocal standard model.
Asymptotically nonlocal field theories represent a sequence of higher-derivative theories whose limit point is a ghost-free, infinite-derivative theory. Here, we extend previous work on pure scalar and Abelian gauge theories to asymptotically nonlocal non-Abelian theories. In particular, we confirm that there is a limit in which the Lee-Wick spectrum can be decoupled, but where the hierarchy problem is resolved via an emergent nonlocal scale that regulates loop diagrams and that is hierarchically smaller than the lightest Lee-Wick resonance.
We investigate how pure-state Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen correlations in the internal degrees of freedom of massive particles are affected by a curved spacetime background described by extended theories of gravity. We consider models for which the corrections to the Einstein-Hilbert action are quadratic in the curvature invariants and we focus on the weak-field limit. We quantify nonlocal quantum correlations by means of the violation of the Clauser-Horne-Shimony-Holt inequality, and show how a curved background suppresses the violation by a leading term due to general relativity and a further co…
In order to study the chaotic behavior of a system with non-local interactions, we will consider weakly coupled non-commutative field theories. We compute the Lyapunov exponent of this exponential growth in the large Moyal-scale limit to leading order in the t'Hooft coupling and $1/N$. We found that in this limit, the Lyapunov exponent remains comparable in magnitude to (and somewhat smaller than) the exponent in the commutative case. This can possibly be explained by the infrared sensitivity of the Lyapunov exponent. Another possible explanation is that in examples of weakly coupled non-commu…
We construct a theory of real scalar fields that interpolates between two different theories: a Lee-Wick theory with $N$ propagator poles, including $N-1$ Lee-Wick partners, and a nonlocal infinite-derivative theory with kinetic terms modified by an entire function of derivatives with only one propagator pole. Since the latter description arises when taking the $N\rightarrow\infty$ limit, we refer to the theory as "asymptotically nonlocal." Introducing an auxiliary-field formulation of the theory allows one to recover either the higher-derivative form (for any $N$) or the Lee-Wick form of the …
In this paper, we study for the first time topological defects in the context of nonlocal field theories in which Lagrangians contain infinite-order differential operators. In particular, we analyze domain walls. Despite the complexity of non-linear infinite-order differential equations, we are able to find an approximate analytic solution. We first determine the asymptotic behavior of the nonlocal domain wall close to the vacua. Then, we find a linearized nonlocal solution by perturbing around the well-known local 'kink', and show that it is consistent with the asymptotic behavior. We develop…
Semiclassical contributions to the gravitational action include various terms with zero, two, and four derivatives of the metric as well as nonlocal form factors for these terms. Contributions to some of these terms could be confused with others on a specific metric background or for a particular gauge fixing. We present a critical analysis of the recent works where the tensor structure and the number of derivatives in the action of gravity were not properly taken into account. Taking these relevant aspects into account, we show that although some contributions owing to the quantum fluctuation…
Effective theories describing black hole exteriors resemble open quantum systems inasmuch as many unmeasurable degrees of freedom beyond the horizon interact with those we can see. A solvable Caldeira-Leggett type model of a quantum field that mixes with many unmeasured thermal degrees of freedom on a shared surface was proposed in arXiv:2106.09854 to provide a benchmark against which more complete black hole calculations might be compared. We here use this model to test two types of field-theoretic approximation schemes that also lend themselves to describing black hole behaviour: Open EFT te…
Indian Institute of Science Education and Research（印度科学教育与研究机构）；Indian Institute of Technology Indore（印多尔印度理工学院）；Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad（海得拉巴印度理工学院）
A New Formulation of the Initial Value Problem for Nonlocal Theories
有许多理由认为，局部性在微观尺度上是被破坏的，例如，在基本运动方程中存在无穷级数的高阶导数。这种类型的非定域性导致改进的紫外行为，新颖的宇宙动力学，是弦论的一般预测。另一方面，从根本上讲，非局部模型充满了复杂性，包括不稳定性和建立初始值问题的复杂性。我们研究了一类有趣的非局部模型的初值问题的结构。我们提倡一种新的新的公式，其中柯西表面是“涂抹”的基础规模的非局部性，使通常的概念，初始数据在t=0被替换为“初始函数”定义在-M^{-1} \leq t \leq 0，其中M是基础规模的非局部性。集中在一些具体的例子，从弦论和宇宙学，我们表明，这种数学重新制定了令人惊讶的影响，众所周知的稳定性问题。对于D-膜衰变在一个线性介子的背景下，我们能够表明，不稳定的方向相空间不能访问从一个物理上合理的初始函数。因此，在这个模型中不稳定解的先前例子对应于非物理的初始条件，在初始值问题的旧公式中被混淆的观察。我们还讨论了这种方法的非局部宇宙学模型的含义。
This chapter of the Handbook of Quantum Gravity aims to illustrate how nonlocality can be implemented in field theories, as well as the manner it solves fundamental difficulties of gravitational theories. We review Stelle's quadratic gravity, which achieves multiplicative renormalizability successfully to remove quantum divergences by modifying the Einstein's action but at the price of breaking the unitarity of the theory and introducing Ostrogradski's ghosts. Utilizing nonlocal operators, one is able not only to make the theory renormalizable, but also to get rid of these ghost modes that ari…
In this paper we describe a systematic method to compute elliptic genera of (2,2) supersymmetric gauge theories in two dimensions with gauge group G/Gamma (for G semisimple and simply-connected, Gamma a subgroup of the center of G) with various discrete theta angles. We apply the technique to examples of pure gauge theories with low-rank gauge groups. Our results are consistent with expectations from decomposition of two-dimensional theories with finite global one-form symmetries and with computations of supersymmetry breaking for some discrete theta angles in pure gauge theories. Finally, we …
First, we briefly review the description of gravity theories as gauge theories in three and four dimensions. Specifically, we recall the procedure in which the results of General Relativity in three and four dimensions are recovered in a gauge-theoretic approach. Also, the procedure is applied for the case of the Weyl gravity, too. Then, after reminding briefly the formulation of gauge theories on noncommutative spaces, we review our most recent works in which gravity models are constructed as gauge theories on noncommutative spaces.
We classify 5d N=1 gauge theories carrying a simple gauge group that can arise by mass-deforming 5d SCFTs and 6d SCFTs (compactified on a circle, possibly with a twist). For theories having a 6d UV completion, we determine the tensor branch data of the 6d SCFT and capture the twist in terms of the tensor branch data. We also determine the dualities between these 5d gauge theories, thus determining the sets of gauge theories having a common UV completion.
