Consistent particle physics in metric-affine gravity from extended projective symmetry

Fuente: arXiv
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Autores principales: Barker, Will, Zell, Sebastian
Formato: Preprint
Publicado: 2024
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author Barker, Will
Zell, Sebastian
author_facet Barker, Will
Zell, Sebastian
contents It is well-known that the Einstein-Hilbert action exhibits a projective invariance in metric-affine gravity, generated by a single vector (just like diffeomorphisms). However, this symmetry offers no protection against formulating inconsistent models, e.g., with ghost and strong coupling problems. In this letter, we observe that non-minimal kinetic terms of Dirac spinors point to a new extended projective (EP) symmetry generated by a pair of vectors. We prove that the most general EP-invariant theory (at most quadratic in field strengths) is naturally free from all pathologies. Its spectrum only features the massless graviton and a single additional scalar field arising from the square of the Holst curvature. The scalar potential is suitable for inflation and our model moreover contains effective 4-Fermi interactions capable of producing fermionic dark matter. Finally, we point out an alternative double-vector symmetry that similarly leads to a healthy theory with a propagating vector field.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2402_14917
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Consistent particle physics in metric-affine gravity from extended projective symmetry
Barker, Will
Zell, Sebastian
High Energy Physics - Theory
Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics
General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
High Energy Physics - Phenomenology
It is well-known that the Einstein-Hilbert action exhibits a projective invariance in metric-affine gravity, generated by a single vector (just like diffeomorphisms). However, this symmetry offers no protection against formulating inconsistent models, e.g., with ghost and strong coupling problems. In this letter, we observe that non-minimal kinetic terms of Dirac spinors point to a new extended projective (EP) symmetry generated by a pair of vectors. We prove that the most general EP-invariant theory (at most quadratic in field strengths) is naturally free from all pathologies. Its spectrum only features the massless graviton and a single additional scalar field arising from the square of the Holst curvature. The scalar potential is suitable for inflation and our model moreover contains effective 4-Fermi interactions capable of producing fermionic dark matter. Finally, we point out an alternative double-vector symmetry that similarly leads to a healthy theory with a propagating vector field.
title Consistent particle physics in metric-affine gravity from extended projective symmetry
topic High Energy Physics - Theory
Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics
General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
High Energy Physics - Phenomenology
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2402.14917