New Horizons in Effective Field Theory?

Fuente: arXiv
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Hauptverfasser: Hollands, Stefan, Urbiks, Dustin
Format: Preprint
Veröffentlicht: 2026
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_version_ 1866915796590002176
author Hollands, Stefan
Urbiks, Dustin
author_facet Hollands, Stefan
Urbiks, Dustin
contents We consider the most general parity symmetric effective scalar tensor theory in four dimensions containing terms up to fourth derivative order in the Lagrangian. It has been shown [H.S. Reall, Phys. Rev. D 103 (2021), 084027] that this theory has three polarizations generically goverened by different (nested) propagation cones, neither of which in general coincides with the lightcone as defined by the metric. Consequently, the notion of black hole horizon must be defined relative to the widest propagation cone, and not with respect to the metric. We provide two theorems stating that, nevertheless, the horizon of a \emph{stationary} black hole is null with respect to the metric, and that, in fact, all three propagation cones touch on the horizon. The conditions in these theorems allow for rotating black holes. Our theorems thereby suggest that the notion of Killing horizon, central in most discussions of black hole thermodynamics, retains its fundamental status, and that certain thermodynamic paradoxes associated with multiple propagation cones are evaded.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2602_12802
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle New Horizons in Effective Field Theory?
Hollands, Stefan
Urbiks, Dustin
General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
High Energy Physics - Theory
Mathematical Physics
We consider the most general parity symmetric effective scalar tensor theory in four dimensions containing terms up to fourth derivative order in the Lagrangian. It has been shown [H.S. Reall, Phys. Rev. D 103 (2021), 084027] that this theory has three polarizations generically goverened by different (nested) propagation cones, neither of which in general coincides with the lightcone as defined by the metric. Consequently, the notion of black hole horizon must be defined relative to the widest propagation cone, and not with respect to the metric. We provide two theorems stating that, nevertheless, the horizon of a \emph{stationary} black hole is null with respect to the metric, and that, in fact, all three propagation cones touch on the horizon. The conditions in these theorems allow for rotating black holes. Our theorems thereby suggest that the notion of Killing horizon, central in most discussions of black hole thermodynamics, retains its fundamental status, and that certain thermodynamic paradoxes associated with multiple propagation cones are evaded.
title New Horizons in Effective Field Theory?
topic General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
High Energy Physics - Theory
Mathematical Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.12802