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| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Preprint |
| Published: |
2026
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.14814 |
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| _version_ | 1866908888035491840 |
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| author | Lu, Bo-Qiang |
| author_facet | Lu, Bo-Qiang |
| contents | The origin of cosmic angular momentum is a fundamental question in structure formation. We propose a novel mechanism that generates spatial angular momentum directly from quantum fluctuations during inflation. A spectator complex scalar field with global U(1) symmetry stores internal angular momentum via field-space rotation. Inflationary perturbations create spatial gradients that, upon horizon re-entry, couple to the background charge density and source a bulk momentum flow. During nonspherical gravitational collapse, this flow converts into net angular momentum. For primordial black holes forming from such collapse, the dimensionless spin can reach \(χ\sim 0.1-1\) when the small-scale power spectrum is enhanced to produce detectable abundances-far exceeding tidal torque theory predictions. This establishes a testable link between inflation, primordial perturbations, and black hole spin distributions accessible to gravitational-wave observations. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2603_14814 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Cosmological angular momentum from quantum rotation Lu, Bo-Qiang General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics High Energy Physics - Phenomenology The origin of cosmic angular momentum is a fundamental question in structure formation. We propose a novel mechanism that generates spatial angular momentum directly from quantum fluctuations during inflation. A spectator complex scalar field with global U(1) symmetry stores internal angular momentum via field-space rotation. Inflationary perturbations create spatial gradients that, upon horizon re-entry, couple to the background charge density and source a bulk momentum flow. During nonspherical gravitational collapse, this flow converts into net angular momentum. For primordial black holes forming from such collapse, the dimensionless spin can reach \(χ\sim 0.1-1\) when the small-scale power spectrum is enhanced to produce detectable abundances-far exceeding tidal torque theory predictions. This establishes a testable link between inflation, primordial perturbations, and black hole spin distributions accessible to gravitational-wave observations. |
| title | Cosmological angular momentum from quantum rotation |
| topic | General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics High Energy Physics - Phenomenology |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.14814 |