Antisymmetric Tensor Field Research Articles

Spinor–Vector Duality and Mirror Symmetry

Mirror symmetry was first observed in worldsheet string constructions, and was shown to have profound implications in the Effective Field Theory (EFT) limit of string compactifications, and for the properties of Calabi–Yau manifolds. It opened up a new field in pure mathematics, and was utilised in the area of enumerative geometry. Spinor–Vector Duality (SVD) is an extension of mirror symmetry. This can be readily understood in terms of the moduli of toroidal compactification of the Heterotic String, which includes the metric the antisymmetric tensor field and the Wilson line moduli. In terms of the toroidal moduli, mirror symmetry corresponds to mappings of the internal space moduli, whereas Spinor–Vector Duality corresponds to maps of the Wilson line moduli. In the past few of years, we demonstrated the existence of Spinor–Vector Duality in the effective field theory compactifications of string theories. This was achieved by starting with a worldsheet orbifold construction that exhibited Spinor–Vector Duality and resolving the orbifold singularities, hence generating a smooth, effective field theory limit with an imprint of the Spinor–Vector Duality. Just like mirror symmetry, the Spinor–Vector Duality can be used to study the properties of complex manifolds with vector bundles. Spinor–Vector Duality offers a top-down approach to the “Swampland” program, by exploring the imprint of the symmetries of the ultra-violet complete worldsheet string constructions in the effective field theory limit. The SVD suggests a demarcation line between (2,0) EFTs that possess an ultra-violet complete embedding versus those that do not.

Stable Lorentz-breaking model for an antisymmetric two-tensor

In this work we investigate possible actions for antisymmetric two-tensor field models subject to constraints that force the field to acquire a nonzero vacuum expectation value, thereby spontaneously breaking Lorentz invariance. In order to assure stability, we require that the associate Hamiltonian be bounded from below. It is shown that this requirement rules out any quadratic action constructed only from the antisymmetric tensor field. We then explicitly construct a hybrid model consisting of the antisymmetric two-tensor field together with a vector field, subject to constraints forcing nonzero expectation values, that is stable in Minkowski space. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Gravity with spacetime torsion

The duality between a higher-curvature f(R) gravity model and a scalar-tensor theory helps to bring out the role of the additional degree of freedom originating from the higher-derivative terms in the gravity action. Such a degree of freedom which appears as a scalar field has been shown to have multiple implications in the cosmological/astrophysical scenario. The present work proposes a novel generalization to this correspondence between f(R) gravity and a dual scalar-tensor theory when the affine connection is considered to have an antisymmetric part. It turns out that the f(R) action in the presence of spacetime torsion can be recast to a coupled scalar-tensor theory with a 2-rank massless antisymmetric tensor field in the Einstein frame, where the scalar field gets coupled with the antisymmetric field through derivative coupling(s).

Cosmological implications of Kalb-Ramond-like particles

The Kalb-Ramond field is an antisymmetric, rank-two tensor field which most notably appears in the context of string theory, but has largely been unexplored in the context of cosmology. In this work, motivated by the Kalb-Ramond field in string theory, and antisymmetric tensor fields that emerge in effective field theories ranging from particle physics to condensed matter, we study the primordial production of interacting massive Kalb-Ramond-like-particles (KRLPs). KRLPs contain features of both dark photon and axion models, which can be appreciated via their duality properties. While the massless non-interacting KRLP is dual to a pseudoscalar, and the massive non-interacting KRLP is dual to a pseudovector, the interacting massive KRLP can be distinguished from its scalar and vector counterparts. We study early-universe production of KRLPs via the freeze-in mechanism, considering a ‘dark photon-like’ interaction, an ‘axion-like’ interaction, and a ‘Higgs portal’ interaction, as well as production via cosmological gravitational particle production. We find that as a dark matter candidate, KRLPs can be produced by all of the above mechanisms and account for the relic density of dark matter today for a wide range of masses. Finally, we comment on the potential to obtain both warm and cold dark matter subcomponents, and speculate on observational and experimental prospects.

Antisymmetric tensor field and Cheshire Cat smile of the local conformal symmetry

The conformal version of the antisymmetric second-order tensor field in four spacetime dimensions does not have gauge invariance extensively discussed in the literature for more than half a century. Our first observation is that, when coupled to fermions, only the conformal version provides renormalizability of the theory at the one-loop level. General considerations are supported by the derivation of one-loop divergences in the fermionic sector, indicating good chances for asymptotic freedom. The arguments concerning one-loop renormalizability remain valid in the presence of self-interactions and the masses for both fermion and antisymmetric tensor fields. In the flat spacetime limit, even regardless the conformal symmetry has gone, there is an expectation to meet renormalizability in all loop orders.

Gauge-Invariant Lagrangian Formulations for Mixed-Symmetry Higher-Spin Bosonic Fields in AdS Spaces

We deduce a non-linear commutator higher-spin (HS) symmetry algebra which encodes unitary irreducible representations of the AdS group—subject to a Young tableaux Y(s1,…,sk) with k≥2 rows—in a d-dimensional anti-de Sitter space. Auxiliary representations for a deformed non-linear HS symmetry algebra in terms of a generalized Verma module, as applied to additively convert a subsystem of second-class constraints in the HS symmetry algebra into one with first-class constraints, are found explicitly in the case of a k=2 Young tableaux. An oscillator realization over the Heisenberg algebra for the Verma module is constructed. The results generalize the method of constructing auxiliary representations for the symplectic sp(2k) algebra used for mixed-symmetry HS fields in flat spaces [Buchbinder, I.L.; et al. Nucl. Phys. B 2012, 862, 270–326]. Polynomial deformations of the su(1,1) algebra related to the Bethe ansatz are studied as a byproduct. A nilpotent BRST operator for a non-linear HS symmetry algebra of the converted constraints for Y(s1,s2) is found, with non-vanishing terms (resolving the Jacobi identities) of the third order in powers of ghost coordinates. A gauge-invariant unconstrained reducible Lagrangian formulation for a free bosonic HS field of generalized spin (s1,s2) is deduced. Following the results of [Buchbinder, I.L.; et al. Phys. Lett. B 2021, 820, 136470.; Buchbinder, I.L.; et al. arXiv 2022, arXiv:2212.07097], we develop a BRST approach to constructing general off-shell local cubic interaction vertices for irreducible massive higher-spin fields (being candidates for massive particles in the Dark Matter problem). A new reducible gauge-invariant Lagrangian formulation for an antisymmetric massive tensor field of spin (1,1) is obtained.

Inflation using a triplet of antisymmetric tensor fields

We study an inflation model driven by a triplet of antisymmetric tensor fields, with minimal and nonminimal couplings to gravity. First, we show that the presence of a triplet of antisymmetric tensor fields can provide inherent background isotropy in the stress–energy tensor contrary to the past studies using an antisymmetric tensor field. Inflation is supported in the presence of non-minimal couplings with gravity. We perform the slow roll analysis and also analyse perturbations to the antisymmetric tensor field as well as the tensor modes of perturbed metric. The speed of gravitational waves manifested from the tensor perturbations is tuned to c. We also study the evolution of the gravitational waves, calculate their power spectrum and tensor spectral index.

Tensor gauge boson dark matter extension of the electroweak sector

The existence of dark matter is explained by a new, massive, neutral, non-symmetric, rank-2 tensor gauge boson (hbox {Z}_{{upmu upnu }}-boson). The hbox {Z}_{{upmu upnu }}-boson can be predicted by the tensor gauge boson extension of the Electro Weak (EW) theory, proposed by Savvidy (Phys Lett B 625:341, 2005). The non-symmetric rank-2 tensor hbox {Z}_{{upmu upnu }} can be decomposed into a symmetric (hbox {Z}_{{(upmu upnu )}}) and anti-symmetric (hbox {Z}_{{[upmu upnu ]}}) part. Based on the non-Lagrangian formulation for the free sector of the hbox {R}_{textrm{2}}-theory proposed recently by Criado et al. (Phys Rev D 102:125031, arXiv:2010.02224, 2020), our massive anti-symmetric tensor field hbox {Z}_{{[upmu upnu ]}} corresponds to the massive symmetric spinor field hbox {Z}_{{upalpha upbeta upgamma updelta }} in the (2,0) irrep. For the massive hbox {Z}_{{upalpha upbeta upgamma updelta }} with the hbox {Z}_{textrm{2}}-symmetric Higgs portal couplings to a Standard Model (SM) particle, we compute the self-annihilation cross-section of the hbox {Z}_{{upalpha upbeta upgamma updelta }} dark matter and calculate its relic abundance. We also study the SM-SM particle scattering due to the exchange of the massive-hbox {Z}_{{(upmu upnu )}} symmetric field at a high energy scale. This proposition may have far reaching applications in astrophysics and cosmology.

Membrane nucleation rates from holography

Membrane nucleation, a higher dimensional analog of the Schwinger effect, is a useful toy model for vacuum decay. While a non-perturbative effect, the computation of nucleation rates has only been accomplished at weak coupling in the field theory. Here we compute the nucleation rates of spherical membranes using AdS/CFT duality, thus naturally including the effects of strong coupling. More precisely, we consider the nucleation of spherical membranes coupled to an antisymmetric tensor field, a process which renders the vacuum unstable above a critical value of the field strength. We analyze membrane creation in flat and de Sitter space using various foliations of AdS. This is accomplished via instanton methods, where the rate of nucleation is dominated by the semi-classical on-shell Euclidean action. Our findings generalize the holographic Schwinger effect and provide a step toward holographic false vacuum decay mediated by Coleman-De Luccia instantons.

H0 Tensions in Cosmology and Axion Pseudocycles in the Stringy Universe

The tension between early and late H0 is revised in the context of axion dark matter arising naturally from string theoretical integrations of antisymmetric tensor fields over non-trivial cycles. Certain early universe cycles may appear non-trivial from the perspective of a homology analysis focused on the early universe, while they may become trivial when analysed from the perspective of a homology theory reaching out to lower energies and later times. Such phenomena can introduce variations in the axion potential that would explain the observed H0 tension. The decay of such pseudo-axions when the pseudo-cycles dissipate trigger axion-two-photon (otherwise having an extremely long lifetime) and axion-gravitational processes mediated by Chern–Simons couplings with observable electromagnetic or gravitational wave signals originating in the early universe.

Inflation with two-form field: the production of primordial black holes and gravitational waves

Antisymmetric tensor field (two-form field) is a ubiquitous component in string theory and generally couples to the scalar sector through its kinetic term.In this paper, we propose a cosmological scenario that the particle production of two-form field, which is triggered by the background motion of the coupled inflaton field, occurs at the intermediate stage of inflation and generates the sizable amount of primordial black holes as dark matter after inflation. We also compute the secondary gravitational waves sourced by the curvature perturbation and show that the resultant power spectra are testable with the future space-based laser interferometers.

Lifshitz scaling effects on the holographic model for paramagnetism-antiferromagnetism phase transition

In this work, we construct a holographic antiferromagnetism model by introducing two real antisymmetric tensor fields coupling to the background gauge field strength and interacting with each other in the four-dimensional Lifshitz black hole, and investigate the effects of Lifshitz dynamical exponent z on the paramagnetism-antiferromagnetism phase transition in detail. Using the numerical shooting method, we find that there is still a phase transition in asymptotically Lifshitz space-time in the probe limit. In the absence of an external magnetic field and in low temperature, the magnetic moments condense spontaneously in antiparallel manner with the same magnitude. But the critical temperature and the staggered magnetization decrease with increasing z, which makes paramagnetism-antiferromagnetism phase transition harder to happen. In the presence of the weak external magnetic field, the magnetic susceptibility has a peak at the critical temperature and increasing values of z makes the peak higher. In the case of the strong external magnetic field, there exists a critical magnetic field Bc in the antiferromagnetic phase. When the magnetic field reaches Bc, the system turns into the paramagnetic phase. Besides, the increasing of z results in increasing of Bc.

Covariant BRST quantization of unimodular gravity. II. Formulation with a vector antighost

In our previous paper, we have presented a covariant BRST quantization of unimodular gravity which may account for the smallness of the cosmological constant, and have shown that the physical degrees of freedom in the theory are the same as general relativity. The formulation has been given by using rank-2 antisymmetric tensor fields for both ghosts and antighosts. Here we give an alternative formulation using a vector field for the antighost but keeping the same structure for the ghosts. This gives a significantly simpler covariant quantization with less ghosts and no tripole modes in the ghost sector. We show that this also gives only two physical transverse modes as in general relativity.

Inflation with antisymmetric tensor field: new candidates

We study classes of inflation models driven by antisymmetric tensor field, with minimal and nonminimal couplings to gravity, that address the known issues of such models considered in the past. First, we show that with a different choice of the background structure of the antisymmetric tensor field, inflation is supported even for the minimal model with quadratic potential contrary to past results. We also include the nonminimal coupling to gravity and analyse perturbations to the antisymmetric tensor as well as the tensor modes of perturbed metric. The two models differ in terms of the behaviour of tensor modes, where the speed of the gravitational wave can be tuned to c in the latter model. The power spectrum and spectral index receive slight scale dependence. Finally, we consider a quartic potential motivated by the graceful exit to reheating phase, which requires a nonminimal coupling to support inflation. The two tensor modes of the perturbed metric are found to evolve differently in this model, and give rise to a highly scale-dependent power spectrum.

Geometrical origins of the universe dark sector: string-inspired torsion and anomalies as seeds for inflation and dark matter.

In a modest attempt to present potentially new paradigms in cosmology, including its inflationary epoch, and initiate discussions, I review in this article some novel, string-inspired cosmological models, which entail a purely geometrical origin of the dark sector of the Universe but also of its observed matter-antimatter asymmetry. The models contain gravitational (string-model independent, Kalb-Ramond (KR)) axion fields coupled to primordial gravitational anomalies via CP-violating interactions. The anomaly terms are four-space-time-dimensional remnants of the Green-Schwarz counterterms appearing in the definition of the field strength of the spin-one antisymmetric tensor field of the (bosonic) massless gravitational string multiplet, which also plays the role of a totally antisymmetric component of torsion. I show how in such cosmologies the presence of primordial gravitational waves can lead to anomaly condensates and dynamical inflation of a 'running-vacuum-model' type, without external inflatons, but also to leptogenesis in the radiation era due to anomaly induced Lorentz and CPT violating KR axion backgrounds. I also discuss how the torsion-related KR-axion could acquire a mass during the QCD epoch, thus playing the role of (a component of) dark matter. Phenomenological considerations of the inflationary and post-inflationary (in particular, modern) eras of the model are briefly discussed, including its potential for alleviating the observed tensions in the cosmological data of the current epoch. This article is part of the theme issue 'The future of mathematical cosmology, Volume 1'.

Constraints on antisymmetric tensor fields from Bhabha scattering

Antisymmetric tensor fields are a compelling prediction of string theory. This makes them an interesting target for particle physics because antisymmetric tensors may couple to electromagnetic dipole moments, thus opening a possible discovery opportunity for string theory. The strongest constraints on electromagnetic dipole couplings would arise from couplings to electrons, where these couplings would contribute to Møller and Bhabha scattering. Previous measurements of Bhabha scattering constrain the couplings to {tilde{M}}_e m_C>7.1times 10^4,{mathrm {GeV}}^2, where m_C is the mass of the antisymmetric tensor field and {tilde{M}}_e is an effective mass scale appearing in the electromagnetic dipole coupling.

Stringy-running-vacuum-model inflation: from primordial gravitational waves and stiff axion matter to dynamical dark energy

In previous works, we have derived a Running Vacuum Model (RVM) for a string Universe, which provides an effective description of the evolution of 4-dimensional string-inspired cosmologies from inflation till the present epoch. In the context of this “stringy RVM” version, it is assumed that the early Universe is characterised by purely gravitational degrees of freedom, from the massless gravitational string multiplet, including the antisymmetric tensor field. The latter plays an important role, since its dual gives rise to a ‘stiff’ gravitational axion “matter”, which in turn couples to the gravitational anomaly terms, assumed to be non-trivial at early epochs. In the presence of primordial gravitational wave (GW) perturbations, such anomalous couplings lead to an RVM-like dynamical inflation, without external inflatons. We review here this framework and discuss potential scenarios for the generation of such primordial GW, among which the formation of unstable domain walls, which eventually collapse in a non-spherical-symmetric manner, giving rise to GW. We also remark that the same type of “stiff” axionic matter could provide, upon the generation of appropriate potentials during the post-inflationary eras, (part of) the Dark Matter (DM) in the Universe, which could well be ultralight, depending on the parameters of the string-inspired model. All in all, the new (stringy) mechanism for RVM inflation preserves the basic structure of the original (and more phenomenological) RVM, as well as its main advantages: namely, a mechanism for graceful exit and for generating a huge amount of entropy capable of explaining the horizon problem. It also predicts axionic DM and the existence of mild dynamical Dark Energy (DE) of quintessence type in the present universe, both being “living fossils” of the inflationary stages of the cosmic evolution. Altogether the modern RVM appears to be a theoretically sound (string-based) approach to cosmology with a variety of phenomenologically testable consequences.

Higgs Inflation with four-form couplings

We consider a new inflationary model in which an antisymmetric tensor field A νρσ and its four-form field strength F μνρσ = 4∂[μ A νρσ] are coupled to the scalar sector of the standard model and to the Ricci scalar . The four-form field induces modifications to the Higgs self-coupling constant, the cosmological constant, and the non-minimal coupling constant, which results in the modification to the inflaton potential. We also show that there is no need for the Higgs-gravity coupling in the presence of four-form gravity interaction, but still can produce the right amount of density perturbation for inflation.

Properties of an Alternative Off-Shell Formulation of 4D Supergravity

This article elaborates on an off-shell formulation of D = 4, N = 1 supergravity whose auxiliary fields comprise an antisymmetric tensor field without gauge degrees of freedom. In particular, the relation to new minimal supergravity, a supercovariant tensor calculus and the construction of invariant actions including matter fields are discussed.

Gravitational waves from inflation with antisymmetric tensor field

We build upon the past studies of inflation with rank-2 antisymmetric tensor field, including here the tensor perturbations to metric. We perform a comprehensive analysis of the background dynamics of our model in the presence of non-minimal coupling curvature terms R and Rμ ν. We find appropriate conditions on the nonminimal coupling parameters to satisfy the constraint of speed of propagation of gravitational waves. Including the tensor perturbations, the model is found to be free from ghost instabilities with minimal constraints on the parameters. We also study the evolution of gravitational waves, calculate the power spectrum and the tensor spectral index.