Quantum Gravity Effects Research Articles

Generalized analysis of a dust collapse in effective loop quantum gravity: Fate of shocks and covariance

Generalized analysis of a dust collapse in effective loop quantum gravity: Fate of shocks and covariance

Quantum gravity phenomenology and the blackbody radiation

Abstract We analyze the blackbody radiation problem in the presence of quantum gravity effects encoded in modified dispersion relations. The spectral radiance and the generalized Stefan-Boltzmann law are studied in this context. Furthermore, the regime of low temperatures is also contemplated, where features related to the blackbody thermal laws and the thermodynamic quantities such as energy, pressure, entropy, and specific heat are obtained. Possible implications in compact objects such as neutron stars are also discussed.

Shadow of a renormalization group improved rotating black hole

We present a study on quantum gravity effects on the shadow of a rotating black hole (BH) obtained in the setting of the asymptotically safe gravity. The rotating metric, which results from a static regular one recently presented in the literature, is generated by using the generalized Newman-Janis algorithm. The novelty of the static regular metric lies in the fact that it is the outcome of an effective Lagrangian which describes dust whose spherically symmetric collapse is non-singular as a consequence of the antiscreening character of gravity at small distances. The effective Lagrangian includes a multiplicative coupling, denoted as χ\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\chi $$\\end{document}, with the Lagrangian of the collapsing fluid. The resulting exterior metric for large radii depends on a free parameter ξ\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\xi $$\\end{document} which captures the quantum gravity effects. The form of the coupling χ\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\chi $$\\end{document} and its connection with the quantum parameter ξ\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\xi $$\\end{document} are determined by the running of the Newton coupling G(k) along a renormalization group trajectory that stops at the ultraviolet non-gaussian fixed point of the asymptotic safety theory for quantum gravity. Varying both the spin parameter a⋆\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$a_{\\star }$$\\end{document} and the quantum parameter ξ\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\xi $$\\end{document}, we explore the quantum gravity effects on several astronomical observables used to describe the morphology of the shadow cast by rotating BHs. In order to obtain constraints on the parameter ξ\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\xi $$\\end{document}, we confront our results with the recent Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) observations of the shadows of the supermassive BHs M87∗\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\hbox {M87}^*$$\\end{document} and Sgr A∗\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\hbox {A}^*$$\\end{document}. We find that the ranges of variation of all the studied shadow observables fall entirely within the ranges determined by the EHT collaboration. We then conclude that the current astronomical data do not rule out the renormalization group improved rotating BH.

On the stability of electrovacuum space-times in scalar–tensor gravity

We study the behavior of static, spherically symmetric solutions to the field equations of scalar–tensor theories (STT) of gravity belonging to the Bergmann–Wagoner–Nordtvedt class, in the presence of an electric and/or magnetic charge. This class of theories includes the Brans–Dicke, Barker and Schwinger STT as well as nonminimally coupled scalar fields with an arbitrary parameter ξ\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\xi $$\\end{document}. The study is restricted to canonical (nonphantom) versions of the theories and scalar fields without a self-interaction potential. Only radial (monopole) perturbations are considered as the most likely ones to cause an instability. The static background solutions contain naked singularities, but we formulate the boundary conditions in such a way that would preserve their meaning if a singularity is smoothed, for example, due to quantum gravity effects. These boundary conditions look more physical than those used by other authors. Since the solutions of all STT under study are related by conformal transformations, the stability problem for all of them reduces to the same wave equation, but the boundary conditions for perturbations (and sometimes the boundaries themselves) are different in different STT, which affects the stability results. The stability or instability conclusions are obtained for different branches of solutions in the theories under consideration and are presented in a table form.

Prigogine’s Second Law and Determination of the EUP and GUP Parameters in Small Black Hole Thermodynamics

In 1974, Stephen Hawking made the groundbreaking discovery that black holes emit thermal radiation, characterized by a specific temperature now known as the Hawking temperature. While his original derivation is intricate, retrieving the exact expressions for black hole temperature and entropy in a simpler, more intuitive way without losing the core physical principles behind Hawking’s assumptions is possible. This is obtained by employing the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle, which is known to be connected to thenvacuum fluctuation. This exercise allows us to easily perform more complex calculations involving the effects of quantum gravity. This work aims to answer the following question: Is it possible to reconcile Prigogine’s second law of thermodynamics for open systems and the second law of black hole dynamics with Hawking radiation? Due to quantum gravity effects, the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle has been extended to the Generalized Uncertainty Principle (GUP) and successively to the Extended Uncertainty Principle (EUP). The expression for the EUP parameter is obtained by conjecturing that Prigogine’s second law of thermodynamics and the second law of black holes are not violated by the Hawking thermal radiation mechanism. The modified expression for the entropy of a Schwarzschild black hole is also derived.

Light rings and shadows of static black holes in effective quantum gravity

Recently, two types of static black hole models that retain general covariance have been proposed within the Hamiltonian constraint approach to effective quantum gravity (EQG). We have studied the light rings and shadows of these black holes using the topological method and the backward ray-tracing method, respectively. We demonstrate that these light rings in both types of static black holes are standard and unstable according to the classification of light rings. Subsequently, we checked the position of the light rings using the photon trajectory equation. We found that although the quantum parameters do not affect the light rings of these two types of black holes, they do reduce the size of the first type of static black hole in EQG, making it smaller. However, for the second type of static black hole in EQG, we cannot distinguish it from a Schwarzschild black hole based on the shadow alone. Fortunately, the quantum parameters shrink the lensing rings of both types of black holes in EQG, causing the black hole shadow to occupy a larger proportion within the ring. This can serve as a basis for distinguishing whether the black hole is in EQG or general relativity (GR).

Quasi-normal modes of loop quantum black holes formed from gravitational collapse

In this paper, we study the quasi-normal modes (QNMs) of a scalar field in the background of a large class of quantum black holes that can be formed from gravitational collapse of a dust fluid in the framework of effective loop quantum gravity. The loop quantum black holes (LQBHs) are characterized by three free parameters, one of which is the mass parameter, while the other two are purely due to quantum geometric effects. Among these two quantum parameters, one is completely fixed by black hole thermodynamics and its effects are negligible for macroscopic black holes, while the second parameter is completely free (in principle). In the studies of the QNMs of such LQBHs, we pay particular attention to the difference of the QNMs between LQBHs and classical ones, so that they can be observed for the current and forthcoming gravitational wave observations, whereby place the LQBH theory directly under the test of observations.

Traces of Quantum Gravity Effects at Late-time Cosmological Dynamics via Distance Measures

Inspired by the entropy–area relation of black hole thermodynamics, we study the thermodynamics of the cosmological apparent horizon in a spatially flat Friedmann–Robertson–Walker universe in the framework of an extended uncertainty principle (EUP). The adopted EUP naturally admits a minimal measurable momentum (equivalently a maximal measurable length), as an infrared cutoff in the theory. We derive the modified Friedmann equations in this setup and explore some predictions of these equations for the late-time universe via distance measures. We show that in this framework it is possible to realize the late-time cosmic speedup and transition to the phantom phase of the equation-of-state parameter of the effective cosmic fluid without recourse to any dark energy component or modified gravity. Inspection of various distance measures in this framework shows that an EUP with a negative deformation parameter suffices for the interpretation of the late-time asymptotically de Sitter universe with standard nonrelativistic matter.

Casimir wormholes with GUP correction in the Loop Quantum Cosmology

In this paper, we obtain novel traversable, static, and spherically symmetric wormhole solutions, derived from the effective energy density and isotropic pressure resulting from the Casimir effect, corrected by the Generalized Uncertainty Principle (GUP) within the framework of Loop Quantum Cosmology (LQC). The goal is to explore the interplay between competing quantum gravity effects and quantum vacuum phenomena in the emergence of non-trivial spacetime structures. We examine features such as traversability, embedding diagrams, energy conditions, curvature, and stability of the obtained solutions. Additionally, we analyze the junction conditions required to integrate the wormhole spacetime with an external Schwarzschild spacetime and calculate the amount of exotic matter needed to maintain the wormhole. Finally, we evaluate the conditions under which this latter remains visible or is hidden by the event horizon associated with the Schwarzschild spacetime.

Calculation of Macroscopic Effects of Quantum Gravity in General Static Isotropic Gravitational Fields

In this paper we calculated the self-interaction of the gravitational field in coordinate space by approximate method, and find the functional relationship between gravitational source and distance and self-interaction of quantum gravity. The calculation result shows that the self-interaction of quantum gravity can explain the gravitational effects of dark matter. In the solar system, the self-interaction is extremely weak, but it is enough to explain the the Pioneer anomaly.

The shadow and gamma-ray bursts of a Schwarzschild black hole in asymptotic safety

Abstract The effects and rules of the dimensionless parameter $\xi$ on neutrino annihilation $\nu+\bar{\nu}\to e^{-}+e^{+}$ dominated gamma-ray bursts are analysed and investigated within the context of black holes in asymptotic safety. We also computationally model photon orbits around black holes, as photons and neutrinos have the same geodesic equations near black holes. We show that the black hole shadow radius decreases with increasing $\xi$. Calculations are made to determine the temperature of the accretion disk surrounding the black hole and the ratio $\dot{Q}/\dot{Q}_{Newt}$ of energy deposition per unit time to that of the Newtonian scenario. The accretion disk temperature peaks at a higher temperature due to quantum gravity corrections, which increases the probability of neutrino emission from the black hole. It is interesting to note that larger quantum gravity effects cause the ratio value to significantly decline. In the neutrino-antineutrino annihilation process, the energy deposition rate is sufficient even while the energy conversion is inhibited because of quantum corrections. Gamma-ray bursts might originate from the corrected annihilation process. Additionally, we examine the derivative $\mathrm{d}\dot{Q}/\mathrm{d}r$ about the star radius $r$. The findings demonstrate that the ratio is lowered by the black hole's quantum influence. The neutrino pair annihilation grows weaker the more prominent the influence of quantum gravity is.

Continuation of Bianchi spacetimes through the big bang

In this paper we present a framework in which the relational description of general relativity can be used to smoothly continue cosmological dynamical systems through the big bang without invoking quantum gravity effects. Cosmological spacetimes contain as a key dynamical variable a notion of scale through the volume factor ν. However, no cosmological observer is ever able to separate their measuring apparatus from the system they are measuring, in that sense every measurement is a relative one, and measurable dynamical variables are, in fact, dimensionless ratios. This is manifest in the identification of a scaling symmetry or “dynamical similarity” in the Einstein-Hilbert action associated with the volume factor. By quotienting out this scaling symmetry, we form a relational system defined on a contact manifold whose dynamical variables are decoupled from scale. When the phase space is reduced to shape space, we show that there exists unique solutions to the equations of motion that pass smoothly through the initial cosmological singularity in flat Friedmann-Lemaître-Robertson-Walker, Bianchi I, and Quiescent Bianchi IX cosmologies. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Loop quantum gravity effects on electromagnetic properties of charged leptons

The efforts in this contribution consist in reassessing a modified Dirac equation that incorporates a γ0γ5\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\gamma ^0 \\gamma _5$$\\end{document}-Lorentz-symmetry violating (LSV) term induced as a Loop Quantum Gravity (LQG) effect. Originally, this equation has been applied and considered as a good scenario for describing a number of investigations on the flight time of cosmic neutrinos, which suggests that the speed, in vacuum, in connection with the geometry that describes a granular space-time, takes the energy-dependent form, e.g., v(E)=1±E/ELSV\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$v(E) =1 \\pm E/E_{\ ext {\ iny LSV}}$$\\end{document}, with ELSV≈6,5×1017\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$E_{\ ext {\ iny LSV}} \\approx 6,5 \ imes 10^{17}$$\\end{document} GeV for neutrinos. Once LQG provides a viable way to understand this picture consistently, we pursue an analysis of this effective Dirac equation to inspect some of its properties. These include: the derivation of the modified fermionic propagator, attainment of the Gordon decomposition of the vector current with minimal electromagnetic coupling to obtain information on the form factors, examination of the non-relativistic limit of the equation, evaluation of the spin- and velocity-dependent corrections to the Coulomb potential due to LQG effects, and the modified Hamiltonian in the low-relativistic regime. The study of the form factors may open up paths to set up bounds on the LQG parameters from the precision measurements of electromagnetic attributes of the charged leptons, such as their respective electric and magnetic dipole moments.

Quasinormal modes and ringdown waveforms of a Frolov black hole

In this paper we investigate scalar perturbation over a Frolov black hole (BH), which is a regular BH induced by the quantum gravity effect. The quasinormal frequencies of a scalar field always consistently reside in the lower half-plane, and the time-domain evolution of the field demonstrates a decaying behavior, with the late-time tail exhibiting a power-law pattern. These observations collectively suggest the stability of a Frolov BH against scalar perturbation. Additionally, our study reveals that the quantum gravity effect leads to slower decay modes. For the case of the angular quantum number l = 0, the oscillation exhibits non-monotonic behavior with the quantum gravity parameter α 0. However, once l ≥ 1, the angular quantum number surpasses the influence of the quantum gravity effect.

Extended uncertainty principle: A deeper insight into the Hubble tension?

The standard cosmological model, known as the ΛCDM model, has been successful in many respects, but it has some significant discrepancies, some of which have not been resolved yet. In measuring the Hubble-Lemaître parameter, there is an apparent discrepancy which is known as the Hubble tension, defined as differences in values of this parameter measured by the Type Ia Supernovae (SNeIa) data (a model-independent method) and by the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) radiation maps (a model-dependent method). Although many potential solutions have been proposed, the issue still remains unresolved. Recently, it was observed that the Hubble tension can be due to the concept of uncertainty in measuring cosmological parameters at large distance scales through applying the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle (HUP) in cosmological setups. Extending this pioneering idea, in the present study we plan to incorporate the Extended Uncertainty Principle (EUP) containing a minimal fundamental measurable momentum (or equivalently, a maximal fundamental measurable length) as a candidate setup for describing large-scale effects of Quantum Gravity (QG) to address the Hubble tension and constrain the EUP length scale. In this regard, by finding a relevant formula for the effective photon rest mass in terms of the present-time value of the Hubble-Lemaître parameter, we see that discrepancies in the value of photon rest mass associated with the Hubble-Lemaître parameter values estimated from model-independent and model-dependent methods perhaps is the cause of Hubble tension. We show explicitly that the presence of a non-zero minimal uncertainty in momentum (or non-zero maximal uncertainty in position) measurements as a consequence of the large distance quantum gravity effect addresses the Hubble tension satisfactorily without having to invoke new physics. Moreover, we use the formula for the effective photon rest mass to find some relevant lower bounds on the EUP length scale.

Examining quantum gravity's effects on gravitational rainbows

This paper delves into the fundamental implications of quantum gravity on gravitational rainbows, an intriguing phenomenon resulting from the interaction between quantum mechanics and gravity. We explore the theoretical underpinnings of quantum gravity and how they affect light bending around enormous objects, providing insight into the phenomenon known as gravitational rainbows. We investigate the complex interplay between quantum gravity and gravitational events by thoroughly analyzing theoretical models, experimental findings, and computer simulations, providing insights into the essence of the cosmos. The results show that according to the basic theories of light propagation, light moves along the x-axis at a constant speed based on observing a straight-line route between the affine parameters and the x-coordinate. The analysis of shifting gravitational potentials reveals significant influences on the routes taken by light beams traveling through gravitational fields. The impact of quantum gravitational effects is emphasized by the gravitational potential spreading outward, reaching magnitudes of 10 × 1011 and decreasing towards zero outward. Moreover, the gravitational disturbance distribution is closest to the coordinate system center, with minor perturbations in the z-direction, especially in ℎxx and ℎyy. This distribution highlights how gravitational influences vary throughout space. Finally, the analysis shows that, due to a decrease in the impact parameter, the deflection angle of light increases as the angle of incidence lowers. Additionally, the deflection angle is directly influenced by the mass of the deflecting objects, suggesting a proportionate link between mass and deflection. These findings advance our knowledge of gravitational events in astrophysical and cosmological contexts and offer insight into how light behaves in gravitational fields.

Quantum gravity modifications to the accretion onto a Kerr black hole

In the framework of the Asymptotic Safety scenario for quantum gravity, we analyze quantum gravity modifications to the thermal characteristics of a thin accretion disk spiraling around a renormalization group improved (RGI-) Kerr black hole in the low energy regime. We focused on the quantum effects on the location of the innermost stable circular orbit (ISCO), the energy flux from the disk, the disk temperature, the observed redshifted luminosity, and the accretion efficiency. The deviations from the classical general relativity due to quantum effects are described for a free parameter that arises in the improved Kerr metric as a consequence of the fact that the Newton constant turns into a running coupling G(r) depending on the energy scale. We find that, both for rapid and slow rotating black holes with accretion disks in prograde and retrograde circulation, increases in the value of this parameter are accompanied by a decreasing of the ISCO, by a lifting of the peaks of the radiation properties of the disk and by an increase of the accretion mass efficiency, as compared with the predictions of general relativity. Our results confirm previously established findings in Zuluaga and Sánchez (Eur Phys J C 81:840, 2021) where we showed that these quantum gravity effects also occur for an accretion disk around a RGI-Schwarzschild black hole.

Superoscillations in high energy physics and gravity

We explore superoscillations within the context of classical and quantum field theories, presenting novel solutions to Klein–Gordon’s, Dirac’s, Maxwell’s and Einstein’s equations. In particular, we illustrate a procedure of second quantization of fields and how to construct a Fock space which encompasses Superoscillating states. Furthermore, we extend the application of superoscillations to quantum tunnelings, scatterings and mixings of particles, squeezed states and potential advancements in laser interferometry, which could open new avenues for experimental tests of quantum gravity effects. By delving into the relationship among superoscillations and phenomena such as Hawking radiation, the black hole (BH) information and the Firewall paradox, we propose an alternative mechanism for information transfer across the BH event horizon.

Gravitational waves with generalized holonomy corrections

The cosmological tensor perturbation equation with generalized holonomy corrections is derived in the framework of effective loop quantum gravity. This results in a generalized dispersion relation for gravitational waves, encompassing holonomy corrections. Furthermore, we conduct an examination of the constraint algebra concerning vector modes with generalized holonomy corrections. The requirement of anomaly cancellation for vector modes imposes constraints on the possible functional forms of the generalized holonomy corrections. What’s more, we estimate the theoretical value of the effective graviton mass and discuss the potential detectability of this effective mass in future observations.

Stabilizer entropy of quantum tetrahedra

How complex is the structure of quantum geometry? In several approaches, the spacetime atoms are obtained by the SU(2) intertwiner called quantum tetrahedron. The complexity of this construction has a concrete consequence in recent efforts to simulate such models and toward experimental demonstrations of quantum gravity effects. There are, therefore, both a computational and an experimental complexity inherent to this class of models. In this paper, we study this complexity under the lens of (SE). We calculate the SE of the gauge-invariant basis states and its average in the SU(2)-gauge invariant subspace. We find that the states of definite volume are singled out by the (near) maximal SE and give precise bounds to the verification protocols for experimental demonstrations on available quantum computers. Published by the American Physical Society 2024