Geometry Of Momentum Space Research Articles

Symmetries of κ-Minkowski space-time: a possibility of exotic momentum space geometry?

The quest for a quantum gravity phenomenology has inspired a quantum notion of space-time, which motivates us to study the fate of the relativistic symmetries of a particular model of quantum space-time, as well as its intimate connection with the plausible emergent curved “physical momentum space”. We here focus on the problem of Poincare symmetry of κ-Minkowski type non-commutative (quantum) space-time, where the Poincare algebra, on its own, remains undeformed, but in order to preserve the structure of the space-time non-commutative (NC) algebra, the actions of the algebra generators on the operator-valued space-time manifold must be enveloping algebra valued that lives in entire phase space i.e. the cotangent bundle on the space-time manifold (at classical level). Further, we constructed a model for a spin-less relativistic massive particle enjoying the deformed Poincare symmetry, using the first order form of geometric Lagrangian, that satisfies a new deformed dispersion relation and explored a feasible regime of a future Quantum Gravity theory in which the momentum space becomes curved. In this scenario there is only a mass scale (Planck mass mp), but no length scale. Finally, we relate the deformed mass shell to the geodesic distance in this curved momentum space, where the mass of the particle gets renormalized as a result of noncommutativity. We show, that under some circumstances, the Planck mass provides an upper bound for the observed renormalized mass.

Momentum gauge fields from curved momentum space through Kaluza–Klein reduction

In this work we investigate the relation between curved momentum space and momentum-dependent gauge fields. While the former is a classic idea that has been shown to be tied to minimal-length models, the latter constitutes a relatively recent development in quantum gravity phenomenology. In particular, the gauge principle in momentum space amounts to a modification of the position operator of the form akin to a gauge-covariant derivative in momentum space according to the minimal coupling prescription. Here, we derive both effects from a Kaluza–Klein reduction of a higher-dimensional geometry exhibiting curvature in momentum space. The interplay of the emerging gauge fields as well as the remaining curved momentum space lead to modifications of the Heisenberg algebra. While the gauge fields imply Moyal-type noncommutativity dependent on the analogue field strength tensor, the dimensionally reduced curved momentum space geometry translates to a Snyder-type noncommutative geometry.

Emergent geometry, torsion and anomalies in non-relativistic topological matter

I review and discuss aspects of the interplay of emergent geometry and anomalies in topological semimetals and insulators, focusing on effects of torsion. This correspondence identifies torsional topological responses in terms of anomalies and anomaly related hydrodynamic phenomena involving gauge fields and geometry. I discuss how torsional emergent geometry arises from elastic deformations in crystalline materials and how this background couples to thee low-energy continuum models inherited from lattice models, utilizing the semiclassical expansion. Via the coupling of momentum space topology and emergent vielbein geometry, non-relativistic topological matter can realise new geometrical responses of mixed gauge-gravitational character. The topological low-energy torsional responses depend momentum space geometry, lattice momenta and the regularization and UV completion, provided by the non-relativistic physics and symmetries of topological materials.

Covariant formulation of the generalized uncertainty principle

We present a formulation of the generalised uncertainty principle based on commutator $\left[ {\hat x}^i, {\hat p}_j \right]$ between position and momentum operators defined in a covariant manner using normal coordinates. We show how any such commutator can acquire corrections if the momentum space is curved. The correction is completely determined by the extrinsic curvature of the surface $p^2=$ constant in the momentum space, and results in non-commutativity of normal position coordinates $\left[ {\hat x}^i, {\hat x}^j \right] \neq 0$. We then provide a construction for the momentum space geometry as a suitable four dimensional extension of a geometry conformal to the three dimensional relativistic velocity space - the Lobachevsky space - whose curvature is determined by the dispersion relation $F(p^2)=-m^2$, with $F(x)=x$ yielding the standard Heisenberg algebra.

Relativistic velocity addition from the geometry of momentum space

With the goal of developing didactic tools, we consider the geometrization of the addition of velocities in special relativity by using Minkowski diagrams in momentum space. For the case of collinear velocities, we describe three ruler-and-compass constructions that provide simple graphical solutions working with the mass-shell hyperbola in a 1 + 1-dimensional energy–momentum plane. In the spirit of dimensional scaffolding, we use those results to build a generalization in 1 + 2 dimensions for the case of non-collinear velocities, providing in particular a graphical illustration of how the velocity transverse to a boost changes while the momentum remains fixed. We supplement the discussion with a number of interactive applets that implement the diagrammatic constructions and constitute a visual tool that should be useful for students to improve their understanding of the subtleties of special relativity.

Superconductivity from repulsive interactions in rhombohedral trilayer graphene: A Kohn-Luttinger-like mechanism

We study the emergence of superconductivity in rhombohedral trilayer graphene due purely to the long-range Coulomb repulsion. This repulsive-interaction-driven phase in rhombohedral trilayer graphene is significantly different from those found in twisted bilayer and trilayer graphenes. In the latter case, the nontrivial momentum-space geometry of the Bloch wavefunctions leads to an effective attractive electron-electron interaction; this allows for less modulated order parameters and for spin-singlet pairing. In rhombohedral trilayer graphene, we instead find spin-triplet superconductivity with critical temperatures up to 0.15 K. The critical temperatures strongly depend on electron filling and peak where the density of states diverge. The order parameter shows a significant modulation within each valley pocket of the Fermi surface.

Berry Curvature Effects on Quasiparticle Dynamics in Superconductors.

We construct a theory for the semiclassical dynamics of superconducting quasiparticles by following their wave packet motion and reveal rich contents of Berry curvature effects in the phase space spanned by position and momentum. These Berry curvatures are traced back to the characteristics of superconductivity, including the nontrivial momentum-space geometry of superconducting pairing, the real-space supercurrent, and the charge dipole of quasiparticles. The Berry-curvature effects strongly influence the spectroscopic and transport properties of superconductors, such as the local density of states and the thermal Hall conductivity. As a model illustration, we apply the theory to study the twisted bilayer graphene with a d_{x^{2}+y^{2}}+id_{xy} superconducting gap function and demonstrate Berry-curvature induced effects.

Torsional Landau levels and geometric anomalies in condensed matter Weyl systems

We consider the role of coordinate-dependent Fermi velocities, equivalent to effective tetrad (or vierbein) frame fields characterizing momentum space geometry, and torsional Landau levels (LLs) in condensed matter systems with low-energy Weyl quasiparticles. In contrast to their relativistic counterparts, they arise at finite momenta and with an explicit cutoff to the linear spectrum. Via the universal coupling of tetrads to momentum, they experience geometric chiral and axial anomalies with gravitational character. More precisely, at low energy, the fermions experience background fields corresponding to emergent anisotropic Riemann-Cartan and Newton-Cartan space-times, depending on the form of the low-energy dispersion. On these backgrounds, we show how torsion and the Nieh-Yan (NY) anomaly appear in condensed matter Weyl systems with an ultraviolet (UV) parameter with dimensions of momentum. The torsional NY anomaly arises from the spectral flow of torsional LLs and the linear Weyl description with a cutoff. We carefully review the torsional anomaly and spectral flow for relativistic fermions at zero momentum and contrast this with the spectral flow, nonzero torsional anomaly, and the appearance of the dimensionful UV-cutoff parameter in condensed matter systems at finite momentum. We apply this to chiral transport anomalies sensitive to the emergent tetrads in nonhomogeneous chiral superconductors, superfluids, and Weyl semimetals under elastic strain. This leads to previously overlooked suppression of anomalous density at nodes from momentum space geometry, as compared to (pseudo)gauge fields. We also briefly discuss torsion in anomalous thermal transport for nonrelativistic Weyl fermions, which arises via Luttinger's fictitious gravitational field corresponding to thermal gradients.

Relativistic deformed kinematics from momentum space geometry

We present a way to derive a deformation of special relativistic kinematics (possible low energy signal of a quantum theory of gravity) from the geometry of a maximally symmetric curved momentum space. The deformed kinematics is fixed (up to change of coordinates in the momentum variables) by the algebra of isometries of the metric in momentum space. In particular, the well-known example of $\kappa$-Poincar\'e kinematics is obtained when one considers an isotropic metric in de Sitter momentum space such that translations are a subgroup of the isometry group, and for a Lorentz covariant algebra one gets the also well-known case of Snyder kinematics. We prove that our construction gives generically a relativistic kinematics and explain how it relates to previous attempts of connecting a deformed kinematics with a geometry in momentum space.

Signal propagation on κ -Minkowski spacetime and nonlocal two-point functions

We study the propagation of quantum fields on $\kappa$-Minkowsi spacetime. Starting from the non-commutative partition function for a free field written in momentum space we derive the Feynman propagator and analyze the non-trivial singularity structure determined by the group manifold geometry of momentum space. The additional contributions due to such singularity structure result in a deformed field propagation which can be alternatively described in terms of an ordinary field propagation determined by a source with a blurred spacetime profile. We show that the $\kappa$-deformed Feynman propagator can be written in terms of vacuum expectation values of a commutative non-local quantum field. For sub-Planckian modes the $\kappa$-deformed propagator corresponds to the vacuum expectation value of the time-ordered product of non-local field operators while for trans-Plankian modes this is replaced by the Hadamard two-point function, the vacuum expectation value of the anti-commutator of non-local field operators.

Could LIV/noncommutativity alleviate the cosmological constant problem?

We test the hypothesis that in models with an explicit breaking of Lorentz invariance violation (LIV), the problem with the cosmological constant may, if not already be solved, then at least be partially mitigated by improving its UV behavior. Certain class of noncommutative models that have a well-defined dual momentum space geometry and in addition, setting up a suitable frame for developing the appropriate doubly (or deformed) special relativity (DSR) models are also subject to the same test.

Momentum-space cigar geometry in topological phases

.In this paper, we stress the importance of momentum-space geometry in the understanding of two-dimensional topological phases of matter. We focus, for simplicity, on the gapped boundary of three-dimensional topological insulators in class AII, which are described by a massive Dirac Hamiltonian and characterized by an half-integer Chern number. The gap is induced by introducing a magnetic perturbation, such as an external Zeeman field or a ferromagnet on the surface. The quantum Bures metric acquires a central role in our discussion and identifies a cigar geometry. We first derive the Chern number from the cigar geometry and we then show that the quantum metric can be seen as a solution of two-dimensional non-Abelian BF theory in momentum space. The gauge connection for this model is associated to the Maxwell algebra, which takes into account the Lorentz symmetries related to the Dirac theory and the momentum-space magnetic translations connected to the magnetic perturbation. The Witten black-hole metric is a solution of this gauge theory and coincides with the Bures metric. This allows us to calculate the corresponding momentum-space entanglement entropy that surprisingly carries information about the real-space conformal field theory describing the defect lines that can be created on the gapped boundary.

Kinematics of particles with quantum-de Sitter-inspired symmetries

We present the first detailed study of the kinematics of free relativistic particles whose symmetries are described by a quantum deformation of the de Sitter algebra, known as $q$-de Sitter Hopf algebra. The quantum deformation parameter is a function of the Planck length $\ell$ and the de Sitter radius $H^{-1}$, such that when the Planck length vanishes, the algebra reduces to the de Sitter algebra, while when the de Sitter radius is sent to infinity one recovers the $\kappa$-Poincar\'e Hopf algebra. In the first limit the picture is that of a particle with trivial momentum space geometry moving on de Sitter spacetime, in the second one the picture is that of a particle with de Sitter momentum space geometry moving on Minkowski spacetime. When both the Planck length and the inverse of the de Sitter radius are non-zero, effects due to spacetime curvature and non-trivial momentum space geometry are both present and affect each other. The particles' motion is then described in a full phase space picture. We find that redshift effects that are usually associated to spacetime curvature become energy-dependent. Also, the energy dependence of particles' travel times that is usually associated to momentum space non-trivial properties is modified in a curvature-dependent way.

Hamilton geometry: Phase space geometry from modified dispersion relations

We describe the Hamilton geometry of the phase space of particles whose motion is characterised by general dispersion relations. In this framework spacetime and momentum space are naturally curved and intertwined, allowing for a simultaneous description of both spacetime curvature and non-trivial momentum space geometry. We consider as explicit examples two models for Planck-scale modified dispersion relations, inspired from the $q$-de Sitter and $\kappa$-Poincar\'e quantum groups. In the first case we find the expressions for the momentum and position dependent curvature of spacetime and momentum space, while for the second case the manifold is flat and only the momentum space possesses a nonzero, momentum dependent curvature. In contrast, for a dispersion relation that is induced by a spacetime metric, as in General Relativity, the Hamilton geometry yields a flat momentum space and the usual curved spacetime geometry with only position dependent geometric objects.

Dual redshift on Planck-scale-curved momentum spaces

Several approaches to the investigation of the quantum-gravity problem have provided ‘theoretical evidence’ of a role for the Planck scale in characterizing the geometry of momentum space. One of the main obstructions for a full exploitation of this scenario is the understanding of the role of the Planck-scale-curved geometry of momentum space in the correlations between emission and detection times, the ‘travel times’ for a particle to go from a given emitter to a given detector. These travel times appear to receive Planck-scale corrections for which no standard interpretation is applicable, and the associated implications for spacetime locality gave rise to the notion of ‘relative locality’ which is still in the early stages of investigation. We here show that these Planck-scale corrections to travel times can be described as ‘dual redshift’ (or ‘lateshift’): they are manifestations of momentum-space curvature of the same type already known for ordinary redshift produced by spacetime curvature. In turn, we can identify the novel notion of ‘relative momentum-space locality’ as a known but under-appreciated feature associated with ordinary redshift produced by spacetime curvature, and this can be described in complete analogy with the relative spacetime locality that became of interest in the recent quantum-gravity literature. We also briefly comment on how these findings may be relevant for an approach to the quantum-gravity problem proposed by Max Born in 1938 and centered on Born duality.

RELATIVE LOCALITY IN CURVED SPACETIME

In this paper we construct the action describing dynamics of the particle moving in curved spacetime, with a nontrivial momentum space geometry. Curved momentum space is the core feature of theories where relative locality effects are present. So far aspects of nonlinearities in momentum space have been studied only for flat or constantly expanding (de Sitter) spacetimes, relying on their maximally symmetric nature. The extension of curved momentum space frameworks to arbitrary spacetime geometries could be relevant for the opportunities to test Planck-scale curvature/deformation of particles momentum space. As a first example of this construction we describe the particle with κ-Poincaré momentum space on a circular orbit in Schwarzschild spacetime, where the contributes of momentum space curvature turn out to be negligible. The analysis of this problem relies crucially on the solution of the soccer ball problem.

Reply to “Comment on ‘Relative locality and the soccer ball problem’”

In a Comment [S. Hossenfelder Phys. Rev. D 88, 028701 (2013)], Hossenfelder proposes a generalization of the results we reported in [Phys. Rev. D 84, 087702 (2011)] and argues that thermal fluctuations introduce incurable pathologies for the description of macroscopic bodies in the relative-locality framework. We here show that Hossenfelder's analysis, while raising a very interesting point, is incomplete and leads to incorrect conclusions. Her estimate for the fluctuations did not take into account some contributions from the geometry of momentum space, which must be included at the relevant order of approximation. Using the full expression here derived, one finds that thermal fluctuations are not, in general, large for macroscopic bodies in the relative-locality framework. We find that such corrections can be unexpectedly large only for some choices of momentum-space geometry, and we comment on the possibility of developing a phenomenology suitable for possibly ruling out such geometries of momentum space.

LIVING IN CURVED MOMENTUM SPACE

In this paper, we review some aspects of relativistic particles' mechanics in the case of a nontrivial geometry of momentum space. We start by showing how the curved momentum space arises in the theory of gravity in 2+1 dimensions coupled to particles, when (topological) degrees of freedom of gravity are solved for. We argue that there might exist a similar topological phase of quantum gravity in 3+1 dimensions. Then, we characterize the main properties of the theory of interacting particles with curved momentum space and the symmetries of the action. We discuss the space–time picture and the emergence of the principle of relative locality, according to which locality of events is not absolute but becomes observer dependent, in the controllable, relativistic way. We conclude with the detailed review of the most studied κ-Poincaré framework, which corresponds to the de Sitter momentum space.

BORN'S PROPHECY LEAVES NO SPACE FOR QUANTUM GRAVITY

I stress that spacetime is a redundant abstraction, since describing the physical content of all so-called "spacetime measurements" only requires timing (by a physical/material clock) of particle detections (at a physical/material detector). It is interesting then to establish which aspects of our current theories afford us the convenient abstraction of a spacetime. I emphasize the role played by the assumed triviality of the geometry of momentum space, which makes room for an observer-independent notion of locality. This is relevant for some recent studies of the quantum-gravity problem that stumbled upon hints of a nontrivial geometry of momentum space, something which had been strikingly envisaged for quantum gravity already in 1938 by Max Born. If indeed momentum space has nontrivial geometry then the abstraction of a spacetime becomes more evidently redundant and less convenient: one may still abstract a spacetime but only allowing for the possibility of a relativity of spacetime locality. I also provide some examples of how all this could affect our attitude toward the quantum-gravity problem, including some for the program of emergent gravity and emergent spacetime. And in order to give an illustrative example of possible logical path for the "disappearance of spacetime" I rely on formulas inspired by the κ-Poincaré framework.

Fate of Lorentz symmetry in relative-locality momentum spaces

The most studied doubly-special-relativity scenarios, theories with both the speed-of-light scale and a length/inverse-momentum scale as non-trivial relativistic invariants, have concerned the possibility of enforcing relativistically some nonlinear laws on momentum space. For the "relative-locality framework" recently proposed in arXiv:1101.0931 a central role is played by nonlinear laws on momentum space, with the guiding principle that they should provide a characterization of the geometry of momentum space. Building on previous doubly-special-relativity results I here identify a criterion for establishing whether or not a given geometry of the relative-locality momentum space is "DSR compatible", i.e. compatible with an observer-independent formulation of theories on that momentum space. I find that given some chosen parametrization of momentum-space geometry the criterion takes the form of an elementary algorithm. I show that relative-locality momentum spaces that fail my criterion definitely "break" Lorentz invariance, i.e. theories on such momentum spaces necessarily are observer-dependent "ether" theories. By working out a few examples I provide evidence that when the criterion is instead satisfied one does manage to produce a relativistic formulation. The examples I use to illustrate the applicability of my criterion also have some intrinsic interest, including two particularly noteworthy cases of $\kappa$-Poincar\'e-inspired momentum spaces.