Einstein-Cartan Theory Research Articles

Torsional regularization of self-energy and bare mass of electron

Abstract In the presence of spacetime torsion, the momentum components do not commute; therefore, in quantum field theory, summation over the momentum eigenvalues will replace integration over the momentum. In the Einstein–Cartan theory of gravity, in which torsion is coupled to spin, the separation between the eigenvalues increases with the magnitude of the momentum. Consequently, this replacement regularizes divergent integrals in Feynman diagrams with loops by turning them into convergent sums. In this article, we apply torsional regularization to the self-energy of a charged lepton in quantum electrodynamics. We show that torsion eliminates the ultraviolet divergence of the standard self-energy. We also show that the infrared divergence is absent. In the end, we calculate the finite bare masses of the electron, muon, and tau lepton: 0.4329 MeV , 90.95 MeV , and 1543 MeV , respectively. These values constitute about 85% of the observed, re-normalized masses.

Renormalization of the Einstein–Cartan theory in first-order form

We examine the Einstein–Cartan (EC) theory in first-order form, which has a diffeomorphism as well as a local Lorentz invariance. We study the renormalizability of this theory in the framework of the Batalin–Vilkovisky formalism, which allows for a gauge invariant renormalization. Using the background field method, we discuss the gauge invariance of the background effective action and analyze the Ward identities which reflect the symmetries of the EC theory. As an application, we compute, in a general background gauge, the self-energy of the tetrad field at one-loop order.

Symmetries in Riemann-Cartan Geometries

Riemann-Cartan geometries are geometries that admit non-zero curvature and torsion tensors. These geometries have been investigated as geometric frameworks for potential theories in physics including quantum gravity theories and have many important differences when compared to Riemannian geometries. One notable difference, is the number of symmetries for a Riemann-Cartan geometry is potentially smaller than the number of Killing vector fields for the metric. In this paper, we will review the investigation of symmetries in Riemann-Cartan geometries and the mathematical tools used to determine geometries that admit a given group of symmetries. As an illustration, we present new results by determining all static spherically symmetric and all stationary spherically symmetric Riemann-Cartan geometries. Furthermore, we have determined the subclasses of spherically symmetric Riemann-Cartan geometries that admit a seven-dimensional group of symmetries.

Canonical lifts in multisymplectic De Donder–Weyl Hamiltonian field theories

We define canonical lifts of vector fields to the multisymplectic multimomentum bundles of De Donder–Weyl Hamiltonian (first-order) field theories and to the appropriate premultisymplectic embedded constraint submanifolds on which singular field theories are studied. These new canonical lifts are used to study the so-called natural Noether symmetries present in both regular and singular Hamiltonian field theories along with their associated conserved quantities obtained from Noether’s theorem. The Klein–Gordon field, the Polyakov bosonic string, and Einstein–Cartan gravity in 3+1 dimensions are analyzed in depth as applications of these concepts; as a peripheral result obtained in the analysis of the bosonic string, we provide a new geometrical interpretation of the well-known Virasoro constraint.

Locally-homogeneous Riemann-Cartan geometries with the largest symmetry group

The symmetry frame formalism is an effective tool for computing the symmetries of a Riemann-Cartan geometry and, in particular, in metric teleparallel geometries. In the case of non-vanishing torsion in a four dimensional Riemann-Cartan geometry, the Minkowski geometry is the only geometry admitting ten affine frame symmetries. Excluding this geometry, the maximal number of affine frame symmetries is seven. A natural question is to ask what four dimensional geometries admit a seven-dimensional group of affine frame symmetries. Such geometries are locally homogeneous and admit the largest isotropy group permitted, and hence are called maximally isotropic. Using the symmetry frame formalism to compute affine frame symmetries along with the additional structure of the torsion tensor, we employ the Cartan-Karlhede algorithm to determine all possible seven-dimensional symmetry groups for Riemann-Cartan geometries.

Massive propagating modes of torsion

The dynamics of the torsion field is analyzed in the framework of the Covariant Canonical Gauge Theory of Gravity (CCGG), a De Donder–Weyl Hamiltonian formulation of gauge gravity. The action is quadratic in both, the torsion and the Riemann–Cartan tensor. Since the latter adds the derivative of torsion to the equations of motion, torsion is no longer identical to spin density, as in the Einstein–Cartan theory, but an additional propagating degree of freedom. As torsion turns out to be totally anti-symmetric, it can be parametrised via a single axial vector. It is shown in this paper that, in the weak torsion limit, the axial vector obeys a wave equation with an effective mass term which is partially dependent on the scalar curvature. The source of torsion is thereby given by the fermion axial current which is the net fermionic spin density of the system. Possible measurable effects and approaches to experimental analysis are addressed. For example, neutron star mergers could act as a dipoles or quadrupoles for torsional radiation, and an analysis of radiation of pulsars could lead to a detection of torsion wave background radiation.

A new gravitational theory and dark matter problem

We propose a new gravitational theory with torsion based on Riemann–Cartan geometry, in which all physical quantities are dynamical. In addition to the spacetime metric, the gravitational degrees of freedom in this theory also include the torsion and two scalar fields. The energy-momentum tensor of the matter fields in this theory is also proposed. A spherically symmetric static vacuum solution of the theory is obtained. It turns out that this solution can fit the observational data of the rotation curve outside the stellar disk in the Milky Way. Therefore, the galactic dark matter may just be the gravitational effect of the theory with torsion.

Dark torsion oscillations and bounces induced by Barbero-Immirzi and quantum correction on Einstein-Cartan gravity with very light inflatons

In this paper we present several examples of how to constrain loop quantum gravity Barbero-Immirzi (BI) parameter, either by using quantum corrections in Nieh–Yan (NY) modified Einstein-Cartan (EC) gravity with the Holst term. The reason why we introduce some extra terms in the actions, is that even when one adds both NY and Holst terms, being topological terms, they do not contribute to the dynamics of the problem and to the equations of motion (EOM). Examples run from quantum corrections and torsion mass in the dark universe with very light inflaton approximation to bouncing cosmologies in NY gravity. This follows similar model from Tukhashvili and Steinhardt (2023) of a bouncing cosmology induced by torsion condensates in EC gravity. The Lagrangian in this paper, is shown to be expressed in terms of NY polynomial form. The quantum one-loop correction is taken in NY Lagrangian as the inverse of BI parameter. This has been recently appeared in He et al. (2024) quantum corrections in Einstein-Cartan-Nieh–Yan one loop quantum gravity in Starobinsky inflation. We show that to have a cosmological NY dark universe one needs a real BI parameter. Inflation Hubble scale of the order of O(100eV) and very light inflaton of mass ∼10−12TeV are used due to its relation with dark matter. The very light mass character of inflatons and much heavier torsion are responsible to induced cosmological bounce in dark universe. When one introduces the quantum correction parameter b as second-order in front of the NY topological term in squared and introduce the NY term back into the ECH gravity, the EC gravity limit where BI parameter β→∞, yields a chiral fermion density ρ5. This result lies very close to the upper bound in the range of 0≤β≤1.185, previously obtained by Panza et al. Analysis of fermionic currents shows that Holst term can be eliminated by choosing β=0.288. Massive torsion oscillates in Einstein-Cartan gravity in the BI limit of β→∞.

Quantum Field Theory of Neutrino Mixing in Spacetimes with Torsion

In the framework of quantum field theory, we analyze the neutrino oscillations in the presence of a torsion background. We consider the Einstein–Cartan theory and we study the cases of constant torsion and of linearly time-dependent torsion. We derive new neutrino oscillation formulae which depend on the spin orientation. Indeed, the energy splitting induced by the torsion influences oscillation amplitudes and frequencies. This effect is maximal for values of torsion of the same order of the neutrino masses and for very low momenta, and disappears for large values of torsion. Moreover, neutrino oscillation is inhibited for intensities of torsion term much larger than neutrino masses and momentum. The modifications induced by torsion on the CP-asymmetry are also presented. Future experiments, such as PTOLEMY, which have as a goal the analysis of the cosmological background of neutrino (which have very low momenta), can provide insights into the effect shown here.

Gravitational slip parameter and gravitational waves in Einstein–Cartan theory

We study the evolution of scalar and tensor cosmological perturbations in the framework of the Einstein–Cartan theory of gravity. The value of the gravitational slip parameter which is defined as the ratio of the two scalar potentials in the Newtonian gauge, can be used to determine whether or not the gravity is modified. We calculate the value of slip parameter in the Einstein–Cartan cosmology and show that it falls within the observed range. We also discuss the evolution of the cosmic gravitational waves as another measure of the modification of gravity.

Einstein–Cartan pseudoscalaron inflation

We study a class of early universe cosmological models based on Einstein–Cartan gravity and including a higher derivative term corresponding to a power of the Holst scalar curvature. The resulting effective action is basically given by General Relativity and an additional neutral pseudoscalar field (the pseudoscalaron), unequivocally related to the corresponding components of the torsion, that necessarily acquire a dynamics. The induced pseudoscalaron potential provides a realistic inflationary phase together with a very rich postinflationary epoch, resulting from the coupling of the pseudoscalaron to ordinary matter.

Radiative losses and radiation-reaction effects at the first post-Newtonian order in Einstein–Cartan theory

Gravitational radiation-reaction phenomena occurring in the dynamics of inspiralling compact binary systems are investigated at the first post-Newtonian order beyond the quadrupole approximation in the context of Einstein–Cartan theory, where quantum spin effects are modeled via the Weyssenhoff fluid. We exploit balance equations for the energy and angular momentum to determine the binary orbital decay until the two bodies collide. Our framework deals with both quasi-elliptic and quasi-circular trajectories, which are then smoothly connected. Key observables like the laws of variation of the orbital phase and frequency characterizing the quasi-circular motion are derived analytically. We conclude our analysis with an estimation of the spin contributions at the merger, which are examined both in the time domain and the Fourier frequency space through the stationary wave approximation.

Hamiltonian formulation of gravity as a spontaneously-broken gauge theory of the Lorentz group

A number of approaches to gravitation have much in common with the gauge theories of the standard model of particle physics. In this paper, we develop the Hamiltonian formulation of a class of gravitational theories that may be regarded as spontaneously-broken gauge theories of the complexified Lorentz group SO(1,3)C with the gravitational field described entirely by a gauge field valued in the Lie algebra of SO(1,3)C and a ‘Higgs field’ valued in the group’s fundamental representation. The theories have one free parameter β which appears in a similar role to the inverse of the Barbero–Immirzi parameter of Einstein–Cartan theory. However, contrary to that parameter, it is shown that the number of degrees of freedom (DOFs) crucially depends on the value of β. For non-zero values of β, it is shown the theories possesses three complex DOFs, and for the specific values β=±i an extension to general relativity is recovered in a symmetry-broken regime. For the value β = 0, the theory possesses no local DOFs. A non-zero value of β corresponds to the self-dual and anti-self-dual gauge fields appearing asymmetrically in the action, therefore in these models, the existence of gravitational DOFs is tied to chiral asymmetry in the gravitational sector.

Quantum corrections to Higgs inflation in Einstein-Cartan gravity

This paper studies the quantum corrections to the Higgs inflation model in the context of the Einstein-Cartan (E-C) gravity in the large-N limit with N being the number of real scalar components in Higgs. Recently, it is realized that the Higgs inflation in the E-C formalism smoothly connects those in the metric and the Palatini formalisms in the presence of a non-minimal coupling between the Higgs fields and the Nieh-Yan term. This motivates us to investigate the quantum corrections in large-N limit to the E-C Higgs inflation and to clarify how the Ricci curvature squared R2 induced by the quantum corrections succeeds in Ultraviolet (UV)-extending the Higgs inflation in metric formalism while it fails in the Palatini case. We show that a generalized R2-term required for the renormalization in the E-C formalism induces a new scalar degree of freedom (DoF), the scalaron, which gradually decouples with the system due to its increasing mass as approaching the Palatini limit. The presence of the scalaron extends the UV cutoff at vacuum of the original model except for the parameter space close to the Palatini limit. This UV-extension is expected to solve the strong coupling problem that may exist during (p)reheating in the absence of the scalaron.

One-loop effective action in chiral Einstein–Cartan gravity

In chiral Einstein–Cartan gravity, a new gauge fixing procedure is implemented recently, leading to a very economical perturbation expansion of the action. Using this formulation and the relevant gauge fixing, we develop the ghost Lagrangian on an arbitrary Einstein background using the Becchi-Rouet-Stora-Tyutin (BRST) formalism. The novelty is the appearance of a new term quadratic in the tetrad field. We next compute the heat kernel coefficients and understand the divergences arising in the gravitational one-loop effective action. In our computation, the arising heat kernel coefficients depend only on the self-dual part of the Weyl curvature. We make a comparison between our results and what has been obtained for metric general relativity.

Signature of Einstein-Cartan theory

We study the effects of torsion as predicted by the Einstein-Cartan theory in the test-particle non-relativist approximation. We derive the corresponding 2-spinor Hamiltonian. Then, we solve an idealized reflection and transmission problem for a beam travelling across a spin-polarized target. We identify deviations in the spin polarizations on the reflected and transmitted beams that can distinguish Einstein-Cartan from general relativity. These deviations would constitute compelling evidence for a non-trivial spacetime torsion if measured.

Spontaneous and Explicit Spacetime Symmetry Breaking in Einstein–Cartan Theory with Background Fields

Explicit and spontaneous breaking of spacetime symmetry under diffeomorphisms, local translations, and local Lorentz transformations due to the presence of fixed background fields is examined in Einstein–Cartan theory. In particular, the roles of torsion and violation of local translation invariance are highlighted. The nature of the types of background fields that can arise and how they cause spacetime symmetry breaking is discussed. With explicit breaking, potential no-go results are known to exist, which if not evaded lead to inconsistencies between the Bianchi identities, Noether identities, and the equations of motion. These are examined in detail, and the effects of nondynamical backgrounds and explicit breaking on the energy–momentum tensor when torsion is present are discussed as well. Examples illustrating various features of both explicit and spontaneous breaking of local translations are presented and compared to the case of diffeomorphism breaking.

Preheating in Einstein-Cartan Higgs Inflation: oscillon formation

We make use of classical lattice simulations in 3+1 dimensions to study the preheating stage of Higgs Inflation in Einstein-Cartan gravity. Focusing for concreteness on a simplified scenario involving the seminal Nieh-Yan term, we demonstrate the formation of dense and spatially localized oscillon configurations constituting up to 70% of the total energy density. The emergence of these meta-stable objects may lead to a prolonged period of matter domination, effectively modifying the post-inflationary history of the Universe as compared to the metric and Palatini counterparts. Notably, the creation of oscillons comes together with a significant gravitational wave signal, whose typical frequency lies, however, beyond the range accessible by existing and planned gravitational wave experiments. The impact of the Standard Model gauge bosons and fermions and the potential extension of our results to more general Einstein-Cartan settings is also discussed.

Combined Screw and Wedge Dislocations

Elastic media with defects are considered manifold with nontrivial Riemann–Cartan geometry in the geometric theory of defects. We obtain the solution of three-dimensional Euclidean general relativity equations with an arbitrary number of linear parallel sources. It describes elastic media with parallel combined wedge and screw dislocations.

Scale invariant Einstein-Cartan gravity and flat space conformal symmetry

We find the conditions under which scale-invariant Einstein-Cartan gravity with scalar matter fields leads to an approximate conformal invariance of the flat space particle theory up to energies of the order of the Planck mass. In the minimal setup, these models, in addition to the fields of the Standard Model and the graviton, contain only one extra particle — a massless dilaton. Theories of this type can pave the way for a self-completion all the way up the Planck scale and lead to rather universal inflationary predictions, close to those of the simplest Higgs-inflation scenario in the metric theory of gravity.