Arbitrary Spacetime Dimensions Research Articles

Unconstrained Lagrangian formulation for bosonic continuous spin theory in flat spacetime of arbitrary dimension

We have discovered two unconstrained forms of free Lagrangian for continuous spin(CS) theory in arbitrary flat spacetime dimension for bosonic case. These Lagrangians, unlike that by Schuster and Toro, do not include delta functions and are conventional. The first form consists of five kinds of totally symmetric helicity fields and one kind of gauge parameter. By introducing auxiliary creation and annihilation operators, each is combined into a state vector in Fock space, including all ranks one by one. The Lagrangian imposes no constraints, such as trace conditions, on these fields or the gauge parameter field. Additionally, the Lagrangian does not contain higher-order derivative terms. In the limit as CS parameter μ approaches zero, it naturally reproduces a Lagrangian for helicity fields in higher spin(HS) theory, known as unconstrained quartet formulation. Permitting third-order derivatives, we also obtain the second unconstrained form of Lagrangian that can be written in terms of three kinds of fields, including μ, similar to the formulation by Francia and Sagnotti. Partial gauge fixing and partial use of equations of motion (EOM) on this Lagrangian yield a Fronsdal-like Lagrangian with a single double-traceless field, including μ. By imposing further gauge fixing on the field in the EOM with respect to divergence and trace, we confirm the reproduction of the modified Wigner equations already known in literature.

Gravity and [formula omitted] flows in higher dimensions

We study systems in arbitrary space-time dimensions where matter, deformed by TT‾-like irrelevant operators, is coupled to gravity in the Palatini formalism. The dynamically equivalent perspective is investigated, wherein the deformation transitions from the matter action to the gravitational one or vice versa. This alternative viewpoint leads to the emergence of Ricci-based gravity theories, thus providing a high-dimensional generalisation of the well-known equivalence between two-dimensional TT‾ deformations and coupling to Jackiw-Teitelboim gravity. This dynamical equivalence is examined within the framework of the recently introduced Lagrangian flow equation, which notably led to the discovery of a direct link between Nambu-Goto theory and TT‾ in d=2, as well as significant insights into nonlinear electrodynamics models in d=4. The investigation involves explicit examples in d=4 dimensions; it builds upon earlier research concerning the metric interpretation of TT‾-like perturbations, incorporates and extends recent findings in the cosmology-related literature associated to the concept of reframing. We focus on scenarios where the resulting modified gravity theories manifest as Born-Infeld and Starobinsky types.

Black holes in multimetric gravity

We construct a wide class of black hole solutions to the general theory of ghost-free multimetric gravity in arbitrary spacetime dimension, extending and generalizing the known results in four-dimensional dRGT massive gravity and bigravity. The solutions are split into three generic classes based on whether the metrics can be simultaneously diagonalized—one of which does not exist in dRGT massive gravity nor bigravity, and is only possible when one has more than two interacting metric fields. We also linearize the general multimetric theory to determine the dynamics of the massive spin-2 modes, including examples where this can be done analytically, and use the linear theory to discuss the stability of the four-dimensional multi-Schwarzschild and multi-Kerr solutions. We explain how the instabilities that plague these solutions in dRGT massive gravity and bigravity carry across to the general multimetric theory, touching upon ideas of dimensional deconstruction to make sense of the results. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Hodge duality transformations in tensor-hierarchy formulations

We show in arbitrary space-time dimensions that duality-transformations are possible in general tensor-hierarchy with field-strengths of arbitrary ranks. We first consider the non-Abelian tensor field-strength of the potential , and its compensator field-strength of the potential , where is the adjoint index. We next perform duality transformations into their respective Hodge-dual field-strength of the potential and the field-strength of the potential . As a typical application, we show this to take place in dimensions with an N = 1 supersymmetric set consisting of a Yang–Mills vector-multiplet , an extra vector-multiplet , and a compensating chiral multiplet . The λ I and χ I are Majorana spinors, and is an extra vector with the Proca–Stückelberg scalar CI , while EI is a pseudo-scalar. We perform duality-transformations on and to their Hodge-dual fields and , respectively, ending up with the new set of multiplets and . Another example is the set of multiplets and in . Even though has the maximal 4th rank field-strength, its supersymmetric dual system exists with and after a duality-transformation. Our duality-transformations provide previously-unknown-links among supersymmetric tensor-hierarchy formulations.

On staticity of bifurcate Killing horizons*

We show that bifurcate Killing horizons with closed torsion form, in spacetimes of arbitrary dimension, and satisfying a Ricci-structure condition arise from static Killing vectors. The result applies in particular to Λ-vacuum spacetimes.

Spinning partial waves for scattering amplitudes in d dimensions

Partial wave decomposition is one of the main tools within the modern S-matrix studies. We present a method to compute partial waves for 2 → 2 scattering of spinning particles in arbitrary spacetime dimension. We identify partial waves as matrix elements of the rotation group with definite covariance properties under a subgroup. This allows to use a variety of techniques from harmonic analysis in order to construct a novel algebra of weight-shifting operators. All spinning partial waves are generated by the action of these operators on a set of known scalar seeds. The text is accompanied by a Mathematica notebook to automatically generate partial waves. These results pave the way to a systematic studies of spinning S-matrix bootstrap and positivity bounds.

Obstructions to the existence of trapped submanifolds in relativistic spacetimes

Obstructions to the existence of trapped submanifolds in spacetimes of arbitrary dimension are given. These obstructions are obtained under natural geometric assumptions, which can be applied to initial data set for Einstein equations, assuring the absence of trapped submanifolds in its development. We highlight that for several of our results the existence of symmetries in the spacetime is not necessary.

Kination, meet Kasner: on the asymptotic cosmology of string compactifications

We study runaway, kination-dominated epochs in string cosmology. We show how the apparent classical decompactification runaway of the volume modulus, described by a kination epoch in the 4-dimensional EFT, can be uplifted to a classical Kasner solution in 10d in which the non-compact dimensions collapse towards a Big Crunch. This can also be generalised for arbitrary spacetime and compactification dimensions. We conclude with some comments on how this picture is modified by quantum effects, and the need for both dynamical and kinematical Swampland constraints.

On unitarity of the Coon amplitude

The Coon amplitude is a one-parameter deformation of the Veneziano amplitude. We explore the unitarity of the Coon amplitude through its partial wave expansion using tools from q-calculus. Our analysis establishes manifest positivity on the leading and sub-leading Regge trajectories in arbitrary spacetime dimensions D, while revealing a violation of unitarity in a certain region of (q, D) parameter space starting at the sub-sub-leading Regge order. A combination of numerical studies and analytic arguments allows us to argue for the manifest positivity of the partial wave coefficients in fixed spin and Regge asymptotics.

From locality to irregularity: introducing local quenches in massive scalar field theory

In this paper, we initiate the study of operator local quenches in non-conformal field theories. We consider the dynamics of excited local states in massive scalar field theory in an arbitrary spacetime dimension and generalize the well-known two-dimensional CFT results. We derive the energy density, U(1)-charge density and ϕ2(x)-condensate post-quench dynamics, and identify different regimes of their evolution depending on the values of the field mass and the quench regularization parameter. For local quenches in higher-dimensional free massless scalar theories, we reproduce the structure of the available holographic results. We also investigate the local quenches in massive scalar field theory on a cylinder and show that they cause an erratic and chaotic-like evolution of observables with a complicated localization/delocalization pattern.

Holographic thermal propagator for arbitrary scale dimensions

Using the AdS/CFT correspondence we model the behaviour of the two-point correlator of an operator with arbitrary scale dimension ∆ in arbitrary spacetime dimension d for small but non-zero temperature. The obtained propagator coincides in the low temperature regime with the known result for d = 4 for large ∆ at the order Td as well as with the Td and T2d terms of the exact all order result for d = 2. Furthermore, for arbitrary d we explicitly write down the expression for the order Td of the propagator for arbitrary ∆, and present a conjecture for the order T2d in the large ∆ limit.

One-loop fermion-photon vertex in arbitrary gauge and dimensions: A novel approach

We compute a one-loop electron-photon vertex with fully off-shell external momenta in an arbitrary covariant gauge and space-time dimension. There exist numerous efforts in literature where a one-loop off-shell vertex is calculated by employing the standard first-order Feynman rules in different covariant gauges and space-time dimensions of interest. The tensor structure which decomposes this three-point vertex into the components transverse and longitudinal to the photon momentum gets intertwined in this first-order formalism. The Ward-Takahashi identity is explicitly invoked to untangle the two pieces and the results are expressed in a preferred basis of 12 spin amplitudes. We propose a novel approach based upon an efficient combination of the first- and second-order formalisms of quantum electrodynamics to compute this one-loop vertex. Among some conspicuous advantages is the fact that this less known second-order formalism separates the spin and scalar degrees of freedom of an electron interacting electromagnetically. More noticeably, the longitudinal and transverse contributions naturally disentangle from the onset in our approach. Moreover, this decomposition leads to identities between one-loop scalar Feynman integrals with higher powers in the propagators and shifted space-time dimensions that can be used to prove the Ward-Takahashi identity at one-loop order without the need to evaluate any Feynman integral. Additionally, this natural decomposition allows us to establish the gauge independence of the Pauli form factor through explicit cancellations of scalar Feynman integrals that depend on the gauge parameter. These cancellations naturally lead to a compact expression for the Pauli form factor in arbitrary dimensions. Wherever necessary and insightful, we make comparisons with earlier works.

Properties of the conformal Yangian in scalar and gauge field theories

Properties of the SO(2, n) Yangian acting on scalar and gauge fields are presented. This differential operator representation of the infinite-dimensional extension of the conformal algebra SO(2, n) is proved to satisfy the Serre relation for arbitrary spacetime dimension n for off-shell scalar theory, but only on shell and for n = 4 in the gauge theory. The SO(2, n) Yangian acts simply on the off-shell kinematic invariants (kI + kI+1 + …)2, and it annihilates individual off-shell scalar λϕ3 Feynman tree graphs for n = 6 if the differential operator representation is extended by graph dependent evaluation terms. The SO(2, 4) Yangian level one generators are shown to act in a compact way on pure Yang- Mills gluon tree amplitudes. The action of the Yangian on the scattering polynomials of a CHY formalism is also described.

A single-particle framework for unitary lattice gauge theory in discrete time

We construct a real-time lattice-gauge-theory (LGT)-type action for a spin-1/2 matter field of a single particle on a -dimensional spacetime lattice. The framework is based on a discrete-time quantum walk, and is hence inherently unitary and strictly local, i.e. transition amplitudes exactly vanish outside of a lightcone on the lattice. We then provide a lattice Noether’s theorem for internal symmetries of this action. We further couple this action to an electromagnetic field by a minimal substitution on the lattice. Finally, we suggest a real-time LGT-type action for the electromagnetic field in arbitrary spacetime dimensions, and derive its classical equations of motion, which are lattice versions of Maxwell’s equations.

Shift symmetries for p-forms and mixed symmetry fields on (A)dS

Massive fields on (anti) de Sitter space realize extended shift symmetries at particular values of their masses. We find these symmetries for all bosonic p-forms and mixed symmetry fields, in arbitrary spacetime dimension. These shift symmetric fields correspond to the missing longitudinal modes of mixed symmetry partially massless fields where the top row of the Young tableau is activated.

Long-range forces between nonidentical black holes with non-BPS extremal limits

Motivated by recent studies of long-range forces between identical black holes, we extend these considerations by investigating the forces between two nonidentical black holes. We focus on classes of theories where charged black holes can have extremal limits that are not BPS. These theories, which live in arbitrary spacetime dimension, comprise gravity coupled to $N$ 2-form field strengths and ($N\ensuremath{-}1$) scalar fields. In the solutions we consider, each field strength carries an electric charge. The black hole solutions are governed by the $SL(N+1,R)$ Toda equations. In four dimensions, the black hole solutions in the $SL(3,R)$ example are equivalent to the ``Kaluza-Klein dyons.'' We find that any pair of such extremal black holes that are not identical (up to overall scaling) will repel one another. We also show that there can exist pairs of non-extremal, nonidentical black holes which obey a zero-force condition. Finally, we find indications of similar results in the higher examples, such as $SL(4,R)$.

Metric approach to a mathrm{T}overline{mathrm{T}} -like deformation in arbitrary dimensions

We consider a one-parameter family of composite fields — bi-linear in the components of the stress-energy tensor — which generalise the mathrm{T}overline{mathrm{T}} operator to arbitrary space-time dimension d ≥ 2. We show that they induce a deformation of the classical action which is equivalent — at the level of the dynamics — to a field-dependent modification of the background metric tensor according to a specific flow equation. Even though the starting point is the flat space, the deformed metric is generally curved for any d > 2, thus implying that the corresponding deformation can not be interpreted as a coordinate transformation. The central part of the paper is devoted to the development of a recursive algorithm to compute the coefficients of the power series expansion of the solution to the metric flow equation. We show that, under some quite restrictive assumptions on the stress-energy tensor, the power series yields an exact solution. Finally, we consider a class of theories in d = 4 whose stress-energy tensor fulfils the assumptions above mentioned, namely the family of abelian gauge theories in d = 4. For such theories, we obtain the exact expression of the deformed metric and the vierbein. In particular, the latter result implies that ModMax theory in a specific curved space is dynamically equivalent to its Born-Infeld-like extension in flat space. We also discuss a dimensional reduction of the latter theories from d = 4 to d = 2 in which an interesting marginal deformation of d = 2 field theories emerges.

Uses of complex metrics in cosmology

Complex metrics are a double-edged sword: they allow one to replace singular spacetimes, such as those containing a big bang, with regular metrics, yet they can also describe unphysical solutions in which quantum transitions may be more probable than ordinary classical evolution. In the cosmological context, we investigate a criterion proposed by Witten (based on works of Kontsevich & Segal and of Louko & Sorkin) to decide whether a complex metric is allowable or not. Because of the freedom to deform complex metrics using Cauchy’s theorem, deciding whether a metric is allowable in general requires solving a complicated optimisation problem. We describe a method that allows one to quickly determine the allowability of minisuperspace metrics. This enables us to study the off-shell structure of minisuperspace path integrals, which we investigate for various boundary conditions. Classical transitions always reside on the boundary of the domain of allowable metrics, and care must be taken in defining appropriate integration contours for the corresponding gravitational path integral. Perhaps more surprisingly, we find that proposed quantum (‘tunnelling’) transitions from a contracting to an expanding universe violate the allowability criterion and may thus be unphysical. No-boundary solutions, by contrast, are found to be allowable, and moreover we demonstrate that with an initial momentum condition an integration contour over allowable metrics may be explicitly described in arbitrary spacetime dimensions.

Spinning amplitudes from scalar amplitudes

We provide a systematic method to compute tree-level scattering amplitudes with spinning external states from amplitudes with scalar external states in arbitrary spacetime dimensions. We write down analytic answers for various scattering amplitudes, including the four graviton amplitude due to the massive spin J exchange. We verify the results by computing angular distributions in 3 + 1 dimensions using various identities involving Jacobi polynomials.

Double field theory and pseudosupersymmetry

Supersymmetric bosonic backgrounds governed by first-order BPS equations, can be realised in a much broader setting by relaxing the requirement of closure of the superalgebra beyond the level of quadratic fermion terms. The resulting pseudo-supersymmetric theories can be defined in arbitrary spacetime dimensions. We focus here on the ${\cal N}=1$ pseudo-supersymmetric extensions of the arbitrary-dimensional bosonic string action, which were constructed a few years ago. In this paper, we recast these in the language of generalised geometry. More precisely, we construct the action and the corresponding supersymmetry transformation rules in terms of O($D$)$\times$O($D$) covariant derivatives, and we discuss consistent truncations on manifolds with generalised $G$-structure. As explicit examples, we discuss Minkowski$\times G$ vacuum solutions and their corresponding pseudo-supersymmetry. We also briefly discuss squashed group manifold solutions, including an example with a Lorentzian signature metric on the group manifold $G$.