English

A No-Go Theorem for Quantum Cosmologies with Non-natural Hamiltonians

General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology 2026-05-15 v1

Abstract

The Eisenhart-Duval lift (ED) geometrizes classical dynamics by embedding their trajectories into null geodesics of a higher-dimensional Lorentzian spacetime. However, such a construction requires a natural Hamiltonian, that is, quadratic in the canonical momenta. As a consequence, mini-superspace cosmological models governed by non-natural Hamiltonians cannot admit an ED lift. Effective models in Loop Quantum Cosmology provide a concrete example: polymer-modified Hamiltonians become non-polynomial in the momenta and therefore fall outside the metric framework of the ED lift. We thus establish a kinematical no-go theorem: non-quadratic cosmological dynamics cannot be geometrized via ED constructions. Quantum-corrected bounce models therefore illustrate a structural limitation of metric geometrization within the ED framework.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2605.13921,
  title  = {A No-Go Theorem for Quantum Cosmologies with Non-natural Hamiltonians},
  author = {Christine C. Dantas},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2605.13921},
  year   = {2026}
}

Comments

11 pages, Honorable Mention in the Gravity Research Foundation 2026 Awards for Essays on Gravitation