Related papers: Scalar tilt from broken conformal invariance
We argue that conformal invariance is a common thread linking several scalar effective field theories that appear in the double copy and scattering equations. For a derivatively coupled scalar with a quartic ${\cal O}(p^4)$ vertex,…
It is known that some cosmological perturbations are conformal invariant. This facilitates the studies of perturbations within some gravitational theories alternative to general relativity, for example the scalar-tensor theory, because it…
The space of inflationary models is vast, containing wide varieties of mechanisms, symmetries, and spectra of particles. Consequently, the space of observational signatures is similarly complex. Hence, it is natural to look for boundaries…
The energy density of the universe today may be dominated by the vacuum energy of a slowly rolling scalar field. Making a quantum expansion around such a time dependent solution is found to break fundamental symmetries of quantum field…
The limitations of three-dimensional semi-classical gravity are explored in the context of a conformally invariant theory for a self-interacting scalar field. The analysis of the theory's scaling behaviour reveals that scalar-loop effects…
We study the response of a classical massless minimally coupled scalar to a static point scalar charge on de Sitter. By considering explicit solutions of the problem we conclude that -- even though the dynamics formally admits dilatation…
We study how the scalar power spectrum of single-scalar inflation depends functionally on models with features which have been proposed to explain anomalies in the data. We exploit a new formalism based on evolving the norm-squared of the…
Conformal symmetry can be spontaneously broken due to the presence of a defect or other background, which gives a symmetry-breaking vacuum expectation value (VEV) to some scalar operators. We study the effective field theory of fluctuations…
Primordial scalar perturbations may be generated when complex conformal scalar field rolls down its negative quartic potential. We begin with the discussion of peculiar infrared properties of this scenario. We then consider the statistical…
We argue that, when a theory of gravity and matter is endowed with (classical) conformal symmetry, the fine tuning required to obtain the cosmological constant at its observed value can be significantly reduced. Once tuned, the cosmological…
This talk discusses the relation between spacetime-dependent scalars, such as couplings or fields, and the violation of Lorentz symmetry. A specific cosmological supergravity model demonstrates how scalar fields can acquire time-dependent…
We study the implications of scale invariance in four-dimensional quantum field theories. Imposing unitarity, we find that infinitely many matrix elements vanish in a suitable kinematical configuration. This vanishing is a nontrivial…
Hamilton et al. have suggested an invaluable scaling formula which describes how the power spectra of density fluctuations evolve into the nonlinear regime of hierarchical clustering. This paper presents an extension of their method to…
We observe that the equation of motion for a free scalar field in a closed universe with radiation and a positive cosmological constant is given by Lam\'e's equation. Computing the exact power spectrum of scalar field perturbations, the…
In this Letter, we address the question of whether the conformal invariance can be considered as a global symmetry of a theory of fundamental interactions. To describe Nature, this theory must contain a mechanism of spontaneous breaking of…
We study the breakdown of conformal symmetry in a conformally invariant gravitational model. The symmetry breaking is introduced by defining a preferred conformal frame in terms of the large scale characteristics of the universe. In this…
General Relativity receives quantum corrections relevant at cosmological distance scales from the conformal scalar degrees of freedom required by the trace anomaly of the quantum stress tensor in curved space. In the theory including the…
We consider cosmological models based on the spectral action formulation of (modified) gravity. We analyze the coupled effects, in this model, of the presence of nontrivial cosmic topology and of fractality in the large scale structure of…
Deviations from scale invariance resulting from small perturbations of a general two dimensional conformal field theory are studied. They are expressed in terms of beta functions for renormalization of general couplings under local change…
We present a new approach to early universe cosmology. Inflation is replaced by a phase transition in which both matter and geometry are created simultaneously. We calculate the spectrum of metric perturbations and show that it is flat. We…