Related papers: Extended Planck Scale
Since the standard inflationary paradigm is based on quantum field theory on classical space-times, it excludes the Planck era. Using techniques from loop quantum gravity, the paradigm is extended to a self-consistent theory from the Planck…
When the equatorial spin velocity, $v$, of a charged conducting sphere approaches $c$, the Lorentz force causes a remarkable rearrangement of the total charge $q$. Charge of that sign is confined to a narrow equatorial belt at latitudes $b…
I show that it is possible to formulate the Relativity postulates in a way that does not lead to inconsistencies in the case of space-times whose short-distance structure is governed by an observer-independent length scale. The consistency…
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…
In the description of general covariance, the vierbein and the Lorentz connection can be treated as independent fundamental fields. With the usual gauge Lagrangian, the Lorentz connection is characterized by an asymptotically free running…
We calculate the spectrum of density fluctuations in models of inflation based on a weakly self-coupled scalar matter field minimally coupled to gravity, and specifically investigate the dependence of the predictions on modifications of the…
We calculate the impact of quantum gravity-motivated ultraviolet cutoffs on inflationary predictions for the cosmic microwave background spectrum. We model the ultraviolet cutoffs fully covariantly to avoid possible artifacts of covariance…
Majoron models provide neutrino masses via the spontaneous breaking of a global $U(1)$ symmetry. However, it may be argued that all global symmetries will be explicitly violated by gravitational effects. We show that it is possible to…
A constant (spacetime-independent) $q$-field may play a crucial role for the cancellation of Planck-scale contributions to the gravitating vacuum energy density. We now show that a small spacetime-dependent perturbation of the equilibrium…
The Planck or the quantum gravity scale, being $16$ orders of magnitude greater than the electroweak scale, is often considered inaccessible by current experimental techniques. However, it was shown recently by one of the current authors…
Recent astrophysical observations of quasar absorption systems indicate that the fine structure constant $\alpha$ and the proton-electron mass ratio $\mu$ may have evolved through the history of the universe. Motivated by these…
We derive relativistic equations for charged and neutral spin particles. The approach for higher-spin particles is based on generalizations of the Bargmann-Wigner formalism. Next, we study, what new physical information can the introduction…
Black holes play an important role in linking microphysics with macrophysics, with those of the Planck mass ($M_P \sim10^{-5}$g) featuring in any theory of quantum gravity. In particular, the Compton-Schwarzschild correspondence posits a…
We consider observational effects of a running effective Planck mass in the scalar-tensor gravity theory. At the background level, an increasing effective Planck mass allows a larger Hubble constant $H_0$, which is more compatible with the…
A particular framework for quantum gravity is the doubly special relativity (DSR) formalism that introduces a new observer independent scale (the Planck scale). We resort to the methods of statistical mechanics in this framework to…
Recently, the variation of the Planck mass in the General Relativistic Einstein-Hilbert action was proposed as a self-tuning mechanism of the cosmological constant, preventing Standard Model vacuum energy from freely gravitating and…
A modification of the action of the general relativity produces a different pattern for the growth of the cosmic structures below a certain length-scale leaving an imprint on the cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropies. We re-examine…
The Standard Model of the elementary particles is controlled by more than 20 parameters, of which it is not known today how they can be linked to deeper principles. Any attempt to clean up this theory, in general results in producing more…
Astrophysical observations suggest that the fine structure constant (alpha) may (or may not) be evolving over the cosmological time scale. This raises a much debated question: is alpha variation due to the variation of the speed of light…
We introduce a designer approach for extended Brans-Dicke gravity that allows us to obtain the evolution of the scalar field by fixing the Hubble parameter to that of a $w$CDM model. We obtain analytical approximations for $\phi$ as a…