Composite graviton self-interactions in a model of emergent gravity

Journal Article · Mon Jul 23 00:00:00 EDT 2018 · Physical Review D

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.98.024041· OSTI ID:1461228

Carone, Christopher D.; Claringbold, Tangereen V. B.; Vaman, Diana

We consider a theory of scalars minimally coupled to an auxiliary background metric. The theory is generally covariant and subject to the constraint of vanishing energy-momentum tensor. Eliminating the auxiliary metric leads to a reparametrization invariant, nonpolynomial, metric-independent action for the scalar fields. Working in the limit of a large number of physical scalars, a composite massless spin-2 state, the graviton, was identified in previous work, in a two-into-two scalar scattering process. Here, we further explore the possibility that dynamical emergent gravity is a natural feature of generally covariant quantum field theories, by studying the self-interactions of the emergent composite graviton. We show that the fine-tuning previously imposed to ensure the vanishing of the cosmological constant, as well as the existence of the massless spin-2 state, also assures that the emergent graviton’s cubic self-interactions are consistent with those of Einstein’s general relativity, up to higher-derivative corrections. We also demonstrate in a theory with more than one type of scalar that the composite graviton coupling is universal.

• Research Organization: United States Dept. of the Navy, North Charleston, SC (United States); Univ. of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• Grant/Contract Number: SC0007894; SC0007984
• OSTI ID: 1461228
• Alternate ID(s): OSTI ID: 1545798; OSTI ID: 1960785
• Journal Information: Physical Review D, Journal Name: Physical Review D Vol. 98 Journal Issue: 2; ISSN 2470-0010
• Publisher: American Physical Society
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS