Title: Composite graviton self-interactions in a model of emergent gravity

Abstract

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.

Authors:

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

Publication Date:

2018-07-23

Research Org.:

United States Dept. of the Navy, North Charleston, SC (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

1461228

Alternate Identifier(s):

OSTI ID: 1545798

Grant/Contract Number:  

SC0007894; SC0007984

Resource Type:

Published Article

Journal Name:

Physical Review D

Additional Journal Information:

Journal Name: Physical Review D Journal Volume: 98 Journal Issue: 2; Journal ID: ISSN 2470-0010

Publisher:

American Physical Society

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS