Ghost Condensation and a Consistent Infrared Modification of Gravity

Ghost Condensation and a Consistent Infrared Modification of Gravity

10 Dec 2003 | Nima Arkani-Hamed, Hsin-Chia Cheng, Markus A. Luty, Shinji Mukohyama
This paper proposes a theoretically consistent modification of gravity in the infrared (IR), compatible with all current experimental observations. The modification is analogous to the Higgs mechanism in general relativity and arises from "ghost condensation," a new kind of fluid with the equation of state $ \rho = -p $, similar to a cosmological constant. However, unlike a cosmological constant, it is a physical fluid with a physical scalar excitation, described by an effective field theory at low energies. The excitation has an unusual low-energy dispersion relation $ \omega^2 \sim k^4/M^2 $, leading to small Lorentz-violating effects and a new long-range $ 1/r^2 $ spin-dependent force. The energy that gravitates is not the same as particle physics energy, allowing both sources and anti-gravitating effects. The Newtonian potential is modified with oscillatory behavior starting at the distance scale $ M_{Pl}/M^2 $ and time scale $ M_{Pl}^2/M^3 $. This theory offers new avenues for addressing cosmological problems, including inflation, dark matter, and dark energy. The ghost condensate breaks Lorentz invariance spontaneously, leading to a preferred frame where $ \phi $ is spatially isotropic. The theory is healthy in the absence of gravity, with a low-energy effective action that includes terms like $ \frac{1}{2}M^4\dot{\pi}^2 - \frac{1}{2}\bar{M}^2(\nabla^2\pi)^2 $. The theory is stable at low energies, with no large quantum instabilities in the IR. The ghost condensate can drive the current acceleration of the universe and may also contribute to dark matter. The theory is consistent with the observed acceleration of the universe and can be tested through experiments searching for Lorentz-violating effects and long-range spin-dependent forces. The ghost condensate is a physical fluid with a physical scalar excitation, and its properties are governed by a systematic effective field theory at low energies. The theory is robust against strong coupling issues and provides a consistent modification of gravity in the IR.This paper proposes a theoretically consistent modification of gravity in the infrared (IR), compatible with all current experimental observations. The modification is analogous to the Higgs mechanism in general relativity and arises from "ghost condensation," a new kind of fluid with the equation of state $ \rho = -p $, similar to a cosmological constant. However, unlike a cosmological constant, it is a physical fluid with a physical scalar excitation, described by an effective field theory at low energies. The excitation has an unusual low-energy dispersion relation $ \omega^2 \sim k^4/M^2 $, leading to small Lorentz-violating effects and a new long-range $ 1/r^2 $ spin-dependent force. The energy that gravitates is not the same as particle physics energy, allowing both sources and anti-gravitating effects. The Newtonian potential is modified with oscillatory behavior starting at the distance scale $ M_{Pl}/M^2 $ and time scale $ M_{Pl}^2/M^3 $. This theory offers new avenues for addressing cosmological problems, including inflation, dark matter, and dark energy. The ghost condensate breaks Lorentz invariance spontaneously, leading to a preferred frame where $ \phi $ is spatially isotropic. The theory is healthy in the absence of gravity, with a low-energy effective action that includes terms like $ \frac{1}{2}M^4\dot{\pi}^2 - \frac{1}{2}\bar{M}^2(\nabla^2\pi)^2 $. The theory is stable at low energies, with no large quantum instabilities in the IR. The ghost condensate can drive the current acceleration of the universe and may also contribute to dark matter. The theory is consistent with the observed acceleration of the universe and can be tested through experiments searching for Lorentz-violating effects and long-range spin-dependent forces. The ghost condensate is a physical fluid with a physical scalar excitation, and its properties are governed by a systematic effective field theory at low energies. The theory is robust against strong coupling issues and provides a consistent modification of gravity in the IR.
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