1. Quantum-gravity predictions for the fine-structure constant
- Author
-
Astrid Eichhorn, Christof Wetterich, and Aaron Held
- Subjects
High Energy Physics - Theory ,Physics ,Nuclear and High Energy Physics ,Gravity (chemistry) ,010308 nuclear & particles physics ,FOS: Physical sciences ,Fine-structure constant ,General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology (gr-qc) ,01 natural sciences ,General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology ,lcsh:QC1-999 ,Gravitation ,High Energy Physics - Phenomenology ,High Energy Physics - Phenomenology (hep-ph) ,Classical mechanics ,High Energy Physics - Theory (hep-th) ,Quantum electrodynamics ,0103 physical sciences ,Quantum gravity ,Grand Unified Theory ,010306 general physics ,Constant (mathematics) ,lcsh:Physics ,Quantum fluctuation ,Ultraviolet fixed point - Abstract
Asymptotically safe quantum fluctuations of gravity can uniquely determine the value of the gauge coupling for a large class of grand unified models. In turn, this makes the electromagnetic fine-structure constant calculable. The balance of gravity and matter fluctuations results in a fixed point for the running of the gauge coupling. It is approached as the momentum scale is lowered in the transplanckian regime, leading to a uniquely predicted value of the gauge coupling at the Planck scale. The precise value of the predicted fine-structure constant depends on the matter content of the grand unified model. It is proportional to the gravitational fluctuation effects for which computational uncertainties remain to be settled., Comment: 4 pages plus references, 2 figures
- Published
- 2018