Particle propagation on spacetime manifolds with static defects

Abstract

We investigate the effects of small static defects in the spacetime manifold. The presence of the defects leads to a modification of the scalar field two-point function in Klein-Gordon theory. We calculate the energy-momentum tensor and discuss the possible mass generation for the scalar field in single and multiple defect spacetimes. We also extend these results to the photon field and show that, as a result of the interaction with the defects, the photon dispersion relations are modified.

28 pages, 3 figures, improved discussion, appendix added and minor corrections, version to appear in J.Phys.A

References in corpus (6)

• Electrodynamics with Lorentz-violating operators of arbitrary dimension
• Derivation of a Vacuum Refractive Index in a Stringy Space-Time Foam Model
• Discreteness without symmetry breaking: a theorem
• Bounds on length scales of classical spacetime foam models
• Comparison of spacetime defects which are homeomorphic but not diffeomorphic
• Mass generation by a Lorentz-invariant gas of spacetime defects