Innocuous Implications of a Minimum Length in Quantum Gravity

TL;DR

This paper examines the impact of a minimum length in quantum gravity on virtual black holes, showing that their contribution to proton decay is suppressed due to an exponential factor, contrary to previous expectations.

Contribution

It reveals that virtual black holes with masses above the Planck scale are suppressed in proton decay processes, challenging prior assumptions about their effects.

Findings

Virtual black holes are exponentially suppressed in proton decay.

The minimum length modifies the expected contributions of virtual black holes.

Proton decay rates are not enhanced by high-mass virtual black holes.

Abstract

A modification to the time-energy uncertainty relation in quantum gravity has been interpreted as increasing the duration of fluctuations producing virtual black holes with masses greater than the Planck mass. I point out that such virtual black holes have an exponential factor arising from the action such that their contribution to proton decay is suppressed, rather than enhanced, relative to Planck-mass black holes.