Massless spacetime: On spacetime geometry above the electroweak symmetry breaking scale

TL;DR

This paper explores the idea that spacetime geometry may differ significantly above the electroweak symmetry breaking scale, suggesting a possible emergence of pseudo-Riemannian geometry at that epoch, with implications for early universe cosmology.

Contribution

It proposes that full pseudo-Riemannian geometry of spacetime emerges only after the electroweak phase transition, challenging the assumption of its applicability at higher energies.

Findings

Possible properties of pre-electroweak spacetime discussed

Experimental indications for the transition explored

Implications for early universe cosmology considered

Abstract

One of the deepest insights from the general theory of relativity is the relational nature of spacetime. While it is a generally agreed on that the nature of spacetime must be drastically different at the Planck scale, it has been a common practice to assume a full pseudo-Riemannian geometry of spacetime no matter what the physical fields present are, and to apply such geometry to cosmology. In the spirit of preserving the relational description of spacetime, we initiate a discussion on the applicability of general relativity all the way to Planck scale, and propose the possibility that the full pseudo-Riemannian geometry emerges as late as the time of electroweak phase transition when spacetime acquires the projective structure necessary to describe the motions of massive particles. A brief discussion of possible properties of spacetime prior to electroweak symmetry breaking is followed by an exploration of plausible experimental indications that such transition is real.