A (strictly) contemporary perspective on trans-Planckian censorship

TL;DR

This paper critically examines the foundations of the trans-Planckian censorship conjecture within established physics, clarifying what aspects are genuinely speculative and what are grounded in current scientific understanding.

Contribution

It provides a focused analysis of the conjecture's basis in classical and quantum physics, distinguishing between well-established principles and speculative elements.

Findings

Identifies the core assumptions of the conjecture rooted in current physics.

Highlights the aspects of the conjecture that depart from established physics.

Clarifies the conjecture's relation to quantum fields, spacetime, and gravity.

Abstract

I critically discuss a controversial 'trans-Planckian censorship' conjecture, which has recently been introduced to researchers working at the intersection of fundamental physics and cosmology. My focus explicitly avoids any appeals to contingent research within string theory (the sociological origins of the conjecture) or regarding the more general (quantum) gravitational 'swampland'. Rather, I concern myself with the conjecture's foundations in our current, well-trodden physics of quantized fields, spacetime, and (classical) gravity. In doing so, I locate what exactly within trans-Planckian censorship amounts to a departure from current physics -- identifying what is, ultimately, so conjectural about the conjecture.