An effective quantum mechanism for mass generation in diffeomorphism-invariant theories

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel quantum mechanism for generating particle mass in diffeomorphism-invariant theories, relying on anomalies caused by point-like particles disrupting local invariance.

Contribution

It presents a new mass generation scenario based on anomalous diffeomorphism symmetry breaking, independent of high-energy theory specifics.

Findings

Massless free theory can acquire mass through anomalies.

The mechanism is robust against detailed high-energy theory features.

Diffeomorphism invariance plays a central role in mass generation.

Abstract

We propose a scenario for particle-mass generation, assuming the existence of a physical regime where, firstly, physical particles can be considered as point-like objects moving in a background space-time and, secondly, their mere presence spoils the invariance under the local diffeomorphism group, resulting in an anomalous realization of the latter. Under these hypotheses, we describe mass generation starting from the massless free theory. The mechanism is not sensitive to the detailed description of the underlying theory at higher energies, leaning only on general structural features of it, specifically diffeomorphism invariance.