Dynamical Lorentz symmetry breaking in a scale-free theory of gravity

Abstract

This paper explores the renormalization of scale-free quadratic gravity coupled to the bumblebee field and its potential for dynamically breaking Lorentz symmetry. We conduct one-loop renormalization of the model and calculate the associated renormalization group functions. Furthermore, we compute the one-loop effective potential for the bumblebee field, demonstrating that it acquires a nontrivial vacuum expectation value (VEV) through radiative corrections—a phenomenon known as the Coleman-Weinberg mechanism. This spontaneous breaking of scale invariance, driven by the nonzero VEV of the bumblebee field, leads to Lorentz symmetry violation. As a result, the nonminimal coupling between the bumblebee and gravitational fields induces a spontaneous generation of an Einstein-Hilbert term via radiative corrections, suggesting a possible link between the Planck scale and Lorentz violation phenomena. Published by the American Physical Society 2024