We follow the life of a generic primordial perturbation mode (scalar or tensor) subject to modified dispersion relations (MDR), as its proper wavelength is stretched by expansion. A necessary condition ensuring that travelling waves can be converted
into standing waves is that the mode starts its life deep inside the horizon and in the trans-Planckian regime, then leaves the horizon as the speed of light corresponding to its growing wavelength drops, to eventually become cis-Planckian whilst still outside the horizon, and finally re-enter the horizon at late times. We find that scalar modes in the observable range satisfy this condition, thus ensuring the viability of MDR models in this respect. For tensor modes we find a regime in which this does not occur, but in practice it can only be realised for wavelengths in the range probed by future gravity wave experiments if the quantum gravity scale experienced by gravity waves goes down to the PeV range. In this case travelling---rather than standing---primordial gravity waves could be the tell-tale signature of MDR scenarios.
In this proceedings for the MG14 conference, we discuss the construction of a phenomenology of Planck-scale effects in curved spacetimes, underline a few open issues and describe some perspectives for the future of this research line.
Quantum gravity phenomenology suggests an effective modification of the general relativistic dispersion relation of freely falling point particles caused by an underlying theory of quantum gravity. Here we analyse the consequences of modifications of
the general relativistic dispersion on the geometry of spacetime in the language of Hamilton geometry. The dispersion relation is interpreted as the Hamiltonian which determines the motion of point particles. It is a function on the cotangent bundle of spacetime, i.e. on phase space, and determines the geometry of phase space completely, in a similar way as the metric determines the geometry of spacetime in general relativity. After a review of the general Hamilton geometry of phase space we discuss two examples. The phase space geometry of the metric Hamiltonian $H_g(x,p)=g^{ab}(x)p_ap_b$ and the phase space geometry of the first order q-de Sitter dispersion relation of the form $H_{qDS}(x,p)=g^{ab}(x)p_ap_b + ell G^{abc}(x)p_ap_bp_c$ which is suggested from quantum gravity phenomenology. We will see that for the metric Hamiltonian $H_g$ the geometry of phase space is equivalent to the standard metric spacetime geometry from general relativity. For the q-de Sitter Hamiltonian $H_{qDS}$ the Hamilton equations of motion for point particles do not become autoparallels but contain a force term, the momentum space part of phase space is curved and the curvature of spacetime becomes momentum dependent.
We explore the possibility that well known properties of the parity operator, such as its idempotency and unitarity, might break down at the Planck scale. Parity might then do more than just swap right and left polarized states and reverse the sign o
f spatial momentum ${bf k}$: it might generate superpositions of right and left handed states, as well as mix momenta of different magnitudes. We lay down the general formalism, but also consider the concrete case of the Planck scale kinematics governed by $kappa$-Poincare symmetries, where some of the general features highlighted appear explicitly. We explore some of the observational implications for cosmological fluctuations. Different power spectra for right handed and left handed tensor modes might actually be a manifestation of deformed parity symmetry at the Planck scale. Moreover, scale-invariance and parity symmetry appear deeply interconnected.
We use our previously developed identification of dispersion relations with Hamilton functions on phase space to locally implement the $kappa$-Poincare dispersion relation in the momentum spaces at each point of a generic curved spacetime. We use thi
s general construction to build the most general Hamiltonian compatible with spherical symmetry and the Plank-scale-deformed one such that in the local frame it reproduces the $kappa$-Poincare dispersion relation. Specializing to Planck-scale-deformed Schwarzschild geometry, we find that the photon sphere around a black hole becomes a thick shell since photons of different energy will orbit the black hole on circular orbits at different altitudes. We also compute the redshift of a photon between different observers at rest, finding that there is a Planck-scale correction to the usual redshift only if the observers detecting the photon have different masses.
The covariant understanding of dispersion relations as level sets of Hamilton functions on phase space enables us to derive the most general dispersion relation compatible with homogeneous and isotropic spacetimes. We use this concept to present a Pl
anck-scale deformation of the Hamiltonian of a particle in Friedman-Lema^itre-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) geometry that is locally identical to the $kappa$-Poincare dispersion relation, in the same way as the dispersion relation of point particles in general relativity is locally identical to the one valid in special relativity. Studying the motion of particles subject to such Hamiltonian we derive the redshift and lateshift as observable consequences of the Planck-scale deformed FLRW universe.
We present the first detailed study of the kinematics of free relativistic particles whose symmetries are described by a quantum deformation of the de Sitter algebra, known as $q$-de Sitter Hopf algebra. The quantum deformation parameter is a functio
n of the Planck length $ell$ and the de Sitter radius $H^{-1}$, such that when the Planck length vanishes, the algebra reduces to the de Sitter algebra, while when the de Sitter radius is sent to infinity one recovers the $kappa$-Poincare Hopf algebra. In the first limit the picture is that of a particle with trivial momentum space geometry moving on de Sitter spacetime, in the second one the picture is that of a particle with de Sitter momentum space geometry moving on Minkowski spacetime. When both the Planck length and the inverse of the de Sitter radius are non-zero, effects due to spacetime curvature and non-trivial momentum space geometry are both present and affect each other. The particles motion is then described in a full phase space picture. We find that redshift effects that are usually associated to spacetime curvature become energy-dependent. Also, the energy dependence of particles travel times that is usually associated to momentum space non-trivial properties is modified in a curvature-dependent way.
We describe the Hamilton geometry of the phase space of particles whose motion is characterised by general dispersion relations. In this framework spacetime and momentum space are naturally curved and intertwined, allowing for a simultaneous descript
ion of both spacetime curvature and non-trivial momentum space geometry. We consider as explicit examples two models for Planck-scale modified dispersion relations, inspired from the $q$-de Sitter and $kappa$-Poincare quantum groups. In the first case we find the expressions for the momentum and position dependent curvature of spacetime and momentum space, while for the second case the manifold is flat and only the momentum space possesses a nonzero, momentum dependent curvature. In contrast, for a dispersion relation that is induced by a spacetime metric, as in General Relativity, the Hamilton geometry yields a flat momentum space and the usual curved spacetime geometry with only position dependent geometric objects.
We develop a method to constrain non-isotropic features of Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) polarization, of a type expected to arise in some models describing quantum gravity effects on light propagation. We describe the expected signatures of this
kind of anomalous light propagation on CMB photons, showing that it will produce a non-isotropic birefringence effect, i.e. a rotation of the CMB polarization direction whose observed amount depends in a peculiar way on the observation direction. We also show that the sensitivity levels expected for CMB polarization studies by the emph{Planck} satellite are sufficient for testing these effects if, as assumed in the quantum-gravity literature, their magnitude is set by the minute Planck length.
