Lifshitz Phase of Quantum Gravity: The Infrared Fixed Point of the (2+1)D Unimodular Hořava-Chern-Simons Model
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: We consider a nonrelativistic gravity theory in (2+1) dimensions with $w_\infty$ gauge symmetry that we call unimodular Hořava-Chern-Simons gravity. The theory has three dimensionless couplings, one of which is the Chern-Simons level $κ$. At large $|κ|$, the theory flows from an asymptotically free UV fixed point to an IR fixed point with anisotropic scale invariance characterized by a dynamical critical exponent $z=2-\tfrac32|κ|^{-1}$. We speculate that unimodular Hořava-Chern-Simons gravity undergoes a phase transition from this scale-invariant phase to a confining phase when $κ$ drops below a critical value.
Source: arXiv (Cornell University)
Authors: Zelenko, Maxim, Son, Dam Thanh
Institution: University of Chicago
Language: English
Subfield: Nuclear and High Energy Physics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: U.S. Department of Energy
Award: G2060723563
OpenAlex ID: W7223914448