Nambu-Goldstone Modes in Gravitational Theories with Spontaneous Lorentz Breaking

Abstract

Spontaneous breaking of Lorentz symmetry has been suggested as a possible mechanism that might occur in the context of a fundamental Planck-scale theory, such as string theory or a quantum theory of gravity. However, if Lorentz symmetry is spontaneously broken, two sets of questions immediately arise: what is the fate of the Nambu-Goldstone modes, and can a Higgs mechanism occur? A brief summary of some recent work looking at these questions is presented here.Comment: 6 pages. Presented at the meeting "From Quantum to Cosmos," Washington, D.C., May 2006; published in Int. J. Mod. Phys. D16:2357-2363, 200