The Cosmological Constant as a Zero-Parameter Prediction of Asymptotic Safety with Standard Model Matter

In the asymptotic safety approach to quantum gravity, the ultraviolet fixed point of the gravitational renormalisation group constrains all low-energy parameters, potentially making the cosmological constant Λ a calculable prediction rather than an input. We compute this fixed point in the f(R) truncation with full Standard Model matter content (Nₛ = 4, N_D = 45/2, N_V = 12), extending the polynomial expansion from order n = 3 to n = 6. The UV critical surface has dimension three, stable across all orders. Three UV constraints combined with two measured IR quantities — Newton's constant and the inflationary amplitude Aₛ = 2.1 × 10⁻⁹ — leave zero free parameters: Λ is uniquely determined. We identify and correct a factor-of-two error in the matter trace coefficients (confirmed by R. Percacci, private communication), and discover multiple non-Gaussian fixed points in the coupling space, selecting the physical branch by its eigenvalue structure. The polynomial truncation at n = 6 produces Aₛ ∼ O(1), confirming that the quantitative extraction of Λ requires the full non-perturbative f(R) flow equation. We note the potential complementarity with the topological protection of Λ via gravitational θ-vacua (Alexander, Bernardo, and Hui 2026).

Authors

Publication Details

Journal
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Published
2026-05-19
DOI
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20284172
Primary Topic
Cosmology and Gravitation Theories
Type
preprint
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preprint

The Cosmological Constant as a Zero-Parameter Prediction of Asymptotic Safety with Standard Model Matter

Peter Salmond
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Cosmology and Gravitation Theories
preprint

The Cosmological Constant as a Zero-Parameter Prediction of Asymptotic Safety with Standard Model Matter

Peter Salmond
preprint en

Abstract

In the asymptotic safety approach to quantum gravity, the ultraviolet fixed point of the gravitational renormalisation group constrains all low-energy parameters, potentially making the cosmological constant Λ a calculable prediction rather than an input. We compute this fixed point in the f(R) truncation with full Standard Model matter content (Nₛ = 4, N_D = 45/2, N_V = 12), extending the polynomial expansion from order n = 3 to n = 6. The UV critical surface has dimension three, stable across all orders. Three UV constraints combined with two measured IR quantities — Newton's constant and the inflationary amplitude Aₛ = 2.1 × 10⁻⁹ — leave zero free parameters: Λ is uniquely determined. We identify and correct a factor-of-two error in the matter trace coefficients (confirmed by R. Percacci, private communication), and discover multiple non-Gaussian fixed points in the coupling space, selecting the physical branch by its eigenvalue structure. The polynomial truncation at n = 6 produces Aₛ ∼ O(1), confirming that the quantitative extraction of Λ requires the full non-perturbative f(R) flow equation. We note the potential complementarity with the topological protection of Λ via gravitational θ-vacua (Alexander, Bernardo, and Hui 2026).

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
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Cosmology and Gravitation Theories
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