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Spectral Constraints on Theories of Colored Particles and Gravity

Aaron Hillman1, Yu-tin Huang2,3, Laurentiu Rodina4, and Justinas Rumbutis2

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Phys. Rev. Lett. 135, 061604 – Published 6 August, 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/k23f-y47w

Abstract

In this Letter, we consider effective field theories for light fields transforming under the fundamental or adjoint representation of a continuous group. Assuming tree-level completions, we demonstrate that, in the presence of gravity, crossing symmetry combined with twice-subtracted sum rules leads to constraints on the irreducible representations that the ultraviolet degrees of freedom must populate. A spectrum is allowed only if its low energy projection contains the graviton pole. Beautifully, the graviton pole is the anchor of our argument, not an obstruction.

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Outline

Information

Phys. Rev. Lett. 135, 061604– Published 6 August, 2025
  • Received 23 November 2024
  • Revised 24 April 2025
  • Accepted 10 July 2025
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