Speaker
Description
We explore violations of the equivalence principle within the framework of metric-affine gravity and establish their connection to finite-temperature effects. Thermal corrections to particle dynamics—originally derived in quantum field theory—can be reformulated in a Riemannian setting, leading to a temperature-dependent shift in the gravitational-to-inertial mass ratio. We show that the ensuing deviation from geodesic motion admits an equivalent description in metric-affine gravity, where the non-metricity tensor provides a purely geometric mechanism for modifying Newton’s law.
Additionally, we introduce a generalized Fermi–Walker derivative adapted to non-Riemannian geometries, which provides a direct geometric signature of the equivalence principle breakdown in full generality. Potential implications for experimental tests such as lunar laser ranging and the Planetary Ephemeris Program (PEP) are also discussed.
