REVIEW 3 major objections 4 minor 1 cited by
Bounded compactness from G(E)UP
T0 review · 3 major / 4 minor · reviewed 2026-08-06 · deepseek-v4-flash
Pith's one-line read From a generalized uncertainty principle, the paper derives that any self-gravitating object's compactness is capped at C ≲ 1/α, so black holes require α ≲ 2.
desk verdict The compactness bound is a valid formal consequence of the GUP, but the input Δp ~ M for a star is unjustified, so the astrophysical claim doesn't follow. read the letter →
The pith
A machine-rendered reading of the paper's core claim, the machinery that carries it, and where it could break.
The reading
What carries the argument
The engine is the extremal Generalised Uncertainty Principle, $\Delta x\Delta p = \hbar(1+\alpha\Delta p^2/m_p^2)$, combined with the assignment that each Cartesian component of the momentum uncertainty satisfies $\Delta p_i = M/\sqrt{3}$. Solving the inequality for $\Delta x$ and substituting into $C = G_N M/R = \ell_p M/(m_p R)$ converts the quantum uncertainty into an algebraic cap on compactness; adding the GEUP's $\beta\Delta x^2$ term turns that single inequality into a two-sided band.
What would settle it
Estimate the rest-frame momentum dispersion $\Delta p_i$ of a realistic star from its internal velocity distribution and check whether $\Delta p_i \simeq M/\sqrt{3}$; alternatively, observe a horizonless compact object with measured compactness exceeding the right-hand side of Eq. (3.5) under an independently constrained $\alpha$.
Extended reading notes
Core claim
For a self-gravitating object described by a wavefunction in its centre-of-mass frame with isotropic uncertainties $\Delta x_i^2=R^2/3$ and $\Delta p_i^2=M^2/3$, the GUP implies $C \lesssim M^2/(3m_p^2+\alpha M^2)$, i.e. $C\lesssim 1/\alpha$ for $M\gg m_p$. A parameter of order one therefore caps the compactness of large astrophysical objects at order one, and black holes, which have $C>1/2$, can form only when $\alpha\lesssim 2$. The GEUP replaces the single cap by a band, with the large-mass limits $(1-\sqrt{1-4\alpha\beta})/(2\alpha) \lesssim C \lesssim (1+\sqrt{1-4\alpha\beta})/(2\alpha)$, and for $\beta\to 0$ the band collapses to the GUP bound. Using the strongest experimental limits on $\alpha$ and $\beta$, the paper concludes that the GUP correction is the relevant one for astrophysical compactness.
Load-bearing premise
The derivation hinges on the assumption in Eq. (2.5) that each Cartesian component of the object's momentum uncertainty equals $M/\sqrt{3}$; if a real astrophysical body has a much smaller momentum spread in its rest frame, the bound $C\lesssim 1/\alpha$ does not follow.
Editorial extensions
If this is right
- If the GUP bound holds, no self-gravitating object of mass $M\gg m_p$ can exceed a compactness of order $1/\alpha$, so singular zero-size configurations would be excluded for $\alpha\sim 1$.
- Because black holes have $C>1/2$, horizon formation is possible only for $\alpha\lesssim 2$; larger values would make collapse end in horizonless compact objects.
- The observed shadows of M87 and Sgr A* show that $C\sim 1/2$ is realised in Nature, so values of $\alpha$ up to about 2 are compatible with observation.
- The current experimental bound $\alpha\lesssim 10^7$ leaves the compactness cap free to be of order unity, and string-theory-motivated values $\alpha\sim 1$ make the cap $C\lesssim 1$ physically relevant.
- For the GEUP, the S2-orbit bound $\beta\lesssim 10^{-90}$ makes the EUP correction negligible, so the GUP bound remains the operative limit on astrophysical compactness.
Reading between the lines
- The input relation $\Delta p_i = M/\sqrt{3}$ is assumed, not derived; for a composite astrophysical body the centre-of-mass momentum uncertainty need not scale with total mass, and a much smaller $\Delta p$ would weaken the cap.
- The same ratio-symmetric argument could be run on angular variables to bound the dimensionless spin of a compact object from a GUP-like uncertainty relation, which the paper does not do.
- A concrete testable extension would be to estimate the rest-frame momentum spread of a neutron star or white dwarf from its internal temperature and density; if $\Delta p/M\ll 1/\sqrt{3}$, the bound's reach for macroscopic bodies is much weaker than the $M\gg m_p$ formula suggests.
Editorial analysis
A structured set of objections, weighed in public.
Referee Report
Summary. The paper derives upper (and for the GEUP, lower and upper) bounds on the compactness C = G_N M/R of self-gravitating objects from the GUP and GEUP. Starting from assumed position and momentum uncertainties in the centre-of-mass frame, Δx_i = R/√3 and Δp_i = M/√3 (Eqs. (2.4)–(2.5)), the authors obtain C ≲ M^2/(3 m_p^2 + α M^2) ≃ 1/α for M ≫ m_p (Eq. (3.5)), and the two-sided GEUP band (4.7). They then use the existence of black holes (C > 1/2) to infer constraints such as α ≲ 2, and combine these with experimental bounds on α and β. The central claim is that quantum gravity generically caps the compactness of large astrophysical objects at order unity for α of order one.
Significance. If the conclusion were correct, the paper would provide a simple, model-independent-looking link between GUP/GEUP parameters and the maximum compactness of astrophysical bodies, with falsifiable consequences such as α ≲ 2 from the existence of black holes and constraints on β from the same requirement. The algebraic steps from Eqs. (3.1)–(3.5) and (4.1)–(4.7) are clean and correctly executed, and the use of existing experimental bounds on α and β is transparent. However, the entire edifice rests on the unproven and, for many-body systems, physically implausible identification in Eq. (2.5) that the per-coordinate momentum uncertainty equals M/√3. For a localized star or black hole, the centre-of-mass momentum spread is set by the size of the system and is vastly smaller than M, so the derived bound does not apply to the systems the paper targets. The result therefore does not substantiate the abstract's claim about 'large astrophysical objects.'
major comments (3)
- [§2, Eq. (2.5)] The assignment Δp_x^2 = Δp_y^2 = Δp_z^2 = M^2/3 is the sole input that converts the GUP inequality (3.1) into the compactness bound (3.5), but it is neither derived nor defensible for the systems under consideration. In the centre-of-mass frame the operators \p_i in Eq. (2.3) are total-momentum components with zero expectation value; their variances are determined by the centre-of-mass wavefunction, not by the rest mass. For a localized object of size R, a coherent state satisfies Δp_i ≳ ℏ/(2R), and for R ~ G_N M this gives Δp_i ≲ m_p^2/M, which is many orders of magnitude smaller than M. With this realistic Δp_i, the GUP inequality (3.1) yields a trivial bound (essentially C ≲ (2/3) M Δp/m_p^2 plus small corrections) that is automatically satisfied and does not restrict compactness at order 1/α. In addition, the 'dispersion relation' M^2 ≃ p_x^2 + p_y^2 + p_z^2 used before Eq. (2.5) is not the dispersion relation of a massive body at rest; at rest p^2 = 0. The paper's own invocation of the soccer-ball problem in §2 makes this point, but Eq. (2.5) reintroduces exactly the unphysical scale that soccer-ball arguments are meant to suppress. Consequently Eq. (3.5) and the α ≲ 2 conclusion in §5 do not follow for stars or black holes.
- [§5, Eqs. (3.5) and (4.7)] The observational constraints on α and β derived from the existence of black holes inherit the defect of Eq. (2.5). The statements that α ≲ 2 (from C ~ 1/2) and that β is restricted to 0 ≲ β ≲ (2−α)/4 for 1 ≲ α ≲ 2 are obtained by combining the compactness bounds (3.5) and (4.7) with black-hole formation. Since the underlying compactness bound is not valid for a realistic localized many-body state, these parameter-space restrictions are unsupported. The experimental bounds quoted from Refs. [53] and [36] are independent of this issue, but the paper's main new constraint—that black-hole existence forces α ≲ 2—disappears once Eq. (2.5) is dropped.
- [§2, Eq. (2.4)] A further gap is the identification of the position uncertainty Δx_i = R/√3 with the gravitational-radius input R in the compactness definition (2.6). For a many-body object, Δx_i is the spread of the centre-of-mass wavefunction, which need not equal the stellar radius or the horizon radius. No argument is given that the width of the quantum state corresponds to the classical radius R used in C = G_N M/R. This is relevant because even a 'smeared' centre of mass does not change the gravitational radius of the collective mass distribution unless additional assumptions about the internal state are supplied.
minor comments (4)
- [§5, first paragraph] There is a typo: 'one the strongest constraint' should read 'one of the strongest constraints.'
- [§5, paragraph on GEUP parameter β] The word 'paramater' appears in 'the GEUP paramater β'; it should be 'parameter.'
- [References] Several reference entries contain formatting inconsistencies, e.g., 'Phys,Lett.' in [11] and 'Mod. Phys. Lett.' in [12]; these should be normalized to the journal's style.
- [§3, paragraph after Eq. (3.5)] The phrase 'The unity of α is further reinforced' is awkward; consider rephrasing to 'The order-one value of α is further supported.'
Circularity Check
No significant circularity: the compactness bound is a transparent algebraic consequence of the stated GUP and the explicit isotropic-momentum assumption (2.5); the questionable status of that assumption is a validity concern, not a circular reduction.
full rationale
The paper's derivation is explicit: assume a center-of-mass wavefunction with vanishing means (2.1), spherical symmetry (2.4), and isotropic momentum dispersion Δp_i²=M²/3 (2.5). Substituting Δx=R/√3 and Δp=M/√3 into the GUP inequality (3.1) gives Eq. (3.4), and then Eq. (3.5), C≲M²/(3m_p²+αM²)≃1/α. This is a conditional algebraic derivation, not a fit or a renamed input. The parameters α and β are not fitted to the target compactness; they are model parameters subsequently confronted with external bounds (oscillator experiments, S2 precession, EHT shadows), so the resulting constraints are not statistically forced by construction. The cited self-references, including [41] for the center-of-mass/soccer-ball discussion and [6,7,56] for context, are not load-bearing uniqueness claims and do not substitute for the derivation. The main weakness is physical rather than circular: Eq. (2.5) treats a many-body object's per-coordinate total-momentum uncertainty as M/√3 via the dispersion relation M²≃p_x²+p_y²+p_z², an assumption that is not derived and would fail for localized nonrelativistic many-body states. But the paper states this assumption openly, and the compactness bound follows from it by algebra. Therefore no specific circular reduction can be exhibited.
Assumptions & free parameters
free parameters (2)
- GUP parameter α =
Not fitted; constrained to α ≲ 2 by black hole existence (Sec. 5)
- EUP/GEUP parameter β =
Not fitted; constrained to β ≲ 10^-90 by S2 precession and β ≲ (2-α)/4 by black hole existence (Sec. 5)
assumptions (4)
- domain assumption The GUP/GEUP inequalities (1.1), (1.3) are valid and characterize quantum-mechanical measurements.
- ad hoc to paper Per-coordinate position and momentum uncertainties of a self-gravitating object satisfy Δx_i = R/√3 and Δp_i = M/√3 (Eqs. 2.4-2.5).
- domain assumption Spherical symmetry, isotropy, and the center-of-mass frame restriction remove the soccer ball problem (Sec. 2).
- domain assumption Black holes exist and require compactness C > 1/2.
Cite this review
Pith. "Pith review of Bounded compactness from G(E)UP." pith.science (2026). https://pith.science/paper/IM2ZTWRE
@misc{pith2026250714703,
author = {Pith},
title = {Pith review of: Bounded compactness from G(E)UP},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {\url{https://pith.science/paper/IM2ZTWRE}},
note = {Machine review of arXiv:2507.14703}
}
read the original abstract
We analyse how different Generalised Uncertainty Principles could place bounds on the compactness of self-gravitating systems. By considering existing experimental bounds on the relevant parameters, we conclude that the compactness of large astrophysical objects is bounded above by the inverse of the GUP parameter, which would naturally be of order one. Conversely, the existence of black holes imposes stronger bounds on those parameters.
Figures
Figures from the paper (1 more)
Forward citations
Cited by 1 Pith paper
-
Combining the Generalized and Extended Uncertainty Principles
An alternative combined uncertainty relation (EGUP) is introduced, and the GEUP is shown to gain a third branch that the authors label—without a derived metric—a new type of black hole.
Reference graph
Works this paper leans on
-
[41]
Generalized Uncertainty Principle, Classical Mechanics, and General Relativity
R. Casadio and F. Scardigli, Phys. Lett. B807(2020) 135558 [arXiv:2004.04076 [gr-qc]]
work page Pith review arXiv 2020
-
[53]
Bawaj,et al.Nature Commun.6(2015) 7503 [arXiv:1411.6410 [gr-qc]]
M. Bawaj,et al.Nature Commun.6(2015) 7503 [arXiv:1411.6410 [gr-qc]]
arXiv 2015
-
[36]
Investigating bounds on the extended uncertainty principle metric through astrophysical tests
Ö. Ökcü and E. Aydiner, EPL138(2022) 39002 [arXiv:2209.03170 [physics.gen-ph]]
work page Pith review arXiv 2022
-
[1]
S. Hossenfelder, Living Rev. Rel.16(2013) 2 [arXiv:1203.6191 [gr-qc]]
arXiv 2013
-
[2]
R. Casadio, W. Feng, I. Kuntz and F. Scardigli, Phys. Lett. B838(2023) 137722 [arXiv:2210.12801 [hep-th]]
arXiv 2023
- [3]
-
[4]
Quantum gravitational fluctuations and the semi-classical limit
R. Casadio, Int. J. Mod. Phys. D9(2000) 511 [arXiv:gr-qc/9810073 [gr-qc]]
work page Pith review arXiv 2000
-
[5]
H. M. Haggard and C. Rovelli, Phys. Rev. D92(2015) 104020 [arXiv:1407.0989 [gr-qc]]
arXiv 2015
Show all 55 references
- [6]
- [7]
-
[8]
Veneziano, Europhys
G. Veneziano, Europhys. Lett.2(1986) 199
1986
-
[9]
Witten, Phys
E. Witten, Phys. Today49N4(1996) 24
1996
-
[10]
D. J. Gross and P. F. Mende, Nuc. Phys.B303(1988) 407
1988
-
[11]
Amati, M
D. Amati, M. Ciafaloni and G. Veneziano, Phys,Lett.B216(1989) 41
1989
-
[12]
Yoneya, Mod
T. Yoneya, Mod. Phys. Lett.A4(1989) 1587
1989
-
[13]
Ashtekar, S
A. Ashtekar, S. Fairhurst and J. L. Willis, Class. Quant. Grav.20(2003) 1031 [arXiv:gr-qc/0207106 [gr-qc]]
2003 arXiv
-
[14]
G. M. Hossain, V. Husain and S. S. Seahra, Class. Quant. Grav.27(2010) 165013 [arXiv:1003.2207 [gr-qc]]
2010 arXiv
-
[16]
Majid, J
S. Majid, J. Phys. Conf. Ser.284(2011) 012003 [arXiv:1009.5406 [gr-qc]]. 4Constraints using the minimum compactness can be imposed in the GEUP case, but we found those not to be relevant since they depend on an arbitrarily low defined value of this parameter. 8
2011 arXiv
-
[17]
Kanazawa, G
T. Kanazawa, G. Lambiase, G. Vilasi and A. Yoshioka, Eur. Phys. J. C79, 95 (2019)
2019
-
[18]
Maggiore, Phys
M. Maggiore, Phys. Lett.B 304(1993) 65
1993
-
[19]
Maggiore, Phys
M. Maggiore, Phys. Lett.B 319(1993) 83
1993
-
[20]
Maggiore, Phys
M. Maggiore, Phys. Rev.D 49(1994) 5182
1994
-
[21]
R. J. Adler, P. Chen and D. I. Santiago, Gen. Rel. Grav.33(2001) 2101 [arXiv:gr-qc/0106080 [gr-qc]]
2001 arXiv
-
[22]
Chen and R
P. Chen and R. J. Adler, Nucl. Phys. B Proc. Suppl.124(2003) 103 [arXiv:gr-qc/0205106 [gr-qc]]
2003 arXiv
-
[23]
A. N. Tawfik and A. M. Diab, Int. J. Mod. Phys. D23(2014) 1430025 [arXiv:1410.0206 [gr-qc]]
2014 arXiv
-
[24]
B. J. Carr, Springer Proc. Phys.170(2016) 159 [arXiv:1402.1427 [gr-qc]]
2016 arXiv
-
[25]
B. J. Carr, Mod. Phys. Lett. A28(2013) 1340011
2013
-
[26]
M. Isi, J. Mureika and P. Nicolini, JHEP1311(2013) 139 [arXiv:1310.8153 [hep-th]]
2013 arXiv
-
[27]
Köppel, M
S. Köppel, M. Knipfer, M. Isi, J. Mureika and P. Nicolini, Springer Proc. Phys.208(2018) 141 [arXiv:1703.05222 [hep-th]]
2018 arXiv
-
[28]
B. J. Carr, J. Mureika and P. Nicolini, JHEP1507, 052 (2015) [arXiv:1504.07637 [gr-qc]]
2015 arXiv
-
[29]
B. Carr, J. Mureika and P. Nicolini, Int. J. Mod. Phys. D33(2024) 2430002 [arXiv:2405.04977 [gr-qc]]
2024 arXiv
-
[30]
Bambi and F
C. Bambi and F. R. Urban, Class. Quant. Grav.25(2008) 095006 [arXiv:0709.1965 [gr-qc]]
2008 arXiv
- [31]
-
[32]
T. Zhu, J. R. Ren and M. F. Li, Phys. Lett. B674, 204 (2009) [arXiv:0811.0212 [hep-th]]
2009 arXiv
-
[33]
Cadoni, R
M. Cadoni, R. Casadio, A. Giusti and M. Tuveri, Phys. Rev. D97(2018) 044047 [arXiv:1801.10374 [gr-qc]]
2018 arXiv
-
[34]
J. R. Mureika, Phys. Lett. B789(2019) 88 [arXiv:1812.01999 [gr-qc]]
2019 arXiv
-
[35]
Lu and Y
X. Lu and Y. Xie, Mod. Phys. Lett. A34(2019) 1950152
2019
-
[37]
Illuminati, G
F. Illuminati, G. Lambiase and L. Petruzziello, Symmetry13(2021) 1854 [arXiv:2108.09253 [hep- th]]
2021 arXiv
-
[38]
Nozari, S
K. Nozari, S. Saghafi and M. Hajebrahimi, Phys. Dark Univ.46(2024) 101571 [arXiv:2407.01961 [gr-qc]]
2024 arXiv
-
[39]
R. C. Pantig, G. Lambiase, A. Övgün and N. J. L. S. Lobos, Phys. Dark Univ.47(2025) 101817 [arXiv:2412.00303 [gr-qc]]
2025 arXiv
-
[40]
Uncertainty Principles and Non-local Black Holes,
S. Capozziello, G. Meluccio and J. R. Mureika, “Uncertainty Principles and Non-local Black Holes,” [arXiv:2506.21048 [gr-qc]]
-
[42]
Cardoso and P
V. Cardoso and P. Pani, Living Rev. Rel.22(2019) 4 [arXiv:1904.05363 [gr-qc]]
2019 arXiv
-
[43]
J. D. Bekenstein, Phys. Rev. D7(1973) 2333. 9
1973
-
[44]
Çimdiker, M
I. Çimdiker, M. P. D¸ abrowski and H. Gohar, Class. Quant. Grav.40(2023) 145001 [arXiv:2301.00609 [gr-qc]]
2023 arXiv
-
[45]
Y. C. Ong, JHEP10(2018) 195 [arXiv:1806.03691 [gr-qc]]
2018 arXiv
-
[46]
Amati, M
D. Amati, M. Ciafaloni and G. Veneziano, Phys. Lett. B216, 41-47 (1989)
1989
-
[47]
D. J. Gross and P. F. Mende, Phys. Lett. B197129-134 (1987)
1987
-
[48]
Konishi, G
K. Konishi, G. Paffuti and P. Provero, Phys. Lett. B234, 276-284 (1990)
1990
-
[49]
Capozziello, G
S. Capozziello, G. Lambiase and G. Scarpetta, Int. J. Theor. Phys.3915-22 (2000). [arXiv:gr- qc/9910017 [gr-qc]]
2000
-
[50]
Moradpour, C
H. Moradpour, C. Corda, A. H. Ziaie and S. Ghaffari, EPL127(2019) 60006 [arXiv:1902.01703 [gr-qc]]
2019 arXiv
-
[51]
Çimdiker, M
I. Çimdiker, M. P. D¸ abrowski and H. Gohar, Eur. Phys. J. C83(2023) 169 [arXiv:2208.04473 [gr-qc]]
2023 arXiv
-
[52]
Carr and J
B. Carr and J. Mureika, manuscript in preparation (2025)
2025
-
[54]
Akiyamaet al.[Event Horizon Telescope], Astrophys
K. Akiyamaet al.[Event Horizon Telescope], Astrophys. J. Lett.875(2019) L1 [arXiv:1906.11238 [astro-ph.GA]]
2019 arXiv
-
[55]
Akiyamaet al.[Event Horizon Telescope], Astrophys
K. Akiyamaet al.[Event Horizon Telescope], Astrophys. J. Lett.930(2022) L12 [arXiv:2311.08680 [astro-ph.HE]]
2022 arXiv
-
[56]
Casadio, M
R. Casadio, M. Lenzi and O. Micu, Eur. Phys. J. C79(2019) 894 [arXiv:1904.06752 [gr-qc]]. 10
2019 arXiv
Reviewed August 6, 2026 · model on record in the stance chip above.
Discussion (0). Sign in to comment.