Search results for "Cosmological Constant"
showing 10 items of 54 documents
Importance of torsion and invariant volumes in Palatini theories of gravity
2013
We study the field equations of extensions of general relativity formulated within a metric-affine formalism setting torsion to zero (Palatini approach). We find that different (second-order) dynamical equations arise depending on whether torsion is set to zero (i) a priori or (ii) a posteriori, i.e., before or after considering variations of the action. Considering a generic family of Ricci-squared theories, we show that in both cases the connection can be decomposed as the sum of a Levi-Civita connection and terms depending on a vector field. However, while in case (i) this vector field is related to the symmetric part of the connection, in (ii) it comes from the torsion part and, therefo…
Gauged extended supergravity without cosmological constant: No-scale structure and supersymmetry breaking
2002
We consider the interplay of duality symmetries and gauged isometries of supergravity models giving N-extended, spontaneously broken supergravity with a no-scale structure. Some examples, motivated by superstring and M-theory compactifications are described.
Maxwell symmetries and some applications
2012
The Maxwell algebra is the result of enlarging the Poincar\'{e} algebra by six additional tensorial Abelian generators that make the fourmomenta non-commutative. We present a local gauge theory based on the Maxwell algebra with vierbein, spin connection and six additional geometric Abelian gauge fields. We apply this geometric framework to the construction of Maxwell gravity, which is described by the Einstein action plus a generalized cosmological term. We mention a Friedman-Robertson-Walker cosmological approximation to the Maxwell gravity field equations, with two scalar fields obtained from the additional gauge fields. Finally, we outline further developments of the Maxwell symmetries f…
Einstein-Cartan gravity, Asymptotic Safety, and the running Immirzi parameter
2013
In this paper we analyze the functional renormalization group flow of quantum gravity on the Einstein-Cartan theory space. The latter consists of all action functionals depending on the spin connection and the vielbein field (co-frame) which are invariant under both spacetime diffeomorphisms and local frame rotations. In the first part of the paper we develop a general methodology and corresponding calculational tools which can be used to analyze the flow equation for the pertinent effective average action for any truncation of this theory space. In the second part we apply it to a specific three-dimensional truncated theory space which is parametrized by Newton's constant, the cosmological…
A scenario for critical scalar field collapse in $AdS_3$
2014
We present a family of exact solutions, depending on two parameters $\alpha$ and $b$ (related to the scalar field strength), to the three-dimensional Einstein-scalar field equations with negative cosmological constant $\Lambda$. For $b=0$ these solutions reduce to the static BTZ family of vacuum solutions, with mass $M = -\alpha$. For $b\neq0$, the solutions become dynamical and develop a strong spacelike central singularity. The $\alpha0$ agrees qualitatively with that observed in numerical simulations of subcritical collapse. We analyze the linear perturbations of the threshold solution, $\alpha=0$, in the $\Lambda=0$ approximation, and find that it has only one unstable growing mode, whi…
Testing vector-tensor gravity with current cosmological observations
2015
A certain vector-tensor theory of gravitation (VT) has been recently applied to cosmology (Phys. Rev. D, 89, 2014, 044035). It leads to encouraging results. The zero order energy density of the vector field accounts for the cosmological constant. It has been recently proved that the VT vector field cannot play the role of the electromagnetic field. The evolution of the scalar perturbations is different in VT and general relativity. Tensor fluctuations evolve in the same way in both theories. Here, the VT evolution equations of the scalar modes are appropriately written, and the initial conditions at high redshift - for numerical integration- are given. The codes COSMOMC and CAMB are modifie…
Cosmology of the Planck Era from a Renormalization Group for Quantum Gravity
2001
Homogeneous and isotropic cosmologies of the Planck era before the classical Einstein equations become valid are studied taking quantum gravitational effects into account. The cosmological evolution equations are renormalization group improved by including the scale dependence of Newton's constant and of the cosmological constant as it is given by the flow equation of the effective average action for gravity. It is argued that the Planck regime can be treated reliably in this framework because gravity is found to become asymptotically free at short distances. The epoch immediately after the initial singularity of the Universe is described by an attractor solution of the improved equations w…
Non-Gaussian Signatures in the Lens Deformations of the CMB Sky. A New Ray-Tracing Procedure
2003
We work in the framework of an inflationary cold dark matter universe with cosmological constant, in which the cosmological inhomogeneities are considered as gravitational lenses for the CMB photons. This lensing deforms the angular distribution of the CMB maps in such a way that the induced deformations are not Gaussian. Our main goal is the estimation of the deviations with respect to Gaussianity appeared in the distribution of deformations. In the new approach used in this paper, matter is evolved with a particle-mesh N-body code and, then, an useful ray-tracing technique designed to calculate the correlations of the lens deformations induced by nonlinear structures is applied. Our appro…
Cosmology in a certain vector-tensor theory of gravitation
2014
We study relevant cosmological topics in the framework of a certain vector-tensor theory of gravitation (hereafter VT). This theory is first compared with the so-called extended electromagnetism (EE). These theories have a notable resemblance and both explain the existence of a cosmological constant. It is shown that, in EE, a positive dark energy density requires a Lagrangian leading to quantum ghosts, whereas VT is free from these ghosts. On account of this fact, the remainder of the paper is devoted to study cosmology in the framework of VT. Initial conditions, at high redshift, are used to solve the evolution equations of all the VT scalar modes. In particular, a certain scalar mode cha…
Future constraints on the Hu-Sawicki modified gravity scenario
2011
We present current and future constraints on the Hu and Sawicki modified gravity scenario. This model can reproduce a late time accelerated universe and evade solar system constraints. While current cosmological data still allows for distinctive deviations from the cosmological constant picture, future measurements of the growth of structure combined with Supernova Ia luminosity distance data will greatly improve present constraints.