PP-waves with torsion: a metric-affine model for the massless neutrino

In this paper we deal with quadratic metric-affine gravity, which we briefly introduce, explain and give historical and physical reasons for using this particular theory of gravity. We then introduce a generalisation of well known spacetimes, namely pp-waves. A classical pp-wave is a 4-dimensional Lorentzian spacetime which admits a nonvanishing parallel spinor field; here the connection is assumed to be Levi-Civita. This definition was generalised in our previous work to metric compatible spacetimes with torsion and used to construct new explicit vacuum solutions of quadratic metric-affine gravity, namely generalised pp-waves of parallel Ricci curvature. The physical interpretation of these solutions we propose in this article is that they represent a conformally invariant metric-affine model for a massless elementary particle. We give a comparison with the classical model describing the interaction of gravitational and massless neutrino fields, namely Einstein–Weyl theory and construct pp-wave type solutions of this theory. We point out that generalised pp-waves of parallel Ricci curvature are very similar to pp-wave type solutions of the Einstein–Weyl model and therefore propose that our generalised pp-waves of parallel Ricci curvature represent a metric-affine model for the massless neutrino.     

Metric-affine f(R) theories of gravity

General Relativity assumes that spacetime is fully described by the metric alone. An alternative is the so called Palatini formalism where the metric and the connections are taken as independent quantities. The metric-affine theory of gravity has attracted considerable attention recently, since it was shown that within this framework some cosmological models, based on some generalized gravitational actions, can account for the current accelerated expansion of the universe. However we think that metric-affine gravity deserves much more attention than that related to cosmological applications and so we consider here metric-affine gravity theories in which the gravitational action is a general function of the scalar curvature while the matter action is allowed to depend also on the connection which is not a priori symmetric. This general treatment will allow us to address several open issues such as: the relation between metric-affine f(R) gravity and General Relativity (in vacuum as well as in the presence of matter), the implications of the dependence (or independence) of the matter action on the connections, the origin and role of torsion and the viability of the minimal-coupling principle.     

Hadron dilation,shear and spin as components of the intrinsic hypermomentum current and metric-affine theory of gravitation

The infinite unitary irreducible spinor representations of the SL(3, R) algebra of hadron excitations are embedded in a global GA(4, R) with intrinsic dilation, shear and spin pieces in its hypermomentum current (i.e. the affine generalization of angular momentum). When gauged over a spacetime with a local Minkowski metric, GA(4, R) reproduces the metric-affine theory of gravity, in which the hypermomentum is coupled to the connection and the energy-momentum to the tetrad.     

The dynamics of metric-affine gravity

Metric-affine theories of gravity provide an interesting alternative to general relativity: in such an approach, the metric and the affine (not necessarily symmetric) connection are independent quantities. Furthermore, the action should include covariant derivatives of the matter fields, with the covariant derivative naturally defined using the independent connection. As a result, in metric-affine theories a direct coupling involving matter and connection is also present. The role and the dynamics of the connection in such theories is explored. We employ power counting in order to construct the action and search for the minimal requirements it should satisfy for the connection to be dynamical. We find that for the most general action containing lower order invariants of the curvature and the torsion the independent connection does not carry any dynamics. It actually reduces to the role of an auxiliary field and can be completely eliminated algebraically in favour of the metric and the matter field, introducing extra interactions with respect to general relativity. However, we also show that including higher order terms in the action radically changes this picture and excites new degrees of freedom in the connection, making it (or parts of it) dynamical. Constructing actions that constitute exceptions to this rule requires significant fine tuned and/or extra a priori constraints on the connection. We also consider f(R) actions as a particular example in order to show that they constitute a distinct class of metric-affine theories with special properties, and as such they cannot be used as representative toy theories to study the properties of metric-affine gravity.     

Underlying fibre bundle structure of A(4) gauge theories

The underlying fibre bundle structure for gauge theories of gravitation and their extensions possessing the affine structure group A(4) is considered. We point out that the identification of the torsion as the R⁴-curvature leads to restricted A(4)-theories. Our results suggest immediate extensions for metric-affine type theories.     

Exact static vacuum solution of four-dimensional metric-affine gravity with nontrivial torsion

We present an exact spherically symmetric vacuum solution for a metric-affine quadratic Lagrangian. The metric part of the solution is of Reissner-Nordström type. The connection part includes nonmetricity depending on a dilatation charge and a shear charge. Furthermore, a nontrivial torsion depending on a certain torsion mass and with intrinsic contributions is present.     

Motion of matter in metric-affine theory of gravitation

Based on the Lie derivative technique in a general space with affine connection (L₄, g), we show that in the metric-affine theory of gravitation, the law of conservation of the energy-momentum tensor for matter and consequently also the equations of motion for matter stemming from this law are (as in the general theory of relativity) a consequence of the gravitational field equations. We derive the hydrodynamic equation of motion for an ideal Weyssenhoff—Raabe spin fluid in Weyl space. We discuss the possibilities for observation of space—time nonmetricity.Moscow State Pedagogical University. Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 1, pp. 76–82, January, 1994.     

Exact vacuum solutions of 4-dimensional metric-affine gauge theories of gravitation

We presenttwo exact spherically symmetric vacuum solutions of gauge theories of gravity on a spacetime with non metric-compatible connection. One of them is defined on a Weyl-Cartan spacetime and the other on a general metric-affine space. We consider Lagrangians which include terms quadratic in the irreducible parts of the curvature, the torsion, and the nonmetricity. The metric part of both solutions is of the Reissner-Nordström type and includes a contribution of an effectivedilatation charge. A nontrivial Weyl 1-form is also common to both solutions. It resembles a Coulomb potential originating from thedilatation charge. The torsion is closely related to the nonmetricity.Supported by the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Serrano 123, E-28006 Madrid, Spain     

Scalars, vectors and tensors from metric-affine gravity

The metric-affine gravity provides a useful framework for analyzing gravitational dynamics since it treats metric tensor and affine connection as fundamentally independent variables. In this work, we show that, a metric-affine gravity theory composed of the invariants formed from non-metricity, torsion and curvature tensors can be decomposed into a theory of scalar, vector and tensor fields. These fields are natural candidates for the ones needed by various cosmological and other phenomena. Indeed, we show that the model accommodates TeVeS gravity (relativistic modified gravity theory), vector inflation, and aether-like models. Detailed analyses of these and other phenomena can lead to a standard metric-affine gravity model encoding scalars, vectors and tensors.     

A Numeric Solution for Einstein's Gravitational Theory with Proca Matter and Metric-Affine Gravity

A special case of metric-affine gauge theory of gravity (MAG) is equivalent to general relativity with Proca matter as source. We study in detail a corresponding numeric solution of the Reissner-Nordström type. It is static, spherically symmetric, and of electric type. In particular, this solution has no horizon, so it has a naked singularity at its origin.     

Multipole-like solutions in metric-affine gravity

We consider a non-Riemannian metric-affine theory of gravity containing as a sector the axion-dilaton theory coming from the low energy string theory, and map the Einstein-Maxwell sector of this dilaton-gravity to it, finding a complete class of soliton and multipole-like solutions.     

Gravitation,Electromagnetism and Cosmological Constant in Purely Affine Gravity

The Ferraris-Kijowski purely affine Lagrangian for the electromagnetic field, that has the form of the Maxwell Lagrangian with the metric tensor replaced by the symmetrized Ricci tensor, is dynamically equivalent to the metric Einstein-Maxwell Lagrangian, except the zero-field limit, for which the metric tensor is not well-defined. This feature indicates that, for the Ferraris-Kijowski model to be physical, there must exist a background field that depends on the Ricci tensor. The simplest possibility, supported by recent astronomical observations, is the cosmological constant, generated in the purely affine formulation of gravity by the Eddington Lagrangian. In this paper we combine the electromagnetic field and the cosmological constant in the purely affine formulation. We show that the sum of the two affine (Eddington and Ferraris-Kijowski) Lagrangians is dynamically inequivalent to the sum of the analogous (ΛCDM and Einstein-Maxwell) Lagrangians in the metric-affine/metric formulation. We also show that such a construction is valid, like the affine Einstein-Born-Infeld formulation, only for weak electromagnetic fields, on the order of the magnetic field in outer space of the Solar System. Therefore the purely affine formulation that combines gravity, electromagnetism and cosmological constant cannot be a simple sum of affine terms corresponding separately to these fields. A quite complicated form of the affine equivalent of the metric Einstein-Maxwell-Λ Lagrangian suggests that Nature can be described by a simpler affine Lagrangian, leading to modifications of the Einstein-Maxwell-ΛCDM theory for electromagnetic fields that contribute to the spacetime curvature on the same order as the cosmological constant.     

Gravitational field of a neutron star

The internal and external solutions describing the gravitational field of a neutron star consisting of an ideal fluid with axially polarized spin are found within the framework of the metric-affine theory of gravitation under the approximation of weak gravitational and torsion fields.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 1, pp. 53–57, January, 1982.     

Pseudoinstantons in Metric-Affine Field Theory

In abstract Yang–Mills theory the standard instanton construction relies on the Hodge star having real eigenvalues which makes it inapplicable in the Lorentzian case. We show that for the affine connection an instanton-type construction can be carried out in the Lorentzian setting. The Lorentzian analogue of an instanton is a spacetime whose connection is metric compatible and Riemann curvature irreducible (pseudoinstanton). We suggest a metric-affine action which is a natural generalization of the Yang–Mills action and for which pseudoinstantons are stationary points. We show that a spacetime with a Ricci flat Levi-Civita connection is a pseudoinstanton, so the vacuum Einstein equation is a special case of our theory. We also find another pseudoinstanton which is a wave of torsion in Minkowski space. Analysis of the latter solution indicates the possibility of using it as a model for the neutrino.     

Algebra for a BRST Quantization of Metric-Affine Gravity

For a general gauge-theoretical formulation of gravitational interactions, we analyze the first algebraic steps towards a quantization via BRST ghost operators, replacing the Lagrange multipliers of the classical Hamiltonian constraints. From the nilpotency of the BRST charge, we deduce new restrictions on torsion and curvature of Yang-Mills type metric-affine models.     

Compressible effect algebras

We define a special type of additive map J on an effect algebra E called a compression. We call J(1) the focus of J and if p is the focus of a compression then p is called a projection. The set of projections in E is denoted by P(E). A compression J is direct if J(a) ≤ a for all a ε E. We show that direct compressions are equivalent to projections onto components of cartesian products. An effect algebra E is said to be compressible if every compression on E is uniquely determined by its focus and every compression on E has a supplement. We define and characterize the commutant C(p) of a projection p and show that a compression with focus p is direct if and only if C(p) = E. We show that P(E) is an orthomodular poset. It is proved that the cartesian product of effect algebras is compressible if and only if each component is compressible. We then consider compressible sequential effect algebras, Lüders maps and conditional probabilities.     

Radiative corrections to high-energy neutrino scattering

Motivated by precise neutrino experiments, we reconsider the electromagnetic radiative corrections to the data. We investigate the usefulness and demonstrate the simplicity of the “leading log” approximation: the calculation to order α ln (Q/μ), α ln (Q/m_q). Here Q is an energy scale of the overall process, μ is the lepton mass and m_q is a hadronic mass, the effective quark mass in a parton model. We identify those questions the answers to which do not depend on unknown hadron parameters like quark masses. The leading log radiative corrections to dδ/dy distributions and to suitably interpreted dδ/dx distributions are quark-mass independent. We improve upon the conventional leading log approximation and compute explicitly the largest terms that lie beyond the leading log level. In practice this means that our model-independent formulae, though approximate, are likely to be excellent estimates everywhere except at low energy or very large y. We point out that radiative corrections to measurements of deviations from the Callan-Gross relation and to measurements of the “sea” constituency of nucleons are gigantic. The QCD inspired study of deviations from scaling is of particular interest. We compute, beyond the leading log level, the radiative corrections to the QCD predictions.     

Ecological interaction and phylogeny, studying functionality on composed networks

We study a class of composed networks that are formed by two tree networks, T_P and T_A, whose end points touch each other through a bipartite network B_PA. We explore this network using a functional approach. We are interested in how much the topology, or the structure, of T_X (X=A or P) determines the links of B_PA. This composed structure is a useful model in evolutionary biology, where T_P and T_A are the phylogenetic trees of plants and animals that interact in an ecological community. We make use of ecological networks of dispersion of fruits, which are formed by frugivorous animals and plants with fruits; the animals, usually birds, eat fruits and disperse their seeds. We analyse how the phylogeny of T_X determines or is correlated with B_PA using a Monte Carlo approach. We use the phylogenetic distance among elements that interact with a given species to construct an index κ that quantifies the influence of T_X over B_PA. The algorithm is based on the assumption that interaction matrices that follows a phylogeny of T_X have a total phylogenetic distance smaller than the average distance of an ensemble of Monte Carlo realisations. We find that the effect of phylogeny of animal species is more pronounced in the ecological matrix than plant phylogeny.     

The effect of random matter density perturbations on the MSW solution to the solar neutrino problem

We consider the implications of solar matter density random noise upon resonant neutrino conversion. The evolution equation describing MSW-like conversion is derived in the framework of the Schrödinger approach. We study quantitatively the effect of such matter perturbations upon both large and small mixing angle MSW solutions to the solar neutrino problem. This is carried out both for the active-active v_e → v_μ,τ as well as active-sterile v_e → v_s conversion channels. We find that the small mixing MSW solution is much more stable (especially in Δm² than the large mixing solution. The possible existence of solar matter density noise at the few percent level could be tested at future solar neutrino experiments, especially Borexino.     

Determination of Quality Factor for Highly Overcoupled EPR Resonators

We reported determination of the loaded quality factor (Q) of highly overcoupled (dielectric, loop-gap, and cavity) resonators used in time-domain electron paramagnetic resonance. We introduced a microwave absorber into resonators and achieved critical-coupling. Due to the deep “Q-dip” of critical-coupling, we can easily determine the loaded Q as low as 10. The loaded Q of resonators with and without the microwave absorber was examined under various overcoupling conditions. We found that the radiation Q (Q _r) can be calculated from the loaded Q of the resonator that contains the microwave absorber. We proposed a simple model that represents the loaded Q of the overcoupled resonator in terms of two parameters, Q ₀ and Q _r. Q ₀ is the effective unloaded Q of the resonator determined for the critically coupled resonator without the microwave absorber and is independent of a degree of coupling. The model can be applied to overcoupling in which the coupling parameter (Q ₀/Q _r) is in the range of 1 to ca. 20.