Traversable braneworld wormholes supported by astrophysical observations

In this study, we investigate the characteristics and properties of a traversable wormhole constrained by the current astrophysical observations in the framework of modified theories of gravity (MOG). As a concrete case, we study traversable wormhole space–time configurations in the Dvali–Gabadadze–Porrati (DGP) braneworld scenario, which are supported by the effects of the gravity leakage of extra dimensions. We find that the wormhole space–time structure will open in terms of the 2σ confidence level when we utilize the joint constraints supernovae (SNe) Ia + observational Hubble parameter data (OHD) + Planck + gravitational wave (GW) and z < 0:2874. Furthermore, we obtain several model-independent conclusions, such as (i) the exotic matter threading the wormholes can be divided into four classes during the evolutionary processes of the universe based on various energy conditions; (ii) we can offer a strict restriction to the local wormhole space–time structure by using the current astrophysical observations; and (iii) we can clearly identify a physical gravitational resource for the wormholes supported by astrophysical observations, namely the dark energy components of the universe or equivalent space–time curvature effects from MOG. Moreover, we find that the strong energy condition is always violated at low redshifts.     

Charged Noncommutative Wormhole Solutions via Power-Law f(T) Models

In this paper, we explore static spherically symmetric charged wormhole solutions in extended teleparallel gravity taking power-law f(T) models. We consider noncommutative geometry under Lorentzian distribution. In order to obtain matter components, we develop field equations using effective energy-momentum tensor for non-diagonal tetrad. We explore solutions by considering various viable power-law f(T) models, which also include teleparallel gravity case. The violation of energy conditions obtain by exotic matter to form wormhole solutions in teleparallel case while, physical acceptable wormhole solutions exist for charged noncommutative wormhole solutions for some cases of power-law models. The effective energy-momentum tensor and charge are responsible for the violation of the energy conditions. Also, we check the equilibrium condition for these solutions. The equilibrium condition meets for the teleparallel case and some power-law solutions while remaining solutions are either in less equilibrium or in disequilibrium situation.     

Birkhoff’s theorem in <Emphasis Type="Italic">f</Emphasis>(<Emphasis Type="Italic">T</Emphasis>) gravity

Generalized from the so-called teleparallel gravity, which is exactly equivalent to general relativity, f(T) gravity has been proposed as an alternative gravity model to account for the dark energy phenomena. In this letter we prove that the external vacuum gravitational field for a spherically symmetric distribution of source matter in the f(T) gravity framework must be static. The conclusion is independent of the radial distribution and spherically symmetric motion of the source matter, that is, whether it is in motion or static. As a consequence, the Birkhoff’s theorem is valid in the general nonsingular f(T) theory at the un-perturbative level. We also discuss its application in the de Sitter spacetime evolution phase as preferred by present dark energy observations.     

Non-commutative wormholes exhibiting conformal motion in Rastall gravity

In the present paper, we explore the existence of wormhole solutions using conformal symmetries in Rastall theory of gravity. For this purpose, we take spherical symmetric model filled with matter distribution as anisotropic fluid. For the sake of simplifications, we consider the energy density profiles of Gaussian and Lorentzian distributions of non-commutative geometry. Using both these distributions, we obtain analytic wormhole solutions in terms of some special math functions like gamma, exponential and hypergeometric functions. For graphical illustrations, we take some appropriate choices of the free parameters along with different values of Rastall parameter. It is seen that in both cases, the obtained wormhole solutions satisfy the basic criteria of wormhole existence. Further, we describe the possible constraints for the positivity of active gravitational mass in both distributions. We also explore the stability of obtained wormholes solutions by utilizing the modified equilibrium condition in terms of four different forces in Rastall theory. It is concluded that the constructed solutions are stable and physically viable.     

Gravitational Frames and Scalar Field Dynamics

Scalar fields describe interesting phenomena such as Higgs bosons, dark matter and dark energy, and are found to be quite common in physical theories. These fields are susceptible to gravitational forces so that being massless is not enough to remain conformal invariant. They should also be connected directly to the scalar curvature. Because of this characteristics, we investigated the structure and interactions of scalar fields under the conformal transformations. We show how to reduce the quadratic quantum contributions in the single scalar field theory. In the multi-scalar field theories, we analyzed interactions in certain limits. We suggest a new method for stabilizing Higgs bosons.

     

Nonsymmetric dynamical thin-shell wormhole in Robinson–Trautman class

The thin-shell wormhole created using the Darmois–Israel formalism applied to Robinson–Trautman family of spacetimes is presented. The stress energy tensor created on the throat is interpreted in terms of two dust streams and it is shown that asymptotically this wormhole settles to the Schwarzschild wormhole with a throat located at the position of the horizon. This behavior shows a nonlinear stability (within the Robinson–Trautman class) of this spherically symmetric wormhole. The gravitational radiation emitted by the Robinson–Trautman wormhole during the transition to spherical symmetry is indistinguishable from that of the corresponding black hole Robinson–Trautman spacetime. Subsequently, we show that the higher-dimensional generalization of Robinson–Trautman geometry offers a possibility of constructing wormholes without the need to violate the energy conditions for matter induced on the throat.     

Morris–Thorne wormhole with Karmarkar condition

In this paper, we construct a wormhole shape function by using Karmarkar condition. We observe that our proposed shape function connects two asymptotically flat regions, which shows the existence of Morris–Thorne traversable wormhole. Moreover, we also represent the embedding diagram in three-dimensional Euclidean space which can be extended from throat to infinity. Further, the Null and Weak energy conditions are discussed in detail. With this shape function, the anisotropic factor exhibits a repulsive nature at the throat. We support all the analysis of this work through graphical representation. It is concluded that our proposed model fulfills all the necessary conditions and shows the existence of exotic matter in the formulism of wormhole geometry in the context of General Relativity.     

The dark side of a patchwork universe

While observational cosmology has recently progressed fast, it revealed a serious dilemma called dark energy: an unknown source of exotic energy with negative pressure driving a current accelerating phase of the universe. All attempts so far to find a convincing theoretical explanation have failed, so that one of the last hopes is the yet to be developed quantum theory of gravity. In this article, loop quantum gravity is considered as a candidate, with an emphasis on properties which might play a role for the dark energy problem. Its basic feature is the discrete structure of space, often associated with quantum theories of gravity on general grounds. This gives rise to well-defined matter Hamiltonian operators and thus sheds light on conceptual questions related to the cosmological constant problem. It also implies typical quantum geometry effects which, from a more phenomenological point of view, may result in dark energy. In particular the latter scenario allows several non-trivial tests which can be made more precise by detailed observations in combination with a quantitative study of numerical quantum gravity. If the speculative possibility of a loop quantum gravitational origin of dark energy turns out to be realized, a program as outlined here will help to hammer out our ideas for a quantum theory of gravity, and at the same time allow predictions for the distant future of our universe.     

Energy conditions,traversable wormholes and dust shells

Firstly, we review the pointwise and averaged energy conditions, the quantum inequality and the notion of the “volume integral quantifier,” which provides a measure of the “total amount” of energy condition violating matter. Secondly, we present a specific metric of a spherically symmetric traversable wormhole in the presence of a generic cosmological constant, verifying that the null and the averaged null energy conditions are violated, as was to be expected. Thirdly, a pressureless dust shell is constructed around the interior wormhole spacetime by matching the latter geometry to a unique vacuum exterior solution. In order to further minimize the usage of exotic matter, we then find regions where the surface energy density is positive, thereby satisfying all of the energy conditions at the junction surface. An equation governing the behavior of the radial pressure across the junction surface is also deduced. Lastly, taking advantage of the construction, specific dimensions of the wormhole, namely, the throat radius and the junction interface radius, and estimates of the total traversal time and maximum velocity of an observer journeying through the wormhole, are also found by imposing the traversability conditions.     

Making the Case for Conformal Gravity

We review some recent developments in the conformal gravity theory that has been advanced as a candidate alternative to standard Einstein gravity. As a quantum theory the conformal theory is both renormalizable and unitary, with unitarity being obtained because the theory is a PT symmetric rather than a Hermitian theory. We show that in the theory there can be no a priori classical curvature, with all curvature having to result from quantization. In the conformal theory gravity requires no independent quantization of its own, with it being quantized solely by virtue of its being coupled to a quantized matter source. Moreover, because it is this very coupling that fixes the strength of the gravitational field commutators, the gravity sector zero-point energy density and pressure fluctuations are then able to identically cancel the zero-point fluctuations associated with the matter sector. In addition, we show that when the conformal symmetry is spontaneously broken, the zero-point structure automatically readjusts so as to identically cancel the cosmological constant term that dynamical mass generation induces. We show that the macroscopic classical theory that results from the quantum conformal theory incorporates global physics effects that provide for a detailed accounting of a comprehensive set of 138 galactic rotation curves with no adjustable parameters other than the galactic mass to light ratios, and with the need for no dark matter whatsoever. With these global effects eliminating the need for dark matter, we see that invoking dark matter in galaxies could potentially be nothing more than an attempt to describe global physics effects in purely local galactic terms. Finally, we review some recent work by ’t Hooft in which a connection between conformal gravity and Einstein gravity has been found.     

Can electro-magnetic field,anisotropic source and varying Λ be sufficient to produce wormhole spacetime?

It is well known that solutions of general relativity which allow for traversable wormholes require the existence of exotic matter (matter that violates weak or null energy conditions (WEC or NEC)). In this article, we provide a class of exact solution for Einstein-Maxwell field equations describing wormholes assuming the erstwhile cosmological term Λ to be space variable, viz., Λ=Λ(r). The source considered here not only a matter entirely but a sum of matters i.e. anisotropic matter distribution, electromagnetic field and cosmological constant whose effective parts obey all energy conditions out side the wormhole throat. Here violation of energy conditions can be compensated by varying cosmological constant. The important feature of this article is that one can get wormhole structure, at least theoretically, comprising with physically acceptable matters.     

WIMP event rates in directional experiments: The diurnal variation signature

The recent WMAP data have confirmed that exotic dark matter together with the vacuum energy (cosmological constant) dominate in the flat Universe. Modern particle theories provide viable cold dark matter candidates with masses in the GeV-TeV region. All such candidates will be called WIMPs (Weakly Interacting Massive Particles). The nature of dark matter can only be unraveled by its direct detection in the laboratory. In this work we present some theoretical elements relevant to the direct dark matter detection experiments, paying particular attention to directional experiments, i.e. experiments in which not only the energy but the direction of the recoiling nucleus is observed. Since the direction of observation is fixed with respect to the Earth, while the Earth is rotating around its axis, in a directional experiment the angle between the direction of observation and the Sun’s direction of motion will change during the day. So, since the event rates sensitively depend on this angle, the observed signal in such experiments will exhibit very interesting and characteristic periodic diurnal variation.     

Conformally symmetric vacuum solutions of the gravitational field equations in the brane-world models

A class of exact solutions of the gravitational field equations in the vacuum on the brane are obtained by assuming the existence of a conformal Killing vector field, with non-static and non-central symmetry. In this case, the general solution of the field equations can be obtained in a parametric form in terms of the Bessel functions. The behavior of the basic physical parameters describing the non-local effects generated by the gravitational field of the bulk (dark radiation and dark pressure) is also considered in detail, and the equation of state satisfied at infinity by these quantities is derived. As a physical application of the obtained solutions we consider the behavior of the angular velocity of a test particle moving in a stable circular orbit. The tangential velocity of the particle is a monotonically increasing function of the radial distance and, in the limit of large values of the radial coordinate, tends to a constant value, which is independent on the parameters describing the model. Therefore, a brane geometry admitting a one-parameter group of conformal motions may provide an explanation for the dynamics of the neutral hydrogen clouds at large distances from the galactic center, which is usually explained by postulating the existence of the dark matter.     

Stability of Charged Thin-Shell Wormholes in (2+1) Dimensions

In this paper we construct charged thin-shell wormholes in (2+1)-dimensions applying the cut-and-paste technique implemented by Visser, from a BTZ black hole which was discovered by Bañados, Teitelboim and Zanelli (Phys. Rev. Lett. 69:1849, 1992), and the surface stress are determined using the Darmois-Israel formalism at the wormhole throat. We analyzed the stability of the shell considering phantom-energy or generalised Chaplygin gas equation of state for the exotic matter at the throat. We also discussed the linearized stability of charged thin-shell wormholes around the static solution.     

An Exponential Shape Function for Wormholes in Modified Gravity

We propose a new exponential shape function in wormhole geometry within modified gravity. The energy conditions and the equation-of-state parameter are obtained. The radial and tangential null energy conditions, and also the weak energy condition are validated, which indicates the absence of exotic matter due to modified gravity allied with such a new proposal.     

Dark matter problem and effective curvature Lagrangians

A ‘radical’ conservative unifying model of scalar dark matter and modified gravity is proposed here. After a conformal mapping, the dependence of the effective Lagrangian on the curvature is not only singular but also bifurcates into several almost Einsteinian spaces, distinguished only by a different gravitational strength and cosmological constant. A swallow tail or butterfly catastrophe in the bifurcation set indicates the possibility for the coexistence of different Einsteinian domains in our Universe. This finding may shed new light on the nature and large scale distribution not only of dark matter but also on ‘dark energy’, regarded as an effective cosmological constant.     

Interacting entropy-corrected new agegraphic dark energy in Brans–Dicke cosmology

Motivated by a recent work of one of us (Sheykhi in Phys Rev D 81: 023525, 2010), we extend it by using quantum (or entropy) corrected new agegraphic dark energy in the Brans–Dicke cosmology. The correction terms are motivated from the loop quantum gravity which is one of the competitive theories of quantum gravity. Taking the non-flat background spacetime along with the conformal age of the universe as the length scale, we derive the dynamical equation of state of dark energy and the deceleration parameter. An important consequence of this study is the phantom divide scenario with entropy-corrected new agegraphic dark energy. Moreover, we assume a system of dark matter, radiation and dark energy, while the later interacts only with dark matter. We obtain some essential expressions related with dark energy dynamics. The cosmic coincidence problem is also resolved in our model.     

Phantom damping of matter perturbations

Cosmological scaling solutions are particularly important in solving the coincidence problem of dark energy. We derive the equations of sub-Hubble linear matter perturbations for a general scalar-field Lagrangian—including quintessence, tachyon, dilatonic ghost condensate and k-essence—and solve them analytically for scaling solutions. We find that matter perturbations are always damped if a phantom field is coupled to dark matter and identify the cases in which the gravitational potential is constant. This provides an interesting possibility to place stringent observational constraints on scaling dark energy models.