Beyond the speed of light on Finsler spacetimes

As a prototypical massive field theory we study the scalar field on the recently introduced Finsler spacetimes. We show that particle excitations exist that propagate faster than the speed of light recognized as the boundary velocity of observers. This effect appears already in Finsler spacetime geometries with very small departures from Lorentzian metric geometry. It switches on for a sufficiently large ratio of the particle four-momentum and mass, and is the consequence of a modified version of the Coleman–Glashow velocity dispersion relation. The momentum dispersion relation on Finsler spacetimes is shown to be the same as on metric spacetimes, which differs from many quantum gravity models. If similar relations resulted for fermions on Finsler spacetimes, these generalized geometries could explain the potential observation of superluminal neutrinos claimed by the Opera Collaboration.     

Fermions on deformed thick branes

In this work we investigate the issue of fermion localization and resonances in (4,1)-deformed branes constructed with one scalar field coupled with gravity. Such models provide us branes with internal structures that turns the gravitational interaction more effective for fermions aside the brane, increasing their lifetime. The coupling between the scalar field and spinors is a necessary condition for fermions to be localized on such branes. After performing a chiral decomposition of the five-dimensional spinor we found resonances with both chiralities. The correspondence between the spectra for left and right chirality is guaranteed and Dirac fermions are realized on the brane.     

Unitarity bounds on low scale quantum gravity

We study the unitarity of models with low scale quantum gravity both in four dimensions and in models with a large extra-dimensional volume. We find that models with low scale quantum gravity have problems with unitarity below the scale at which gravity becomes strong. An important consequence of our work is that their first signal at the Large Hadron Collider would not be of a gravitational nature such as graviton emission or small black holes, but rather would be linked to the mechanism which fixes the unitarity problem. We also study models with scalar fields with non-minimal couplings to the Ricci scalar. We consider the strength of gravity in these models and study the consequences for inflation models with non-minimally coupled scalar fields. We show that a single scalar field with a large non-minimal coupling can lower the Planck mass in the TeV region. In that model, it is possible to lower the scale at which gravity becomes strong down to 14 TeV without violating unitarity below that scale.     

Modified gravity inspired DGP brane cosmology

We consider a DGP brane scenario where a scalar field is present on the brane through the introduction of a scalar potential, itself motivated by the notion of modified gravity. This theory predicts that the mass appearing in the gravitational potential is modified by the addition of the mass of the scalar field. The cosmological implications that such a scenario entails are examined and shown to be consistent with a universe expanding with power-law acceleration.     

Thermodynamics of event horizon with modified Hawking temperature in scalar-tensor gravity

In recent past, Hawking temperature has been modified for the validity of thermodynamical laws at the event horizon in general relativity context. This lead to the introduction of modified Hawking temperature and it has been found that the modified Hawking temperature is more realistic on the event horizon. With this motivation, here we investigate the thermodynamical consistency of scalar-tensor gravity based models by examining the validity of the generalized second law of thermodynamics (GSLT) and thermodynamical equilibrium (TE) at the event horizon. In order to attain our goal, we consider a spatially flat Friedman–Robertson–Walker Universe filled with ordinary matter and the boundary of the Universe bounded by the event horizon that is in thermal equilibrium with modified Hawking temperature. Next, we calculate the general expressions for the GSLT and TE using modified Hawking temperature in the context of the more general action of scalar-tensor gravity where there is a non-minimally coupling between the scalar field and matter Lagrangian (as the chameleon field). From the general expression of GSLT, we find that the null energy condition must hold for a viable scalar-tensor model of the Universe dominated by a perfect fluid. Furthermore, in order to better understand these complicated general expressions of GSLT and TE, we explore the validity of the GSLT and TE for two viable models of scalar-tensor gravity namely Brans–Dicke gravity with a self-interacting potential and Chameleon gravity at the event horizon using special cosmological solutions. Finally, some graphical representation of the GSLT and TE have been presented. From the graphical analysis, we found that the power-law forms of the scale factor and scalar field is much favourable for the study of universal thermodynamics as compared to other choices of the scalar field and the analytic function.     

Baryogenesis in f(R,T) Gravity

We study gravitational baryogenesis in the context of f(R, T) gravity where the gravitational Lagrangian is given by a generic function of the Ricci scalar R and the trace of the stress-energy tensor T. We explore how this type of modified gravity is capable to shed light on the issue of baryon asymmetry in a successful manner. We consider various forms of baryogenesis interaction and discuss the effect of these interaction terms on the baryon to entropy ratio in this setup. We show that baryon asymmetry during the radiation era of the expanding universe can be non-zero in this framework. Then, we calculate the baryon to entropy ratio for some specific f(R, T) models and by using the observational data, we give some constraints on the parameter spaces of these models.     

Baryogenesis in f(R,T) Gravity

We study gravitational baryogenesis in the context of f(R, T) gravity where the gravitational Lagrangian is given by a generic function of the Ricci scalar R and the trace of the stress-energy tensor T. We explore how this type of modified gravity is capable to shed light on the issue of baryon asymmetry in a successful manner. We consider various forms of baryogenesis interaction and discuss the effect of these interaction terms on the baryon to entropy ratio in this setup. We show that baryon asymmetry during the radiation era of the expanding universe can be non-zero in this framework. Then, we calculate the baryon to entropy ratio for some specific f(R, T) models and by using the observational data, we give some constraints on the parameter spaces of these models.     

Radiative seesaw-type mechanism of fermion masses and non-trivial quark mixing

We propose a predictive inert two-Higgs doublet model, where the standard model (SM) symmetry is extended by \(S_{3}\otimes Z_{2}\otimes Z_{12}\) and the field content is enlarged by extra scalar fields, charged exotic fermions and two heavy right-handed Majorana neutrinos. The charged exotic fermions generate a non-trivial quark mixing and provide one-loop-level masses for the first- and second-generation charged fermions. The masses of the light active neutrinos are generated from a one-loop-level radiative seesaw mechanism. Our model successfully explains the observed SM fermion mass and mixing pattern.     

Interacting fermions on a random lattice

We extend previous work on the properties of the Dirac lagrangian on two-dimensional random lattices to the case where interaction terms are included. Although for free fermions the chiral symmetry of the doubles is spontaneously broken by their interaction with the lattice and they decouple from long-distance physics, our results in this paper show that all is undone by quantum corrections in an interacting field theory and that the end result is very similar to what is found with Wilson fermions. Two field-theoretical models with interacting fermions are studied by perturbation expansion in the field theory coupling constant. These are a model with one fermion and one boson species interacting via a scalar Yukawa coupling and the massive Thirring model. It is shown that on the random lattice ultraviolet finite diagrams and finite parts of ultraviolet divergent diagrams have the correct continuum limit. Ultraviolet divergent parts can be removed by the same renormalisation procedure as in the continuum, but do not exhibit the same dependence on the lagrangian mass. In the case of the massive Thirring model this causes a fermion mass correction of order the cut-off scale, which breaks the chiral symmetry of the remaining light fermion; there is consequently a fine-tuning problem. In the context of the same model we discuss the effect of the Goldstone boson associated with the spontaneous breakdown of the chiral symmetry of the doubles on two-dimensional models with vector couplings.     

Inequivalence of Jordan and Einstein Frame: What Is the Low Energy Gravity in String Theory?

It is well-known that any scalar can be promoted to a Jordan-Brans-Dicke type scalar coupling to the Einstein-Hilbert term through a field dependent Weyl transformation of the metric. The Weyl rescaling also transforms mass terms into coupling constants between matter and the scalar. It is pointed out that there exists a distinguished metric where all scalars decouple from an arbitrary fiducial fermion, e.g. the nucleon. If bound states of this fermion are used to define distances and to probe the interior of the forward light cone, it seems reasonable to say that the metric in that particular frame defines the local geometry of space-time at low energies, as probed by experimental gravity and cosmology.     

General models of Einstein gravity with a non-Newtonian weak-field limit

We investigate Einstein theories of gravity, coupled to a scalar field j{\varphi} and point-like matter, which are characterized by a scalar field-dependent matter coupling function e^H(j){e^{H(\varphi)}} . We show that under mild constraints on the form of the potential for the scalar field, there are a broad class of Einstein-like gravity models—characterized by the asymptotic behavior of H—which allow for a non-Newtonian weak-field limit with the gravitational potential behaving for large distances as ln r. The Newtonian term GM/r appears only as sub-leading. We point out that this behavior is also shared by gravity models described by f (R) Lagrangians. The relevance of our results for the building of infrared modified theories of gravity and for modified Newtonian dynamics is also discussed.     

Path Integrals and Alternative Effective Dynamics in Loop Quantum Cosmology

The alternative dynamics of loop quantum cosmology is examined by the path integral formulation.We consider the spatially flat FRW models with a massless scalar field,where the alternative quantizations inherit more features from full loop quantum gravity.The path integrals can be formulated in both timeless and deparameterized frameworks.It turns out that the effective Hamiltonians derived from the two different viewpoints are equivalent to each other.Moreover,the first-order modified Friedmann equations are derived and predict quantum bounces for contracting universe,which coincide with those obtained in canonical theory.     

Decoupling and reduction in Chern–Simons modified gravity

We show that for four-dimensional spacetimes with a non-null hypersurface orthogonal Killing vector and for a Chern–Simons (CS) background (non-dynamical) scalar field, which is constant along the Killing vector, the source-free equations of CS modified gravity decouple into their Einstein and Cotton constituents. Thus, the model supports only general relativity solutions. We also show that, when the cosmological constant vanishes and the gradient of the CS scalar field is parallel to the non-null hypersurface orthogonal Killing vector of constant length, CS modified gravity reduces to topologically massive gravity in three dimensions. Meanwhile, with the cosmological constant such a reduction requires an appropriate source term for CS modified gravity.     

Strongly coupled chameleons and the neutronic quantum bouncer

We consider the potential detection of chameleons using bouncing ultracold neutrons. We show that the presence of a chameleon field over a planar plate would alter the energy levels of ultracold neutrons in the terrestrial gravitational field. When chameleons are strongly coupled to nuclear matter, β?10(8), we find that the shift in energy levels would be detectable with the forthcoming GRANIT experiment, where a sensitivity of the order of 1% of a peV is expected. We also find that an extremely large coupling β?10(11) would lead to new bound states at a distance of order 2 μm, which is already ruled out by previous Grenoble experiments. The resulting bound, β?10(11), is already 3 orders of magnitude better than the upper bound, β?10(14), from precision tests of atomic spectra.     

Asymptotic safety in Einstein gravity and scalar-fermion matter

Within the functional renormalization group approach we study the effective quantum field theory of Einstein gravity and one self-interacting scalar coupled to N(f) Dirac fermions. We include in our analysis the matter anomalous dimensions induced by all the interactions and analyze the highly nonlinear beta functions determining the renormalization flow. We find the existence of a nontrivial fixed point structure both for the gravity and the matter sector, besides the usual Gaussian matter one. This suggests that asymptotic safety could be realized in the gravitational sector and in the standard model. Nontriviality in the Higgs sector might involve gravitational interactions.     

Reconstruction of scalar potentials in induced gravity and cosmology

We develop a technique for the reconstruction of the potential for a scalar field in cosmological models based on induced gravity. The potentials reproducing cosmological evolutions driven by barotropic perfect fluids, a cosmological constant, a Chaplygin gas and a modified Chaplygin gas are constructed explicitly.     

Fermions tunneling from the Horowitz-Strominger Dilaton black hole

Based on the work of Kerner and Mann, fermions tunneling from the Horowitz-Strominger Dilaton black hole on the membrane is studied. Owing to the coupling among electromagnetic field, matter field and gravity field, the Dirac equation of charged particles is introduced, and according to that, the expected emission temperature is obtained. After the self-gravitational interaction is considered, it is found that the tunneling rate of fermions also satisfies the underlying Unitary theory as the case of scalar particles. Supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Sichuan Education Office (Grant No. 07ZC039)     

Matter Loops Corrected Modified Gravity in Palatini Formulation

Recently, corrections to the standard Einstein-Hilbert action were proposed to explain the current cosmic acceleration in stead of introducing dark energy. In the Palatini formulation of those modified gravity models, there is an important observation due to Arkani-Hamed: matter loops will give rise to a correction to the modified gravity action proportional to the Ricci scalar of the metric. In the presence of such a term, we show that the current forms of modified gravity models in Palatini formulation, specifically, the 1/R gravity and ln R gravity, will have phantoms. Then we study the possible instabilities due to the presence of phantom fields. We show that the strong instability in the metric formulation of 1/R gravity indicated by Dolgov and Kawasaki will not appear and the decay timescales for the phantom fields may be long enough for the theories to make sense as effective field theory . On the other hand, if we change the sign of the modification terms to eliminate the phantoms, some other inconsistencies will arise for the various versions of the modified gravity models. Finally, we comment on the universal property of the Palatini formulation of the matter loops corrected modified gravity models and its implications.     

Large scale structure in Bekenstein's theory of relativistic modified Newtonian dynamics

A relativistic theory of modified gravity has been recently proposed by Bekenstein. The tensor field in Einstein's theory of gravity is replaced by a scalar, a vector, and a tensor field which interact in such a way to give modified Newtonian dynamics (MOND) in the weak-field nonrelativistic limit. We study the evolution of the Universe in such a theory, identifying its key properties and comparing it with the standard cosmology obtained in Einstein gravity. The evolution of the scalar field is akin to that of tracker quintessence fields. We expand the theory to linear order to find the evolution of perturbations on large scales. The impact on galaxy distributions and the cosmic microwave background is calculated in detail. We show that it may be possible to reproduce observations of the cosmic microwave background and galaxy distributions with Bekenstein's theory of MOND.