Scalar-tensor theories of gravitation: Foundations and prospects

A generalization of Einstein's theory is discussed in which the gravitation is described by a tensor and a scalar field. The theory is more consistent with Mach's principle and less reliant on absolute properties of space. The modification involves a violation of the “strong principle of equivalence” on which Einstein's theory is based. In the original version of this new theory, the “constant” of gravitationG is varying and particle masses are fixed. Later on another version of the theory was given in whichG is truly a constant and the particle masses vary. The two versions are related by a conformal transformation. The physical and mathematical foundations of this theory have been discussed and the field equations have been derived. The astrophysical and cosmological consequences of the theory have been elaborately reviewed.     

Scalar-tensor theory and propagating torsion theory

We prove that scalar conformal transformations can convert the variational principle of the propagating torsion theory into the variational principle of general scalar-tensor theory, and show that scalar-tensor theory is conformally equivalent to propagating torsion theory.     

Gauge gravitation theory

The particularity of the gauge gravitation theory is that Dirac fermion fields possess only Lorentz exact symmetries. It follows that different tetrad gravitational fieldsh define nonisomorphic representations _h of cotangent vectors to a space-time manifoldX ⁴ by Dirac's-matrices on fermion fields. One needs these representations in order to construct the Dirac operator defined in terms of jet spaces. As a consequence, gravitational fieldsh fail to form an affine space modeled after any vector space of deviationsh'–h of some background fieldh. They therefore fail to be quantized in accordance with the familiar quantum field theory. At the same time, deformations of representation _h describe deviations ofh such thath + is not a gravitational field. These deviations form a vector space, i.e., satisfy the superposition principle. Their Lagrangian, however, differs from familiar Lagrangians of gravitation theory. For instance, it contains masslike terms.     

Lorentz-Covariant theory of gravitation

A Lorentz-covariant theory of gravitation is proposed. It is based on a simple form of the Lagrangian for the gravitational field. The field equations have a simple mathematical structure where the energy-momentum tensor of matter and of gravitational field is the source of the field. The theory agrees with general relativity for the three well-known effects, i.e., red shift, deflection of light, and perihelion.     

Matrix theory of gravitation

A new classical theory of gravitation within the framework of general relativity is presented. It is based on a matrix formulation of four-dimensional Riemann-spaces and uses no artificial fields or adjustable parameters. The geometrical stress-energy tensor is derived from a matrix-trace Lagrangian, which is not equivalent to the curvature scalar R. To enable a direct comparison with the Einstein-theory a tetrad formalism is utilized, which shows similarities to teleparallel gravitation theories, but uses complex tetrads. Matrix theory might solve a 27-year-old, fundamental problem of those theories (Sect. 4.1). For the standard test cases (PPN scheme, Schwarz schild-solution) no differences to the Einstein-theory are found. However, the matrix theory exhibits novel, interesting vacuum solutions.     

Yang-Mills gauge theory and gravitation

We point out that Yang's and Einstein's gravitational equations can be obtained from a geometric approach of Yang-Mills gauge theory in a sourceless case, under a decomposition of the Poincaré algebra. Otherwise, Einstein's equations cannot be derived from a Yang-Mills gauge equation when sources are inserted in the rotational sector of that algebra. A gauge Lagrangian structure is also discussed.     

Higher-order theory of gravitation

The field equations obtained by introducing a correction in the Hubert Lagrangian in the form of a series of finite terms inR (g R ) are considered in order to study the implications for the cosmological singularity.     

Relativistic theory of gravitation

In the present paper a relativistic theory of gravitation (RTG) is unambiguously constructed on the basis of the special relativity and geometrization principle. In this a gravitational field is treated as the Faraday-Maxwell spin-2 and spin-0 physical field possessing energy and momentum. The source of a gravitational field is the total conserved energy-momentum tensor of matter and of a gravitational field in Minkowski space. In the RTG the conservation laws are strictly filfilled for the energy-momentum and for the angular momentum of matter and a gravitational field. The theory explains the whole available set of experiments on gravity. By virtue of the geometrization principle, the Riemannian space in our theory is of field origin, since it appears as an effective force space due to the action of a gravitational field on matter. The RTG leads to an exceptionally strong prediction: The universe is not closed but just flat. This suggests that in the universe a missing mass should exist in a form of matter.     

Generalized theory of gravitation

The mathematical formulation of the nonsymmetric gravitation theory (NGT) as a geometrical structure is developed in a higher-dimensional space. The reduction of the geometrical scheme to a dynamical theory of gravitation in four-dimensional space-time is investigated and the basic physical laws of the theory are reviewed in detail.     

Lie groups and gravitation theory

A generalized space with torsion and curvature, defined by a fundamental group, is constructed by starting from the necessity of introducing standards of length and time in gravitation theory. The field variables coincide with the coefficients _i of the infinitesimal operator of the group. It is shown that the structural equations of the group depend on the transformation properties of the object to which they are applied. The simplest equations that the _i can satisfy are given.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 12, pp. 40–47, December, 1970.     

Many-time hamiltonian gravitation theory

It is shown that given any “good” coordinate condition in Hamiltonian general relativity one can construct an associated many-time formulation in which the constraints can be solved for some of the momenta as functionals of the remaining canonical variables. Since good coordinate conditions appear to be available for both open and closed spaces it follows that the functional wave equation for general relativity can be always put in a Tomonaga-Schwinger form. The implications of this result and some open problems are briefly discussed.     

On Sakharov's theory of gravitation

The Sakharov theory of gravitation is examined from the viewpoint of the analogy between gravitation and elasticity. It is found that, by using the Cattaneo-Zel'manov projection technique, the deformation tensor connected with the gravitational field can be considered the deformation tensor of a suitable elastic medium. By supposing that transversal waves propagate in this medium with velocityc, one can find an explicit expression for the time dependence of the gravitational constant. Some applications of cosmological interest are briefly discussed.     

A bi-metric theory of gravitation

A bi-metric theory of gravitation is proposed, satisfying the covariance and equivalence principles. It is based on a simple form of Lagrangian and has a simpler mathematical structure than that of the general theory of relativity. The theory agrees with general relativity up to the accuracy of the observations made up to now. The static spherically symmetric solution of the present field equations does not involve any 'black hole'.     

Scalar-tensor theory and the anisotropic perturbations of the inflationary universe

Inflationary higher derivative scalar-tensor theory is analyzed in this paper in a de Sitter background space. A useful model-independent formula of the Friedmann equation is derived and used to study the stability problem associated with the anisotropic perturbations of the inflationary solution. The stability conditions of the de Sitter solution are derived for a general class of models. For a simple demonstration, an induced gravity model is considered in this paper for the effects of the higher derivative interactions including a cubic term.     

Space-time foliations in gravitation theory

A relationship is established between gravitational fields and space-time foliations on a manifold X⁴; the gravitational singularities are described as singularities of these foliations representing critical points of real functions on X⁴.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 9, pp. 20–23, September, 1982.     

On the Goldstonic gravitation theory

The physical specificity of gravity as a Goldstone-type field responsible for spontaneous breaking of space-time symmetries is investigated and extended up to supergravity. Problems of the Higgs gravitation vacuum and its matter sources are discussed. A particular “dislocation” structure of a space-time due to Poincaré translation gauge fields and the corresponding modification of Newton’s gravitational potential are predicted.     

A coupled theory of electromagnetism and gravitation

A coupling electromagnetism with a previously developed scalar theory of gravitation is presented. The principle features of this coupling are: (1) a slight alteration to the Maxwell equations, (2) the motion of a charged particle satisfies an equation with the Lorentz force-appearing on the right side in place of zero, and (3) the energy density of the electromagnetic field appears in the gravitational field equation in a manner similar to the mass term in the Klein-Gordonequation. The field of a static, spherically symmetric charged particle is computed. The electromagnetic field gives rise to l/r ² terms in the gravitational potential.     

Multidimensional theory of gravitation and time machines

This article investigates the possibility of constructing a Time Machine due to a change in the topology of three-dimensional space. The 5-dimensional Kalutsa-Klein theory and the theory of elastic sheets of 4-dimensional foliation in a 5-dimensional manifold are used. Possible energy sources and the time intervals measured by a Time Traveler and by those staying in the initial space section are analyzed.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 2, pp. 14–19, February, 1996.