Canonical vielbein forms ofD=3 andD=4 gravity

We compare, in bothD=3 andD=4, two vielbein canonical formulations of gravity: that of Deser and Isham which starts with the metric replaced by vielbeins in the ADM action, and that starting directly from first order vielbein action, and compute the functional that generates the canonical transformation between these two formulations. InD=3, the generator thus exhibits the inherent simplicity of the Einstein action, starting from the DI form (which is as complicated as inD=4). InD=4, however, the same procedure, while leads to a somewhat different formulation from the existing ones, does not result in miraculous simplifications.     

Nonlinear massive spin-2 field generated by higher derivative gravity

We present a systematic exposition of the Lagrangian field theory for the massive spin-2 field generated in higher-derivative gravity upon reduction to a second-order theory by means of the appropriate Legendre transformation. It has been noticed by various authors that this nonlinear field overcomes the well-known inconsistency of the theory for a linear massive spin-2 field interacting with Einstein’s gravity. Starting from a Lagrangian quadratically depending on the Ricci tensor of the metric, we explore the two possible second-order pictures usually called “(Helmholtz-)Jordan frame” and “Einstein frame.” In spite of their mathematical equivalence, the two frames have different structural properties: in Einstein frame, the spin-2 field is minimally coupled to gravity, while in the other frame it is necessarily coupled to the curvature, without a separate kinetic term. We prove that the theory admits a unique and linearly stable ground state solution, and that the equations of motion are consistent, showing that these results can be obtained independently in either frame (each frame therefore provides a self-contained theory). The full equations of motion and the (variational) energy-momentum tensor for the spin-2 field in Einstein frame are given, and a simple but non-trivial exact solution to these equations is found. The comparison of the energy-momentum tensors for the spin-2 field in the two frames suggests that the Einstein frame is physically more acceptable. We point out that the energy-momentum tensor generated by the Lagrangian of the linearized theory is unrelated to the corresponding tensor of the full theory. It is then argued that the ghost-like nature of the nonlinear spin-2 field, found long ago in the linear approximation, may not be so harmful to classical stability issues, as has been expected.     

Topologically massive AdS gravity

We analyze (2+1)$(2+1)$-dimensional gravity with a Chern–Simons term and a negative cosmological constant, primarily at the weak field level. The full theory is expressible as the sum of two higher derivative SL(2,R)$\mathrm{SL}(2,\mathbb{R})$ “vector” Chern–Simons terms, while the physical bulk degrees of freedom correspond to a single massive scalar field, just as for Λ=0$\Lambda =0$. The interplay of Λ and the mass parameter μ can be studied, and any physical mass—including the conformal value with null propagation—is accessible by tuning μ. The single bulk mode yields a complete set of normalizable positive energy wave packets, as long as one chooses the usual, “wrong” sign of G   necessary to connect smoothly with the known Λ=0$\Lambda =0$ limit. The chiral Chern–Simons coupling leads to gauge invariant linearized curvatures propagating with chirality-dependent masses. Linearized metric fluctuations have a finite asymptotic Fefferman–Graham expansion about the Poincaré metric for any mass value greater or equal to a “critical” one, where various amusing effects appear, such as vanishing of one of the two “vector” Chern–Simons terms and an equivalence between tensor and vector excitations. We also find a set of chiral, pp-wave metrics that exactly solve the full nonlinear equations.     

Instantaneous interaction in massive gravity

In general relativity, the instantaneous contributions to the gravitational potentials cancel each other in observable, leaving the theory free of physical instantaneous interactions. In models where these subtle cancellations are spoiled by the presence of fields that break Lorentz invariance, physical instantaneous interactions are possible. Such interactions are studied for a model of Lorentz-violating massive gravity.     

New massive gravity domain walls

The properties of the asymptotic AdS₃${\mathit{AdS}}_3$ space–times representing flat domain walls (DW's) solutions of the new massive 3D gravity with scalar matter are studied. Our analysis is based on first order BPS-like equations involving an appropriate superpotential. The Brown–York boundary stress-tensor is used for the calculation of DW's tensions as well as of the CFT₂${\mathit{CFT}}_2$ central charges. The holographic renormalization group flows and the phase transitions in specific deformed CFT₂${\mathit{CFT}}_2$ dual to 3D massive gravity model with quadratic superpotential are discussed.     

Spin-3 topologically massive gravity

In this Letter, we study the spin-3 topologically massive gravity (TMG), paying special attention to its properties at the chiral point. We propose an action describing the higher spin fields coupled to TMG. We discuss the traceless spin-3 fluctuations around the AdS₃ vacuum and find that there is an extra local massive mode, besides the left-moving and right-moving boundary massless modes. At the chiral point, such extra mode becomes massless and degenerates with the left-moving mode. We show that at the chiral point the only degrees of freedom in the theory are the boundary right-moving graviton and spin-3 field. We conjecture that spin-3 chiral gravity with generalized Brown-Henneaux boundary condition is holographically dual to 2D chiral CFT with classical W₃ algebra and central charge cR=3l/G.     

Constrained analysis of topologically massive gravity

We quantize the Einstein gravity in the formalism of weak gravitational fields by using the constrained Hamiltonian method. Special emphasis is given to the 2+1 spacetime dimensional case where a (topological) Chern-Simons term is added to the Lagrangian.     

Spontaneous lorentz breaking and massive gravity

Theories with an extra spin-two field coupled to gravity admit a massive phase with broken Lorentz symmetry. While the equivalence principle is respected, the Newtonian potentials are in general modified, but they may be protected by a scale symmetry of the coupling term. The gravitational waves phenomenology is quite rich: two gravitons, one massive and one massless, oscillate and propagate with distinct velocities, different from the speed of light. A time of flight difference between gravitons and photons from a common source would provide a clear signal of this theory.     

Dirac field in topologically massive gravity

We consider a Dirac field coupled minimally to the Mielke–Baekler model of gravity and investigate cosmological solutions in three dimensions. We arrive at a family of solutions which exists even in the limit of vanishing cosmological constant.     

BTZ black holes in massive gravity

We analyze certain aspects of BTZ black holes in massive theory of gravity. The black hole solution is obtained by using the Vainshtein and dRGT mechanism, which is asymptotically AdS with an electric charge. We study the Hawking radiation using the tunneling formalism as well as analyze the black hole chemistry for such system. Subsequently, we use the thermodynamic pressure-volume diagram to explore the efficiency of the Carnot heat engine for this system. Some of the important features arising from our solution include the non-existence of quantum effects, critical Van der Walls behaviour, thermal fluctuations and instabilities. Moreover, our solution violates the Reverse Isoperimetric Inequality and, thus, the black hole is super-entropic, perhaps which turns out to be the most interesting characteristics of the BTZ black hole in massive gravity.     

Analytic solutions in nonlinear massive gravity

We study spherically symmetric solutions in a covariant massive gravity model, which is a candidate for a ghost-free nonlinear completion of the Fierz-Pauli theory. There is a branch of solutions that exhibits the Vainshtein mechanism, recovering general relativity below a Vainshtein radius given by (r(g)m(2))(1/3), where m is the graviton mass and r(g) is the Schwarzschild radius of a matter source. Another branch of exact solutions exists, corresponding to de Sitter-Schwarzschild spacetimes where the curvature scale of de Sitter space is proportional to the mass squared of the graviton.     

Nonlinear Lagrangian theories of gravity

Gravitational theories derived from an action principle where the Lagrange density is a power of the curvature scalerR ⁿ are investigated. For all values ofn the theories have the correct Newtonian limit and forn = 1 the same weak field solution, which predicts a bending of light of three-quarters of the value predicted by general relativity (n=1).     

A cosmological study in massive gravity theory

A detailed study of the various cosmological aspects in massive gravity theory has been presented in the present work. For the homogeneous and isotropic FLRW model, the deceleration parameter has been evaluated, and, it has been examined whether there is any transition from deceleration to acceleration in recent past, or not. With the proper choice of the free parameters, it has been shown that the massive gravity theory is equivalent to Einstein gravity with a modified Newtonian gravitational constant together with a negative cosmological constant. Also, in this context, it has been examined whether the emergent scenario is possible, or not, in massive gravity theory. Finally, we have done a cosmographic analysis in massive gravity theory.     

From massive gravity to modified general relativity

Massive gravity which has been constructed from a cohomological formulation of gauge invariance by means of the descent equations is here investigated in the classical limit. Gauge invariance requires a vector-graviton field v coupled to the massive tensor field h _μν . In the limit of vanishing graviton mass the v-field does not decouple. On the classical level this leads to a modification of general relativity. The contribution of the v-field to the energy-momentum tensor can be interpreted as dark matter density and pressure. We solve the modified field equations in the simplest spherically symmetric geometry.