We analyze the phase space of gravity non-minimally coupled to a scalar field in a generic local Lorentz frame. We reduce the set of constraints to a first-class one by fixing a specific hypersurfaces in the phase space. The main issue of our analysis is to extend the features of the vacuum case to the presence of scalar matter by recovering the emergence of an SU(2) gauge structure and the non-dynamical role of boost variables. Within this scheme, the super-momentum and the super-Hamiltonian are those ones associated with a scalar field minimally coupled to the metric in the Einstein frame. Hence, the kinematical Hilbert space is defined as in canonical Loop Quantum Gravity with a scalar field, but the differences in the area spectrum are outlined to be the same as in the time-gauge approach.
In this study we investigate regular black hole solutions of the non-minimally coupled $ Y(R)F^2 $ gravity model. We give two regular black hole solutions and the corresponding non-minimal model for both electrically or magnetically charged cases. We calculate all the energy conditions for these solutions.
We construct a group field theory model for quantum gravity minimally coupled to relativistic scalar fields, defining as well a corresponding discrete gravity path integral (and, implicitly, a coupled spin foam model) in its Feynman expansion. We also analyze a number of variations of the same model, the corresponding discrete gravity path integrals, its generalization to the coupling of multiple scalar fields and discuss its possible applications to the extraction of effective cosmological dynamics from the full quantum gravity formalism, in the context of group field theory condensate cosmol…
We consider a non-minimally coupled curvature-matter gravity model (NMC) with a Weyl connection, a theory referred to as non-minimally coupled Weyl connection gravity (NMCWCG). The Weyl connection is an affine connection that is not compatible with the metric, and involves a vector field. Assuming a vacuum expectation value for the vector field and a matter Lagrangian that only contains the contributions of the vacuum energy, we show that the model admits solutions in the space-form with a reference curvature that can be fine-tuned to much smaller values than the contribution of the matter fie…
We use Noether symmetry approach to find spherically symmetric static solutions of the non-minimally coupled electromagnetic fields to gravity. We construct the point-like Lagrangian under the spherical symmetry assumption. Then we determine Noether symmetry and the corresponding conserved charge. We derive Euler-Lagrange equations from this point-like Lagrangian and show that these equations are same with the differential equations derived from the field equations of the model. Also we give two new exact asymptotically flat solutions to these equations and investigate some thermodynamic prope…
In this work a new non-minimally coupled model is presented, where a generic function $f(R)$ of the scalar curvature factors the usual Einstein-Hilbert action functional, motivated by relevant results obtained from similar models. Its cosmological dynamics are derived and the possibility of attaining a phase of accelerated expansion is assessed. To further probe the possible implications of the model, a dynamical system formulation is established, and used to assess the scenarios where $f(R)$ assumes a power-law or exponential form.
We study the Hamiltonian formalism of the non-minimally coupled Weyl connection gravity (NMCWCG) in order to check whether Ostrogradsky instabilities are present. The Hamiltonian of the NMCWCG theories is obtained by foliating space-time into a real line (representing time) and \mbox{3-dimensional} space-like hypersurfaces, and by considering the spatial metric and the extrinsic curvature of the hypersurfaces as the canonical coordinates of the theory. Given the fact that the theory we study contains an additional dynamical vector field compared to the usual NMC models, which do not have Ostro…
Unlike Noether symmetry, a metric independent general conserved current exits for non-minimally coupled scalar-tensor theory of gravity, if the trace of the energy momentum tensor vanishes. Thus, in the context of cosmology, a symmetry exists both in the early vacuum and radiation dominated era. For slow roll, symmetry is sacrificed, but at the end of early inflation, such a symmetry leads to a Friedmann-like radiation era. Late time cosmic acceleration in the matter dominated era is realized in the absence of symmetry, in view of the same decayed and red-shifted scalar field. Thus, unificatio…
We explore alternate theories of gravity where the gravitational term in the Lagrangian $\frac{R}{8πG}$ is replaced by a function $f_1(R)$ and the matter Lagrangian is multiplied by a function $f_2(R)$. We argue that nuclear physics can provide strong experimental constraints on such theories. In particular using energy conditions on the pressure in the $^4$He nucleus, for $f_1(R)=\frac{R}{8πG}$ and $f_2(R)=1+λR$, we find a limit of $|λ| < 5\times 10^{-12}\, \hbox{m}^2$, more than thirty orders of magnitude stronger than the previous limit.
Properties of soliton stars that could be expected to naturally arise out of a first order phase transition in non-minimally coupled scalar-field-induced gravity theories are investigated. Of particular interest are configurations, similar to Lee-Wick stars, with vanishing effective gravitational constant in the interiors.
In this paper we have studied the propagation of a massless scalar field minimally coupled to a black hole with the source of cloud of strings in $2+1$ $f(R)$gravity theory. In particular we have found analytical results for the decay rate, reflection coefficient, greybody factors, as well as the black hole temperature. On the other hand, our quasinormal modes analyses reveals stability in the propagation of a massless scalar field in the cloud of strings black hole spacetime. However, under a suitable choose of parameters an instability is found. Furthermore based on the Bekenstein conjecture…
We show that the combined minimal and non minimal interaction with the gravitational field may produce the generation of a cosmological constant without self-interaction of the scalar field. In the same vein we analyze the existence of states of a scalar field that by a combined interaction of minimal and non minimal coupling with the gravitational field can exhibit an unexpected property, to wit, they are acted on by the gravitational field but do not generate gravitational field. In other words, states that seems to violate the action-reaction principle. We present explicit examples of this …
We investigate the gravitational models with the non-minimal $Y(R)F^2$ coupled electromagnetic fields to gravity, in order to describe charged compact stars, where $Y(R) $ denotes a function of the Ricci curvature scalar $R$ and $F^2$ denotes the Maxwell invariant term. We determine two parameter family of exact spherically symmetric static solutions and the corresponding non-minimal model without assuming any relation between energy density of matter and pressure. We give the mass-radius, electric charge-radius ratios and surface gravitational redshift which are obtained by the boundary condi…
We present a new mechanism to condense a scalar field coupled to the Gauss-Bonnet term. We propose a scenario in which the condensed state will emerge from the background energy density in the late-Universe. During the radiation and dust-dominated eras, the energy density of the scalar field, $ρ_φ$, decreases at a slower rate than the background density. Eventually, $ρ_φ$ dominates over the energy density of dust and the scalar field could be condensed. In the condensed phase, we have the de Sitter phase for the universe with $ρ_φ=3H_0^2M_P^2$. Moreover, we study the cosmological perturbations…
We revisit the analogy between a minimally coupled scalar field in general relativity and a perfect fluid, correcting previous identifications of effective temperature and chemical potential. This provides a useful complementary picture for the first-order thermodynamics of scalar-tensor gravity, paving the way for the Einstein frame formulation (which eluded previous attempts) and raises interesting questions to further develop the analogy.
The accelerated expansion of the universe is the most debatable cosmological scenario in the last two decades. Looking for the proper explanation of this scenario, researchers have presented a lot of proposals to discuss it. However, somehow, most of the proposal seems incomplete and needs to improve for a better representation of the universe. Therefore, this thesis aims to investigate some problems searching for an accurate explanation of the accelerated scenario of the universe...
Models of inflation in which the Higgs field is non-minimally coupled to gravity lead, after a recaling of the metric, to a complicated expression for the potential of the inflaton field. Nevertheless, this potential produces the desired features, both theoretical and experimental, after some approximations are made. In this note, we also allow for a modification of the Higgs kinetic term in such a way that the resulting potential for the inflaton field is, without any approximation, of the simplest form after the rescaling of the metric.
Static, spherically symmetric solutions representing stars made of barotropic perfect fluid are studied in the context of two theories of type-II minimally modified gravity, VCDM and VCCDM. Both of these theories share the property that no additional degree of freedom is introduced in the gravity sector, and propagate only two gravitational waves besides matter fields, as in General Relativity (GR). We find that, on imposing physical boundary conditions on the Misner-Sharp mass of the system, the solutions in V(C)CDM exactly coincide with the ones in GR, namely they also satisfy the Tolman-Opp…
In this paper, we propose a new approach to study the dark sector of the universe by considering the dark energy as emerging a q-deformed bosonic scalar field which is not only interacting with the dark matter, but also non-minimally coupled to gravity, in the framework of standard Einsteinian gravity. In order to analyze the dynamic of the system, we first give the quantum field theoretical description of the q-deformed scalar field dark energy, then construct the action and the dynamical structure of these interacting and non-minimally coupled dark sector. As a second issue, we perform the p…
In this paper we show that the baryon-to-photon ratio $η$ is in general not conserved before decoupling in non-minimally coupled theories of gravity. We use big-bang nucleosynthesis and cosmic microwave background limits on the baryon-to-photon ratio $η$ to derive new constraints on modified gravity theories with a universal non-minimal coupling between matter and curvature, showing that they rule out a specific class of models previously considered in the literature as a substitute for the dark matter. We also compare these new constraints with the ones obtained from the COBE-FIRAS limits on …
We investigate some cosmological models arising from a non-minimal coupling of a fermionic field to gravity in the geometrical setting of Einstein-Cartan-Sciama-Kibble gravity. The role played by the non-minimal coupling together with torsion in facing problems such as cosmological singularity, inflation and dark energy is discussed.
In the current framework of Einstein's equations in general relativity (GR), gravity is described by the spacetime curvature. However, there are other descriptions where the origin of gravity can be understood through torsion and non-metricity $Q$. In this work, we discuss a modified theory of gravity namely $f(Q)$ gravity, which considers a non-linear extension of $Q$. In particular, we study the case where it is non-minimally coupled to matter. Motivated by the recent success of Chaplygin gas models in the explanation of dark energy, we assume a pressureless baryonic matter and a generalized…
We investigate the Hamiltonian structure of a class of gravitational theories whose actions are linear in the lapse function. We derive the necessary and sufficient condition for a theory in this class to have two or less local physical degrees of freedom. As an application we then find several concrete examples of modified gravity theories in which the total number of local physical degrees of freedom in the gravity sector is two.
We study the cosmological evolution and singularity crossing in the Bianchi-I universe filled with a conformally coupled scalar field and compare them with those of the Bianchi-I universe filled with a minimally coupled scalar field. We also write down the solution for the Bianchi-I Universe in the induced gravity cosmology.
Previous studies showed that, in the presence of a simple and well-motivated self-interaction scalar potential, asymptotically flat and spherical black holes can carry minimally coupled and charged scalar cloud/hair in Einstein-Maxwell gravity. We extend these studies to Einstein-Born-Infeld gravity to consider the effect of nonlinearity of the electromagnetic field. Series of spherical cloudy/hairy black hole solutions are constructed numerically. Results show that increasing the Born-Infeld coupling constant $b$ will make the domain of existence of the solution shrink or even disappear when …
Minimally modified gravity is a class of models with only the two tensor degrees of freedom as in general relativity. Using the framework with auxiliary constraints these models can maintain a dynamical cosmological background. The form of the constraints is thereby restricted by the requirement of dynamical dark energy and the avoidance of a breakdown of perturbation theory. Studying the linear perturbations around the FLRW background the results are, however, quite insensitive to the details of the constraints leading to a modified effective gravitational constant or a non-vanishing sound sp…
We consider a model where a light scalar field (with mass $\lesssim 30\, {\rm eV}$), conjectured to be dark matter, has a non-minimal coupling to gravity. In the non-relativistic limit, this new coupling introduces a self-interaction term in the scalar-field equation of motion, and modifies the source term for the gravitational field. Moreover, in the small-coupling limit justified by the observed dark-matter density, the system further reduces to the Gross-Pitaevskii-Poisson equations, which remarkably also arise from a self-gravitating and self-interacting Bose-Einstein condensate system. We…
In de Sitter ambient space formalism, the linear gravity can be written in terms of a minimally coupled scalar field and a polarization tensor. In this formalism, the massless minimally coupled scalar field can be quantized on Bunch-Davies vacuum state, that preserves the de Sitter invariance, the analyticity and removes the infrared divergence. The de Sitter quantum linear gravity is then constructed on Bunch-Davies vacuum state, which is also covariant, analytic and free of any infrared divergences. We will conclude that the unique Bunch-Davies vacuum state can be used adequately to construc…
