By using a quasi-stationary approach, we consider the mass evolution of Schwarzschild black holes in the presence of a nonminimally coupled cosmological scalar field. The mass evolution equation is analytically solved for generic coupling, revealing a qualitatively distinct behavior from the minimal coupling case. In particular, for black hole masses smaller than a certain critical value, the accretion of the scalar field can lead to mass decreasing even if no phantom energy is involved. The physical validity of the adopted quasi-stationary approach and some implications of our result for the evolution of primordial and astrophysical black holes are discussed. More precisely, we argue that black hole observational data could be used to place constraints on the nonminimally coupled energy content of the universe.
Static, spherically symmetric, traversable wormholes, induced by massless, nonminimally coupled scalar fields in general relativity, are shown to be unstable under spherically symmetric perturbations. The instability is related to blowing-up of the effective gravitational constant on a certain sphere.
Pulsar-timing has become a celebrated tool for probing modifications to General Relativity in the strong-field surroundings of neutron stars. Here we investigate whether scalar-tensor theories that incorporate a nonminimally coupled scalar degree of freedom may pass pulsar-timing tests, by computing the scalar charges entering such observables. In particular we show that for positive values of the nonminimal coupling $ξ$, pulsar-timing constraints may be evaded even in the presence of spontaneous scalarization.
We study the propagation of a probe massless nonminimally coupled scalar field in a fixed gravitational background of a cloud of strings in (2+1) dimensions. We obtain exact analytical expressions for the reflection coefficient, the absorption cross section, the decay rate as well as the quasinormal frequencies. The impact of the nonminimal coupling is investigated in detail. Our results show that Universality is not respected in general, and that scalar perturbations are stable.
We consider the spatially flat Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker space time in the teleparallel model of gravity and assume that the universe is filled nearly by cold dark matter and a nonminimally coupled scalar field with a power-law potential as dark energy. We investigate the possibility that the universe undergoes a transition from quintessence to phantom phase. An analytical solution for the scalar field is obtained and necessary conditions required for such a transition are discussed.
We study the nonminimally coupled complex scalar field within the framework of teleparallel gravity. Coupling of the field nonminimally to the torsion scalar destroys the Lorentz invariance of the theory in the sense that the resulting equations of motion depend on the choice of a tetrad. For the assumed static spherically symmetric spacetime, we find a tetrad which leads to a self-consistent set of equations, and we construct the self-gravitating configurations of the scalar field---boson stars. The resulting configurations develop anisotropic principal pressures and satisfy the dominant ener…
We investigated the behavior of an open isotropic universe generated by a scalar field which couples with background curvature nonminimally with the coupling constant $ξ$. In particular we focus on the situation where the initial value for the scalar field $ϕ_{\rm in}$ is greater than the critical value ${\hat ϕ}_c$=${m_p}/{\sqrt{8πξ(1-6ξ)}}$. The behavior is similar to an open de Sitter universe with $k=-1$ with a negative cosmological constant $Λ<0$. It is found that the universe will collapse eventually to a singularity and thus has a finite extent in time in the future. Furthermore, there …
We study dynamics of a dark energy component nonminimally coupled to gravity on a moving domain wall. We use this setup to explain late-time accelerated expansion and crossing of the phantom divide line by the equation of state parameter of this non-minimally coupled dark energy component. By analyzing parameter space of the model, we show that this model accounts for accelerated expansion and crossing of the phantom divide line with a suitable fine-tuning of the nonminimal coupling. Then we study the issue of bouncing solutions in this framework.
We revisit the dynamics of a nonminimally coupled scalar field model in case of $F(ϕ)R$ coupling with $F(ϕ)= 1-ξϕ^2 $, and the potentials $V(ϕ) = V_0 (1+ ϕ^p)^2$, $V(ϕ)= V_0 e^{λϕ^2}$. We use an autonomous system to bring out new asymptotic regimes, and find stable de-Sitter solution. Under the chosen functional form of $F(ϕ)$ and steep exponential potentials, a true de-Sitter solution is trivially satisfied for which the equation of state $w_ϕ\simeq -1$, the effective gravitational constant $G_{eff}$ and field $ϕ$ are constant that has been missed in the power law case and our previous study.
We perform a LQC-quantization of the FRW cosmological model with nonminimally coupled scalar field. Making use of a canonical transformation, we recast the theory in the minimally coupled form (Einstein frame), for which standard LQC techniques can be applied to find the physical Hilbert space and the dynamics. We then focus on the semiclassical sector, obtaining a classical effective Hamiltonian, which can be used to study the dynamics. We show that the classical singularity is replaced by a "mexican hat"-shaped bounce, joining the contracting and expanding branches. The model accommodates Hi…
Semiclassical approximation to the Wheeler-DeWitt equation which corresponds to gravity with a minimally coupled scalar field has been performed. To the leading order, vacuum Einstein's equation along with the functional Schrodinger equation for the matter field, propagating in the background of classical curved space are obtained. The Schrodinger equation is solved for a quartic potential. It is observed that the wave-functional admits the wormhole boundary condition even for large negative values of the coupling constant epsilon. For conformal coupling epsilon = 1/6, the Hawking-Page wormhol…
A scalar field nonminimally coupled to gravity is studied in the canonical framework, using self-dual variables. The corresponding constraints are first class and polynomial. To identify the real sector of the theory, reality conditions are implemented as second class constraints, leading to three real configurational degrees of freedom per space point. Nevertheless, this realization makes non-polynomial some of the constraints. The original complex symplectic structure reduces to the expected real one, by using the appropriate Dirac brackets. For the sake of preserving the simplicity of the c…
Analytical solutions of nonminimally coupled scalar field cosmology corresponding to critical scalar field values constitute a potential challenge to the recent first-order thermodynamics of scalar-tensor gravity (a formalism picturing general relativity as the zero-temperature equilibrium state for modified gravity). The critical solutions are unstable with respect to homogeneous perturbations, hence unphysical.
Consistency conditions for nonminimally coupled $f(R)$ theories have been derived by requiring the absence of tachyons and instabilities in the scalar fluctuations. This note confirms these results and clarifies a subtlety regarding different definitions of sound speeds.
We study the phase space analysis of a nonminimally coupled scalar field model with different potentials such as KKLT, Higgs, inverse and inverse square. Our investigation brings new asymptotic regimes, and obtains stable de-Sitter solution. In case of KKLT, we do not find stable de-Sitter solution whereas Higgs model satisfies the de-Sitter condition but does not provide a stable de-Sitter solution in usual sense as one of the eigenvalue is zero. We obtain time derivative of Hubble constant $\dot{H}=0$, equation of state $w_ϕ\simeq -1$, scalar field $ϕ=$constant and the positive effective gra…
We numerically investigate the stability of four-dimensional asymptotically anti-de Sitter ($AdS_4$) spacetime for a class of nonminimally coupled scalar field theories. In particular, we study how the coupling affects the formation of black holes and transfer of energy to different spatial/temporal scales. We conclude by detailing the well-known analogy between the nonminimally coupled scalar-field stress-energy tensor and that of a viscous relativistic fluid, and discuss the limitations of that analogy when it is applied to anisotropic scalar field configurations in asymptotically $AdS$ spac…
Nonminimally coupled free scalar fields may be unstable in the spacetime of compact objects. Such instability can be triggered by classical seeds or, more simply, by quantum fluctuations giving rise to the so-called {\em vacuum awakening effect}. Here, we investigate how the parameter space which characterizes the instability is affected when the object gains some rotation. For this purpose, we focus on the stability analysis of nonminimally coupled scalar fields in the spacetime of slowly spinning matter shells.
We discuss dynamical locality in two locally covariant quantum field theories, the nonminimally coupled scalar field and the enlarged algebra of Wick polynomials. We calculate the relative Cauchy evolution of the enlarged algebra, before demonstrating that dynamical locality holds in the nonminimally coupled scalar field theory. We also establish dynamical locality in the enlarged algebra for the minimally coupled massive case and the conformally coupled massive case.
In a recent paper, Hod proved that spherically symmetric Dirichlet reflecting compact stars cannot support static nonminimally coupled scalar fields. In the present paper, we study the validity of no hair theorems for compact stars with Neumann surface boundary conditions. We find that Neumann compact stars cannot support static massive scalar field hairs with a generic dimensionless nonminimal coupling parameter.
We provide a remarkably compact proof that spherically symmetric neutral black holes cannot support static nonminimally coupled massless scalar fields. The theorem is based on causality restrictions imposed on the energy-momentum tensor of the fields near the regular black-hole horizon.
Here we show that the phenomenon of arbitrarily long-lived quasinormal modes (called quasiresonances) of a massive scalar field in the vicinity of a black hole is not an artifact of the test field approximation, but takes place also when the (derivative) coupling of a scalar field with the Einstein tensor is taken into consideration. We observe that at large coupling and high multipole numbers, the growing modes appear in the spectrum, which are responsible for the eikonal instability of the field. For small coupling, when the configuration is stable, there appear the purely imaginary quasinor…
We investigate the stability of a free scalar field nonminimally coupled to gravity under linear perturbations in the spacetime of a charged spherical shell. Our analysis is performed in the context of quantum field theory in curved spacetimes. This paper completes previous analyses which considered the exponential enhancement of vacuum fluctuations in the spacetime of massive shells.
Self-gravitating scalar fields with nonminimal coupling to gravity and having a quartic self-interaction are considered in the domain of outer communications of a static black hole. It is shown that there is no value of the nonminimal coupling parameter $ζ$ for which nontrivial static black hole solutions exist. This result establishes the correctness of Bekenstein ``no-scalar-hair'' conjecture for quartic self-interactions.
We present the first symmetry inheritance analysis of fields nonminimally coupled to gravity. In this work we are focused on the real scalar field $ϕ$ with nonminimal coupling of the form $ξϕ^2 R$. Possible cases of the symmetry noninheriting fields are constrained by the properties of the Ricci tensor and the scalar potential. Examples of such spacetimes can be found among those which are "dressed" with the stealth scalar field, a nontrivial scalar field configuration with the vanishing energy-momentum tensor. We classify the scalar field potentials which allow the symmetry noninheriting stea…
It has recently been proved that horizonless compact stars with reflecting boundary conditions {\it cannot} support spatially regular matter configurations made of minimally coupled scalar fields, vector fields, and tensor fields. In the present paper we extend this intriguing no-hair property to the physically interesting regime of scalar fields with {\it nonminimal} coupling to gravity. In particular, we prove that static spherically symmetric configurations made of nonminimally coupled massless scalar fields cannot be supported by compact reflecting stars.
We study analytically and numerically the inflationary solutions for various type scalar potentials in the nonminimally coupled scalar field theory. The Hamilton-Jacobi equation is used to deal with nonlinear evolutions of inhomogeneous spacetimes and the long-wavelength approximation is employed. The constraints that lead to a sufficient inflation are found for the nonminimal coupling constant and initial conditions of the scalar field for inflation potentials. In particular, we numerically find an inflationary solution in the new inflation model of a nonminimal scalar field.
It is proved that spherically symmetric asymptotically flat neutral black holes cannot support spatially regular static configurations made of massive scalar fields with non-minimal coupling to gravity. Interestingly, our compact no-hair theorem is valid for generic values of the dimensionless physical parameter $ξ$ which quantifies the strength of coupling between the scalar field and the spacetime curvature.
We study the preheating after inflation in the Starobinsky model with a nonminimally coupled scalar field $χ$. Using the lattice simulation, we analyze the rescattering between the $χ$ particles and the inflaton condensate, and the backreaction effect of the scalar metric perturbations. We find that the rescattering is an efficient mechanism promoting the growth of the $χ$ field variance. Meanwhile, copious inflaton particles can be knocked out of the inflaton condensate by rescattering. As a result, the inflaton field can become a nonnegligible gravitational wave source, even comparable with …
We extend the analysis of Chiba, Smith and Erickcek \cite{CSE} of Solar System constraints on $f(R)$ gravity to a class of nonminimally coupled (NMC) theories of gravity. These generalize $f(R)$ theories by replacing the action functional of General Relativity (GR) with a more general form involving two functions $f^1(R)$ and $f^2(R)$ of the Ricci scalar curvature $R$. While the function $f^1(R)$ is a nonlinear term in the action, analogous to $f(R)$ gravity, the function $f^2(R)$ yields a NMC between the matter Lagrangian density $\LL_m$ and the scalar curvature. The developed method allows f…
We calculate the one loop graviton vacuum polarization induced by a massless, nonminimally coupled scalar field on Minkowski background. We make use of the Schwinger-Keldysh formalism, which allows us to study time dependent phenomena. As an application we compute the leading quantum correction to the Newtonian potential of a point particle. The novel aspect of the calculation is the use of the Schwinger-Keldysh formalism, within which we calculate the time transients induced by switching on of the graviton-scalar coupling.
We present a compact theorem which reveals the fact that static spatially regular massive scalar fields with nonminimal coupling to gravity cannot form spherically symmetric asymptotically flat horizonless matter configurations. In particular, the no-go theorem rules out the existence of boson stars made of static scalar fields with generic values of the physical parameter $ξ$ which quantifies the coupling between the spacetime curvature and the massive bosonic fields.
Here, we report pp waves configurations of three-dimensional gravity for which a scalar field nonminimally coupled to them acts as a source. In absence of self-interaction the solutions are gravitational plane waves with a profile fixed in terms of the scalar wave. In the self-interacting case, only power-law potentials parameterized by the nonminimal coupling constant are allowed by the field equations. In contrast with the free case the self-interacting scalar field does not behave like a wave since it depends only on the wave-front coordinate. We address the same problem when gravitation is…
We consider the non-Gaussianity of the nonlinear density perturbations in a single-field inflationary model when a scalar field couples nonminimally with gravity. Gravity theories with a nonminimal coupling can be transformed into the Einstein gravity with canonical kinetic terms by using a suitable conformal transformation. We find that a nonlinear generalization of the gauge invariant quantity $ζ_i$ is invariant under the conformal transformation. With the help of this conformal invariant property, we calculate the non-Gaussianity, which is characterized by a nonlinear parameter $f_{NL}$, in…
We investigate homogeneous and isotropic cosmological models in scalar-tensor theories of gravity where two scalar fields are nonminimally coupled to the geometry. Exact solutions are found, by Noether symmetries, depending on the form of couplings and self-interaction potentials. An interesting feature is that we deal with the Brans-Dicke field and the inflaton on the same ground since both are nonminimally coupled and not distinguished {\it a priori} as in earlier models. This fact allows to improve dynamics to get successful extended inflationary scenarios. Double inflationary solutions are…
It is shown that flat spacetime can be dressed with a real scalar field that satisfies the nonlinear Klein-Gordon equation without curving spacetime. Surprisingly, this possibility arises from the nonminimal coupling of the scalar field with the curvature, since a footprint of the coupling remains in the energy-momentum tensor even when gravity is switched off. Requiring the existence of solutions with vanishing energy-momentum tensor fixes the self-interaction potential as a local function of the scalar field depending on two coupling constants. The solutions describe shock waves and, in the …
Recent no-hair theorems have revealed the intriguing fact that horizonless stars with compact reflecting surfaces {\it cannot} support non-linear matter configurations made of scalar, vector, and tensor fields. In the present paper we extend the regime of validity of these no-hair theorems by explicitly proving that spherically symmetric compact reflecting stars cannot support static configurations made of {\it massive} scalar fields with {\it non}-minimal coupling to gravity. Interestingly, our no-hair theorem is valid for {\it generic} values of the dimensionless field-curvature coupling par…
We consider inflation in a universe with a positive cosmological constant and a nonminimally coupled scalar field, in which the field couples both quadratically and quartically to the Ricci scalar. When considered in the Einstein frame and when the nonminimal couplings are negative, the field starts in slow roll and inflation ends with an asymptotic value of the principal slow roll parameter, $ε_E=4/3$. Graceful exit can be achieved by suitably (tightly) coupling the scalar field to matter, such that at late time the total energy density reaches the scaling of matter, $ε_E=ε_m$. Quite generica…
We prove three theorems in general relativity which rule out classical scalar hair of static, spherically symmetric, possibly electrically charged black holes. We first generalize Bekenstein's no--hair theorem for a multiplet of minimally coupled real scalar fields with not necessarily quadratic action to the case of a charged black hole. We then use a conformal map of the geometry to convert the problem of a charged (or neutral) black hole with hair in the form of a neutral self--interacting scalar field nonminimally coupled to gravity to the preceding problem, thus establishing a no--hair th…
In this paper, we investigate thick branes with a nonminimally coupled background scalar field, whose solution is a single-kink or a double-kink. The effects of the nonminimal coupling constant $ξ$ on the structure of the thick branes and the localization of gravity, fermions, scalars and vectors are discussed. It is shown that each brane will split into two sub-branes as increasing the nonminimal coupling constant $ξ$. By investigating the tensor perturbation equations of gravity and the general covariant Dirac equation of fermions, we find that both the gravity zero mode and left-chiral ferm…
We consider the dynamics of power-law inflation with a nonminimally coupled scalar field $ϕ$. It is well known that multiple scalar fields with exponential potentials $V(ϕ)=V_0 {\rm exp}(-\sqrt{16π/p m_{\rm pl}^2} ϕ)$ lead to an inflationary solution even if the each scalar field is not capable to sustain inflation. In this paper, we show that inflation can be assisted even in the one-field case by the effect of nonminimal coupling. When $ξ$ is positive, since an effective potential which arises by a conformal transformation becomes flatter compared with the case of $ξ=0$ for $ϕ>0$, we have an…
The nonminimal coupling of the kinetic term to Einstein's tensor helps the implementation of inflationary models due to the gravitationally enhanced friction. We calculate the parametrized post-Newtonian (PPN) parameters for the scalar--tensor theory of gravity with nonminimally derivative coupling. We find that under experimental constraint from the orbits of millisecond pulsars in our galaxy, the theory deviates from Einstein's general relativity in the order of $10^{-20}$, and the effect of the nonminimal coupling is negligible if we take the scalar field as dynamical dark energy. With the …
I study a fresh inflationary model with a scalar field nonminimally coupled to gravity. An example is examined. I find that, as larger is the value of $p$ (the power of the scale factor), smaller (but larger in its absolute value) is the necessary value of the coupling $ξ$ to the inflaton field fluctuations can satisfy a scale invariant power spectrum.
The dynamics of a universe dominated by a self-interacting nonminimally coupled scalar field are considered. The structure of the phase space and complete phase portraits are given. New dynamical behaviors include superinflation ($\dot{H}>0$), avoidance of big bang singularities through classical birth of the universe, and spontaneous entry into and exit from inflation. This model is promising for describing quintessence as a nonminimally coupled scalar field.
In this work, we investigate the quasinormal modes for a massive scalar field with a nonminimal coupling with gravity in the spacetime of a loop quantum black hole, known as the Self-Dual Black Hole. In this way, we have calculated the characteristic frequencies using the 3rd order WKB approach, where we can verify a strong dependence with the mass of scalar field, the parameter of nonminimal coupling with gravity, and parameters of the Loop Quantum Gravity. From our results, we can check that the Self-Dual Black Hole is stable under the scalar perturbations when assuming small values for the …
We show that even a rather minimal extension of the Einstein - Hilbert action by a nonminimal coupling of the scalar field to the Ricci curvature scalar results in configurations that resemble more the dark energy stars then the ordinary boson stars. Even though many of those configurations are endowed by negative principal pressures, the strong energy condition, as a signal of repulsive gravity, is not significantly violated in these configurations. When imposing restrictions on matter from energy conditions we find that the maximally allowed masses are shifted to the lower values due to the …
A static, spherically symmetric, asymptotically flat spacetime may allow for circular, closed null-geodesics which are said to belong to a photon sphere. In the context of gravitational lensing in the strong deflection regime, the presence of a photon sphere leads to an unbounded angle of deflection of light (multiple turns) and formation of relativistic images. In this paper, we show that photon spheres may form in some configurations of boson stars constructed with a free massive complex scalar field nonminimally coupled to gravity. Assuming that the boson star is transparent to light, photo…
We consider two alternative dark energy models: a Lorentz invariance preserving model with a nonminimally coupled scalar field and a Lorentz invariance violating model with a minimally coupled scalar field. We study accelerated expansion and dynamics of equation of state parameter in these scenarios. While a minimally coupled scalar field has not the capability to be a successful dark energy candidate with cosmological constant line crossing, a nonminimally coupled scalar field in the presence of Lorentz invariance or a minimally coupled scalar field with Lorentz invariance violation have this…
We investigate the backreaction of the quantum fluctuations of a very light ($m \!\lesssim\! H_{\text{today}}$) nonminimally coupled spectator scalar field on the expansion dynamics of the Universe. The one-loop expectation value of the energy momentum tensor of these fluctuations, as a measure of the backreaction, is computed throughout the expansion history from the early inflationary universe until the onset of recent acceleration today. We show that, when the nonminimal coupling $ξ$ to Ricci curvature is negative ($ξ_c \!=\! 1/6$ corresponding to conformal coupling), the quantum backreacti…
We study the structure of neutron stars in scalar-tensor theories for the nonminimal coupling of the form $(1+κξϕ^{2})\cal R$. We solve the hydrostatic equilibrium equations for two different types of scalar field potentials and three different equations of state representative of different degrees of stiffness. We obtain the mass-radius relations of the configurations and determine the allowed ranges for the term $ξϕ^2$ at the center of the star and spatial infinity based on the measured maximum value of the mass for neutron stars and the recent constraints on the radius coming from gravitati…
It is shown that the conclusion regarding the existence of a scalar hair for a black hole in a nonminimally coupled self interacting scalar tensor theory can be drawn from the that for a scalar field minimally coupled to gravity by means of a conformal transformation.
In this work we have studied a cosmological model based on a quintom dark energy model non-minimally coupled with gravity, endowed with a specfic potential energy of the exponential squared type. For this specific type of potential energy and non-minimal coupling, the dynamical properties are analyzed and the corresponding cosmological effects are discussed. Considering the linear stability method, we have investigated the dynamical properties of the phase space structure, determining the physically acceptable solutions. The analysis showed that in this model we can have various cosmological e…
Static, spherically symmetric configurations of gravity with nonminimally coupled scalar fields are considered in D-dimensional space-times in the framework of generalized scalar-tensor theories. We seek special cases when the system has no naked singularity but instead forms either a black hole, or a wormhole. General conditions when this is possible are formulated. In particlar, some such special cases are indicated for multidimensional Brans-Dicke theory and for linear, massless, nonminimally coupled scalar fields. It is shown that in the Brans-Dicke theory the only black-hole solution corr…
We generalize the mechanism for gravitational baryogensis in the context of $f(R)$ theories of gravity, including a nonminimal coupling between curvature and matter. In these models, the baryon asymmetry is generated through an effective coupling between the Ricci scalar curvature and the net baryon current that dynamically breaks Charge Conjugation, Parity and Time Reversal (CPT) invariance. We study the combinations of characteristic mass scales and exponents for both non-trivial functions present in the modified action functional and establish the allowed region for these parameters: we fin…
We provide a general framework for studying the dark energy cosmology in which a scalar field $ϕ$ is nonminimally and kinetically coupled to Cold Dark Matter (CDM). The scalar-graviton sector is described by the action of Horndeski theories with the speed of gravitational waves equivalent to that of light, whereas CDM is treated as a perfect fluid given by a Schutz-Sorkin action. We consider two interacting Lagrangians of the forms $f_1(ϕ,X)ρ_c (n_c)$ and $f_2 (n_c, ϕ,X) J_c^μ \partial_μϕ$, where $X=-\partial^μ ϕ\partial_μ ϕ/2$, $ρ_c$ and $n_c$ are the energy density and number density of CDM …
We study the Vainshtein screening mechanism in Horndeski theories in the presence of a scalar field $ϕ$ nonminimally and kinetically coupled to ordinary matter field. A general interacting Lagrangian describing this coupling is characterized by energy transfer $f_1$ and momentum exchange $f_2$. For a spherically symmetric configurations on top of the cosmological background, we investigate the static perturbations in linear and nonlinear regimes with respect to the scalar field perturbation. In the former regime, the parametrized post-Newtonian parameter generally deviates from unity as long a…
In arbitrary dimension, we consider a theory described by the most general quadratic curvature corrections of Einstein gravity together with a self-interacting nonminimally coupled scalar field. This theory is shown to admit five different families of Lifshitz black holes dressed with a nontrivial scalar field. The entropy of these configurations is microscopically computed by means of a higher-dimensional anisotropic Cardy-like formula where the role of the ground state is played by the soliton obtained through a double analytic continuation. This involves to calculate the correct expressions…
