We consider Einstein gravity coupled to an $U(1)$ gauge field for which the density is given by a power of the Maxwell Lagrangian. In $d$-dimensions the action of Maxwell field is shown to enjoy the conformal invariance if the power is chosen as $d/4$. We present a class of charge rotating solutions in Einstein-conformally invariant Maxwell gravity in the presence of a cosmological constant. These solutions may be interpreted as black brane solutions with inner and outer event horizons or an extreme black brane depending on the value of the mass parameter. Since we are considering power of the Maxwell density, the black brane solutions exist only for dimensions which are multiples of four. We compute conserved and thermodynamics quantities of the black brane solutions and show that the expression of the electric field does not depend on the dimension. Also, we obtain a Smarr-type formula and show that these conserved and thermodynamic quantities of black branes satisfy the first law of thermodynamics. Finally, we study the phase behavior of the rotating black branes and show that there is no Hawking--Page phase transition in spite of conformally invariant Maxwell field.
We report exact black hole solutions in asymptotically flat or (A)dS four-dimensional spacetime with a conformally coupled self-interacting scalar field in $f(R)$ gravity. We first consider the asymptotically flat model $f(R) = R -2α\sqrt{R}$ and derive an exact black hole solution. Then, we consider the asymptotically (A)dS model $f(R) =R -2 Λ-2 α\sqrt{R-4 Λ}$ and derive an exact black hole solution. In both cases the modified gravity parameter $α$, which has the dimension of the inverse mass, cannot be set to zero and the self-interacting potential is determined from the Klein-Gordon equatio…
In this paper, we present a class of rotating solutions in Gauss--Bonnet gravity in the presence of cosmological constant and conformally invariant Maxwell field and study the effects of the nonlinearity of the Maxwell source on the properties of the spacetimes. These solutions may be interpret as black brane solutions with inner and outer event horizons provide that the mass parameter $m$ is greater than an extremal value $m_{ext}$, an extreme black brane if $m=m_{ext}$ and a naked singularity otherwise. We investigate the conserved and thermodynamics quantities for asymptotically flat and as…
We obtain scalar hairy black holes from Einstein-Maxwell-conformally coupled scalar (EMCS) theory with the scalar coupling parameter $α$ to the Maxwell term. In case of $α=0$, the $α=0$ EMCS theory provides constant (charged) scalar hairy black hole and charged BBMB (Bocharova-Bronnikov-Melnikov-Bekenstein) black hole where the former is stable against full perturbations, while the latter remains unstable because it belongs to an extremal black hole. It is noted that for $α\not=0$, the unstable Reissner-Nordström black holes without scalar hair imply infinite branches of $n=0(α\ge 8.019),1(α\g…
We perform the stability analysis for the scalarized charged black holes obtained from Einstein-Maxwell-conformally coupled scalar (EMCS) theory by employing the radial perturbations. The targeting black holes include a single branch of scalarized charged black hole with the coupling parameter $α>0$ inspired by the constant scalar hairy black hole as well as infinite branches of $n=0(α\ge 8.019),1(α\ge 40.84),2(α\ge 99.89),\cdots$ scalarized charged black holes found through the spontaneous scalarization on the Reissner-Nordström black hole. It turns out that the black hole in the single branc…
We extend the correspondence between metric-affine Ricci-Based Gravity theories and General Relativity (GR) to the case in which the matter sector is represented by linear and nonlinear electromagnetic fields. This complements previous studies focused on fluids and scalar fields. We establish the general algorithm that relates the matter fields in the GR and RBG frames and consider some applications. In particular, we find that the so-called Eddington-inspired Born-Infeld gravity theory coupled to Maxwell electromagnetism is in direct correspondence with GR coupled to Born-Infeld electromagnet…
A Lorentz and conformally invariant `Schrödinger-like' equation for a massless complex scalar function $ψ$ is derived from an invariant action, and it is shown how the same $ψ$ can be used to calculate both the gravitational field $h_{μν}$ of linearized Einstein gravity in the TT gauge and the electromagnetic field $F_{μν}$ in the Lorenz gauge, and that the main difference between classical and quantum aspects of such fields lies in a certain condition that the underlying scalar wave must satisfy to keep it nondispersive. It is also shown how the existence of gravitons can be inferred from the…
The free Maxwell field theory is quantized in the Lorentz gauge on a two dimensional manifold $M$ with conformally flat background metric. It is shown that in this gauge the theory is equivalent, at least at the classical level, to a biharmonic version of the bosonic string theory. This equivalence is exploited in order to construct in details the propagator of the Maxwell field theory on $M$. The expectation values of the Wilson loops are computed. A trivial result is obtained confirming in the Lorentz gauge previous calculations. Finally the interacting case is briefly discussed taking the S…
We investigate the $P-V$ criticality and the Maxwell equal area law for a five-dimensional spherically symmetric AdS black hole with a scalar hair in the absence of and in the presence of a Maxwell field, respectively. Especially in the charged case, we give the exact $P-V$ critical values. More importantly, we analyze the validity and invalidity of the Maxwell equal area law for the AdS hairy black hole in the scenarios without and with charges, respectively. Within the scope of validity of the Maxwell equal area law, we point out that there exists a representative van der Waals-type oscillat…
We consider an action for an abelian gauge field for which the density is given by a power of the Maxwell Lagrangian. In d spacetime dimensions this action is shown to enjoy the conformal invariance if the power is chosen as d/4. We take advantage of this conformal invariance to derive black hole solutions electrically charged with a purely radial electric field. Because of considering power of the Maxwell density, the black hole solutions exist only for dimensions which are multiples of four. The expression of the electric field does not depend on the dimension and corresponds to the four-dim…
We present an SO(2,4)-covariant quantization of the free electromagnetic field in conformally flat spaces (CFS). A CFS is realized in a six-dimensional space as an intersection of the null cone with a given surface. The smooth move of the latter is equivalent to perform a Weyl rescaling. This allows to transport the SO(2,4)-invariant quantum structure of the Maxwell field from Minkowski space to any CFS. Calculations are simplified and the CFS Wightman two-point functions are given in terms of their Minkowskian counterparts. The difficulty due to gauge freedom is surpassed by introducing two a…
We elevate the field theoretical similarities between Maxwell and Weyl vector fields into a full local scale/gauge invariant Weyl/Maxwell mutual sourcing theory. In its preliminary form, and exclusively in four dimensions, the associated Lagrangian is dynamical scalar field free, hosts no fermion matter fields, and Holdom kinetic mixing is switched off. The mutual sourcing term is then necessarily spacetime curvature (not just metric) dependent, and inevitably Ricci linear, suggesting that a non-vanishing spacetime curvature can in principle induce an electromagnetic current. In its mature for…
We construct a new class of higher dimensional black hole solutions of $f(R)$ theory coupled to a nonlinear Maxwell field. In deriving these solutions the traceless property of the energy-momentum tensor of the matter filed plays a crucial role. In $n$-dimensional spacetime the energy-momentum tensor of conformally invariant Maxwell field is traceless provided we take $n=4p$, where $p$ is the power of conformally invariant Maxwell lagrangian. These black hole solutions are similar to higher dimensional Reissner-Nordstrom AdS black holes but only exist for dimensions which are multiples of four…
In this paper we demonstrate how, using the coset construction, a theory can be systematically made Weyl invariant by gauging the scale symmetry. We show that an analog of the inverse Higgs constraint allows the elimination of the Weyl vector (gauge) field in favor of curvatures. We extend the procedure -- previously coined Ricci gauging -- and discuss its subtlety for the case of theories with higher derivatives of conformally variant fields.
Maxwell theory can be studied in a gauge which is invariant under conformal rescalings of the metric, and first proposed by Eastwood and Singer. This paper studies the corresponding quantization in flat Euclidean 4-space. The resulting ghost operator is a fourth-order elliptic operator, while the operator P on perturbations of the potential is a sixth-order elliptic operator. The operator P may be reduced to a second-order non-minimal operator if a dimensionless gauge parameter tends to infinity. Gauge-invariant boundary conditions are obtained by setting to zero at the boundary the whole set …
The properties of $(d-1)$-dimensional $s$-wave holographic superconductor in the presence of power-Maxwell field is explored. We study the probe limit in which the scalar and gauge fields do not backreact on the background geometry. Our study is based on the matching of solutions on the boundary and on the horizon at some intermediate point. At first, the case without external magnetic field is considered, and the critical temperature is obtained in terms of the charge density, the dimensionality, and the power-Maxwell exponent. Then, a magnetic field is turned on in the $d$-dimensional bulk w…
In Einstein-Maxwell gravity with a conformally coupled scalar field, the black hole found by Bocharova, Bronnikov, Melnikov, and Bekenstein breaks when embedded in the external magnetic field of the Melvin universe. The situation improves in presence of acceleration, allowing one to build magnetised and accelerating BBMB black hole with a thin membrane. But to overcome this and others disadvantages of BBMB spacetimes, a new class of black holes, including the rotating case, is proposed for the conformal matter coupling under consideration.
We construct the classical mechanics associated with a conformally flat Riemannian metric on a compact, n-dimensional manifold without boundary. The corresponding gradient Ricci flow equation turns out to equal the time-dependent Hamilton-Jacobi equation of the mechanics so defined.
The Maxwell extension of the conformal algebra is presented. With the help of gauging the Maxwell-conformal group, a conformally invariant theory of gravity is constructed. In contrast to the conventional conformally invariant actions, our gravitational action contains the Einstein-Hilbert term without introducing any additional (compensator) scalar field to satisfy the local scale invariance. This is achieved by using the curvatures of the algebra. In a special condition, we show that the resulting action is reduced to the Brans-Dicke like theory of gravity. We subsequently find the generaliz…
A new method for the construction of conformally invariant equations in an arbitrary four dimensional (pseudo-) Riemannian space is presented. This method uses the Weyl geometry as a tool and exploits the natural conformal invariance we can build in the framework of this geometry. Indeed, working in a Weyl space, using the Weyl covariant derivative and the intrinsic Weylian geometrical tensors, all conformally homogeneous operators will be conformally invariant, as will the equations they determine. A Weyl space is defined by two independent objects: the metric tensor $g_{μν}$ and the Weyl vec…
We prove a uniqueness theorem for traversable wormhole solutions in the Einstein-Maxwell-dilaton gravity with a phantom scalar field and a possible phantom electromagnetic field. In a certain region of the parameter space, determined by the asymptotic values of the scalar field and the lapse function, the regular wormholes are completely specified by their mass, scalar charge and electric charge. The argument is based on the positive energy theorem applied on an appropriate conformally transformed Riemannian space.
We determine the Killing spinors for a class of magnetic brane solutions with Minkowski worldvolume of the theory of AdS Einstein Maxwell theories in d dimensions. We also obtain curved magnetic brane solutions with Ricci-flat worldvolumes. If we demand that the curved brane solution admits Killing spinors, then its worldvolume must admit parallel spinors. Classes of Ricci-flat worldvolumes admitting parallel spinors are discussed.
The equations of motion of four-dimensional conformal gravity, whose Lagrangian is the square of the Weyl tensor, require that the Bach tensor $E_{μν}= (\nabla^ρ\nabla^σ+ \ft12 R^{ρσ})C_{μρνσ}$ vanishes. Since $E_{μν}$ is zero for any Einstein metric, and any conformal scaling of such a metric, it follows that large classes of solutions in four-dimensional conformal gravity are simply given by metrics that are conformal to Einstein metrics (including Ricci-flat). In fact it becomes more intriguing to find solutions that are {\it not} conformally Einstein. We obtain five new such vacua, which a…
We give the overview of solution techniques for the general conformally-invariant linear and nonlinear wave equations centered around the idea of dimensional reductions by their symmetry groups. The efficiency of these techniques is demonstrated on the examples of the SU(2) Yang-Mills and the vacuum Maxwell equations. For the Yang-Mills equations we have derived the most general form of the conformally-invariant solution and construct a number of their new analytical non-Abelian solutions in explicit form. We have completely solved the problem of symmetry reduction of the Maxwell equations by …
Conformally Einstein anti-self-dual spaces and their generalisations
Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge（剑桥大学应用数学与理论物理系）；School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Sheffield（谢菲尔德大学数学与物理科学学院）
Starting from a 6-dimensional nilpotent Lie group N endowed with an invariant SU(3) structure, we construct a homogeneous conformally parallel G_2-metric on an associated solvmanifold. We classify all half-flat SU(3) structures that endow the rank-one solvable extension of N with a conformally parallel G_2 structure. By suitably deforming the SU(3) structures obtained, we are able to describe the corresponding non-homogeneous Ricci-flat metrics with holonomy contained in G_2. In the process we also find a new metric with exceptional holonomy.
We obtain a newly charged BBMB (Bocharova-Bronnikov-Melnikov-Bekenstein) black hole solution from the Einstein-Weyl-Maxwell-conformal (conformally coupled) scalar theory with a positive Weyl coupling parameter $m^2_2$ numerically. This solution has a primary scalar hair, compared to a secondary scalar hair in the charged BBMB black hole solution. The limiting case of $m_2^2\to\infty$ leads to the series form of the charged BBMB black hole solution. However, for $m^2_2<0$, we could not obtain any asymptotically flat black hole solution with scalar hair.
We construct black hole solutions in four-dimensional quadratic gravity, supported by a scalar field conformally coupled to quadratic terms in the curvature. The conformal matter Lagrangian is constructed with powers of traces of a conformally covariant tensor, which is defined in terms of the metric and a scalar field, and has the symmetries of the Riemann tensor. We find exact, neutral and charged, topological black hole solutions of this theory when the Weyl squared term is absent from the action functional. Including terms beyond quadratic order on the conformally covariant tensor, allows …
The field equations in FRW background for the so called C-theories are presented and investigated. In these theories the usual Ricci scalar is substituted with $f(\mathcal{R})$ where $\mathcal{R}$ is a Ricci scalar related to a conformally scaled metric $\hat{g}_{μν} = \mathcal{C}(\mathcal{R})g_{μν}$, where the conformal factor itself depends on $\mathcal{R}$. It is shown that homogeneous perturbations of this Ricci scalar around general relativity FRW background of a large class of these theories are either inconsistent or unstable.
We show that the Laplace-Beltrami equation $\square_6 a =j$ in $(\setR^6,η)$, $η:= \mathrm{diag}(+----+)$, leads under very moderate assumptions to both the Maxwell equations and the conformal Eastwood-Singer gauge condition on conformally flat spaces including the spaces with a Robertson-Walker metric. This result is obtained through a geometric formalism which gives, as byproduct, simplified calculations. In particular, we build an atlas for all the conformally flat spaces considered which allows us to fully exploit the Weyl rescalling to Minkowski space.
We present novel regular Euclidean solutions to General Relativity in presence of Maxwell and conformally coupled scalar fields. In particular, we consider metrics of the Eguchi-Hanson and Taub-NUT families to solve the field equations analytically. The solutions have nontrivial topology labeled by the Hirzebruch signature and Euler characteristic that we compute explicitly. We find that, although the solutions are locally inequivalent with the original (anti-)self-dual Eguchi-Hanson metric, their asymptotically locally Euclidean limit leads to the same global properties. We revisit the Taub-N…
It is known that the Maxwell theory in $D$ dimensions can be written in a first order form (in derivatives) by introducing a totally antisymmetric field which leads to a $(D-3)$-form dual theory. Remarkably, one can replace the antisymmetric field by a symmetric rank two tensor ($W_{μν}=W_{νμ}$). Such master action establishes the duality between the Maxwell-theory and a fourth order higher rank model in a $D$-dimensional flat space time. A naive generalization to the curved space shows a connection between the recently found D=4 critical gravity and the Maxwell theory plus a coupling term to …
Slow-roll inflation is studied in theories where the inflaton field is conformally coupled to the Ricci scalar. In particular, the case of Higgs field inflation in the context of the noncommutative spectral action is analyzed. It is shown that while the Higgs potential can lead to the slow-roll conditions being satisfied once the running of the self-coupling at two-loops is included, the constraints imposed from the CMB data make the predictions of such a scenario incompatible with the measured value of the top quark mass. We also analyze the role of an additional conformally coupled massless …
Ricci flow is a natural gradient flow of the Einstein-Hilbert action. Here we consider the analog for the Einstein-Maxwell action, which gives Ricci flow with a stress tensor contribution coupled to a Yang-Mills flow for the Maxwell field. We argue that this flow is well-posed for static spacetimes with pure electric or magnetic potentialsand show it preserves both non-extremal and extremal black hole horizons. In the latter case we find the flow of the near horizon geometry decouples from that of the exterior. The Schwarzschild black hole is an unstable fixed point of Ricci flow for static sp…
We explore inflationary cosmology in a theory where there are two scalar fields which non-minimally couple to the Ricci scalar and an additional $R^2$ term, which breaks the conformal invariance. Particularly, we investigate the slow-roll inflation in the case of one dynamical scalar field and that of two dynamical scalar fields. It is explicitly demonstrated that the spectral index of scalar mode of the density perturbations and the tensor-to-scalar ratio can be consistent with the observations acquired by the recent Planck satellite. The graceful exit from the inflationary stage is achieved …
The hierarchy of conformally invariant k-th powers of the Laplacian acting on a scalar field with scaling dimensions $Δ_{(k)}=k-d/2$, k=1,2,3 as obtained in the recent work [1] is rederived using the Fefferman-Graham d+2 dimensional ambient space approach. The corresponding mysterious "holographic" structure of these operators is clarified. We explore also the d+2 dimensional ambient space origin of the Ricci gauging procedure proposed by A. Iorio, L. O'Raifeartaigh, I. Sachs and C. Wiesendanger as another method of constructing the Weyl invariant Lagrangians. The corresponding \emph{gauged} a…
The free Maxwell theory in D<>4 dimensions provides a physical example of a unitary, scale invariant theory which is NOT conformally invariant. The easiest way to see this is that the field strength operator F_mn is neither a primary nor a descendant. We show how conformal multiplets can be completed, and conformality restored, by adding new local operators to the theory. In D>=5, this can only be done by sacrificing unitarity of the extended Hilbert space. We analyze the full symmetry structure of the extended theory, which turns out to be related to the OSp(D,2|2) superalgebra.
The curvature of a higher spin potential as constructed in a previous article of the same authors arXiv:0705.3528 is applied to the analysis of the linearized trace anomaly obtained from the quadratic part of the effective action for a conformally coupled scalar with linearized interaction with the external higher spin fields arXiv:hep-th/0602067. The spin is restricted to four to profit from technical simplifications but without reducing the problem in principle. The issue includes the calculation of all Ricci tensors as multiple traces of the curvature, the derivation of all primary and seco…
In the same spirit as done for N=2 and N=4 supersymmetric non-linear $\si$ models in 2 space-time dimensions by Zumino and Alvarez- Gaumé and Freedman, we analyse the (2,0) and (4,0) heterotic geometry in holomorphic coordinates. We study the properties of the torsion tensor and give the conditions under which (2,0) geometry is conformally equivalent to a (2,2) one. Using additional isometries, we show that it is difficult to equip a manifold with a closed torsion tensor, but for the real 4 dimensional case where we exhibit new examples. We show that, contrarily to Callan, Harvey and Strominge…
