We study the hybrid quantization of the linearly polarized Gowdy $T^3$ model with a massless scalar field with the same symmetries as the metric. For simplicity, we quantize its restriction to the model with local rotational symmetry. Using this hybrid approach, the homogeneous degrees of freedom of the geometry are quantized à la loop, leading to the resolution of the cosmological singularity. A Fock quantization is employed both for the matter and the gravitational inhomogeneities. Owing to the inclusion of the massless scalar field this system allows us to modelize flat Friedmann-Robertson-Walker cosmologies filled with inhomogeneities propagating in one direction, providing a perfect scenario to study the quantum back-reaction of the inhomogeneities on the polymeric homogeneous and isotropic background.
Soliton solutions are recovered as scale-invariant asymptotic states of vacuum inhomogeneous cosmologies using renormalization group method. The stability analysis of these states is also given.
Specific dark energy models with linear inhomogeneous time-dependent equation of state, within the framework of 4d Friedman-Robertson-Walker (FRW) cosmology, are investigated. It is demonstrated that the choice of such 4d inhomogeneous fluid models may lead to a brane FRW cosmology without any explicit account of higher dimensions at all. Effectively, we thus obtain a brane dark energy universe without introducing the brane concept explicitly. Several examples of brane Rip cosmology arising from 4d inhomogeneous dark fluid models are given.
We present a new exact solution in Brans-Dicke theory. The solution describes inhomogeneous plane-symmetric perfect fluid cosmological model with an equation of state $p=γρ$. Some main properties of the solution are discussed.
This brief article sums up results obtained in arXiv:0911.2653, which develops a constrained SU(2) lattice gauge theory in the "dipole" approximation. This is a further step toward the issue of a (inhomogeneous) loop quantum cosmology and its merging into loop quantum gravity.
The conditions for the appearance of the Little Rip, Pseudo Rip and Quasi Rip universes in the terms of the parameters in the equation of state of some dark fluid are investigated. Several examples of the Rip cosmologies are investigated.
The Einstein-Klein-Gordon field equations are solved in a inhomogeneous shear-free universe containing a material fluid, a self-interacting scalar field, a variable cosmological term, and a heat flux. A quintessence-dominated scenario arises with a power-law accelerated expansion compatible with the currently observed homogeneous universe.
In this work cosmological models are considered for the low energy string cosmological effective action (tree level) in the absence of dilaton potential. A two parametric non-diagonal family of analytic solutions is found. The curvature is non singular, however the string coupling diverges exponentially.
Specific dark energy models with a linear inhomogeneous time-dependent equation of state, within the framework of 4d Friedman-Robertson-Walker (FRW) cosmology, are investigated. It is demonstrated that such 4d inhomogeneous fluid models may lead to a turbulence FRW cosmology. Both one-component and two-component models from 4d inhomogeneous dark fluid models are considered. In the one-component model the universe may develop from a viscous era with, for instance, a constant bulk viscosity, into a turbulent era. In the two-component model the fluid can be decomposed into two components, one non…
In this paper, we investigate $f(T)$ cosmology and find an exact solution for $f$ which gives a Little Rip cosmology. Also, considering accelerating cosmology with dark matter, the time-dependent solution is found. For these cases, by using solutions obtained from $f(T)$ gravity we find expressions for $ω$ and $Λ$ defined as time functions via equivalent description in terms of inhomogeneous fluid. This puts the question: which theoretical model describes the observational cosmology?
We study how the initial inhomogeneities of the universe affect the onset of inflation in the closed universe. We consider the model of a chaotic inflation which is driven by a massive scalar field. In order to construct an inhomogeneous universe model, we use the long wavelength approximation ( the gradient expansion method ). We show the condition of the inhomogeneities for the universe to enter the inflationary phase.
We analyze the existence of inflationary solutions in an inhomogeneous Kaluza-Klein cosmological model in 4+n dimensions. It is shown that the 5-dimensional case is the exception rather than the rule, in the sense that the system is integrable (under the assumption of the equation of state $ρ= kp$) for any value of k. It is also shown that the cases k=0 and k=1/3 are integrable if and only if n=1.
Purely time dependent solutions in four-dimensional Einstein-Cartan-Kalb-Ramond (ECKR) theory of gravity are shown not to be possible leading to a trivial vanishing of all Kalb-Ramond fields. This result seems to contradict previously results obtained by SenGupta et al. (Class. and Quantum Gravity 19(2002)677) where de Sitter spacetime solution is found as an example of opticaly active spacetime. It seems that only inhomogeneous KR fields are possible in four-dimensional torsioned spacetimes.
We obtain a scaling relation for spherically symmetric k-essence scalar fields $ϕ(r,t)$ for an inhomogeneous cosmology with the Lemaitre-Tolman- Bondi (LTB) metric. We show that this scaling relation reduces to the known relation for a homogeneous cosmology when the LTB metric reduces to the Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) metric under certain identifications of the metric functions. A k-essence lagrangian is set up and the Euler-Lagrangian equations solved assuming $ϕ(r,t)=ϕ_{1}(r) + ϕ_{2}(t)$. The solutions enable the LBT metric functions to be related to the fields. The LTB inhom…
In this talk we show a stiff fluid solution of the Einstein equations for a cylindrically symmetric spacetime. The main features of this metric are that it is non-separable in comoving coordinates for the congruence of the worldlineS of the fluid and that it yields regular curvature invariants.
We investigate the existence of inhomogeneous Szekeres spacetimes in Einstein-æther theory. We show that inhomogeneous solutions which can be seen as extension of the Szekeres solutions existing in Einstein-æther gravity only for a specific relation between the dimensionless coefficients which defines the coupling between the æther filed with gravity. The two Szekeres classes of solutions are derived. Also a class of inhomogeneous FLRW-like spacetimes is allowed by the theory for arbitrary values of the dimensionless coefficients of the æther field. The stability of the solutions obtained is p…
We present a special case of the Stephani solution with spherical symmetry while considering different values of spatial curvature. We investigate the dynamics of the universe evolution in our model, build the R--T-regions for the resulting spacetime and analyze the behavior of the deceleration parameter. The singularities of the model are also discussed. The geometry of the spatial part of the obtained solution is explored.
Most of current cosmological theories are built combining an isotropic and homogeneous manifold with a scale factor that depends on time. If one supposes a hyperconical universe with linear expansion, an inhomogeneous metric can be obtained by an appropriate transformation that preserves the proper time. This model locally tends to a flat Friedman-Robertson-Walker metric with linear expansion. The objective of this work is to analyse the observational compatibility of the inhomogeneous metric considered. For this purpose, the corresponding luminosity distance was obtained and was compared with…
The plane-symmetric inhomogeneous cosmological models of perfect fluid distribution with electro-magnetic field is obtained in the framework of Lyra's geometry. To get the deterministic solution, I have considered $ A=f(x)ν(t) $, $ B=g(x)μ(t) $ and $ C=h(x)μ(t) $, where A, B and C are metric coefficients. It has been found that the solutions generalize the solution obtained by Pradhan, Yadav and Singh (2007) and are consistent with the recent observations of type Ia supernovae. A detailed study of physical and kinematical properties of the models have been carried out.
Examples are presented of applications of the Lemaître - Tolman model to problems of astrophysics and gravitation theory. They are: 1. Inferring the spatial distribution of matter by interpretation of observations; 2. Interaction of inhomogeneities in matter distribution with the CMB radiation; 3. Evolution of voids; 4. Singularities; 5. Influence of electromagnetic field on gravitational collapse. This review is meant to demonstrate that the theory is already well-prepared to meet the challenges posed by an inhomogeneous Universe.
A complete quantization of a homogeneous and isotropic spacetime with closed spatial sections coupled to a massive scalar field is provided, within the framework of Loop Quantum Cosmology. We identify solutions with their initial data on the minimum volume section, and from this we construct the physical Hilbert space. Moreover, a perturbative study allows us to introduce small inhomogeneities. After gauge fixing, the inhomogeneous part of the system is reduced to a linear field theory. We then adopt a standard Fock representation to quantize these degrees of freedom. For the considered case o…
An inhomogeneous version of pre--Big Bang cosmology emerges, within string theory, from quite generic initial conditions, provided they lie deeply inside the weak-coupling, low-curvature regime. Large-scale homogeneity, flatness, and isotropy appear naturally as late-time outcomes of such an evolution.
Exact cosmological solutions are obtained for a five dimensional inhomogeneous fluid distribution along with a Brans-Dicke type of scalar field. The set includes varied forms of matter field including $ρ+p=0$, where p is the 3D isotropic pressure. Depending on the signature of 4-space curvature our solutions admit of indefinite expansion in the usual 3-space and dimensional reduction of the fifth dimension. Due to the presence of the scalar field the case $p=-ρ$ does not yield an exponential expansion of the scale factor, which strikingly differs from our earlier investigations without scalar …
The purpose of this short review is to describe cosmological models with a linear inhomogeneous time-dependent equation of state (EoS) for the dark energy, when the dark fluid is coupled with dark matter. This may lead to a bounce cosmology. We consider equivalent descriptions in terms of the EoS parameters for an exponential, a power-law, or a double-exponential law for the scale factor $a$. Stability issues are discussed by considering small perturbations around the critical points for the bounce, in the early as well as in the late, universe. The latter part of the paper is concerned with d…
We briefly report on a previously found new, approximate, solution to Einstein field equations, describing a cubic lattice of spherical masses. This model mimics in a satisfactory way a Universe which can be strongly inhomogeneous at small scales, but quite homogeneous at large ones. As a consequence of field equations, the lattice Universe is found to expand or contract in the same way as the solution of a Friedmann Universe filled with dust having the same average density. The study of observables indicates however the possible existence of a fitting problem, i.e. the fact that the Friedmann…
Astronomical observations reveal hierarchical structures in the Universe, from galaxies, groups of galaxies, clusters and superclusters, to filaments and voids. On the largest scales it seems that some kind of statistical homogeneity can be observed. As a result, modern cosmological models are based on spatially homogeneous and isotropic solutions of the Einstein equations, and the evolution of the universe is approximated by the Friedmann equations. In parallel to standard homogeneous cosmology, the field of inhomogeneous cosmology and backreaction is being developed. This field investigates …
We consider the possibility to solve the issues of the phantom field cosmology by means of the PT-symmetric quantum theory. The Born-Oppenheimer approximation is applied to the Wheeler-DeWitt equation to study the inhomogeneous fluctuations over the homogeneous minisuperspace. The evolution of the longitudinal inhomogeneous modes in WKB-time is described using a time-dependent pseudo-Hermitian effective Hamiltonian.
Families of anisotropic and inhomogeneous string cosmologies containing non-trivial dilaton and axion fields are derived by applying the global symmetries of the string effective action to a generalized Einstein-Rosen metric. The models exhibit a two-dimensional group of Abelian isometries. In particular, two classes of exact solutions are found that represent inhomogeneous generalizations of the Bianchi type VI_h cosmology. The asymptotic behaviour of the solutions is investigated and further applications are briefly discussed.
The Gowdy cosmologies provide a suitable arena to further develop Loop Quantum Cosmology, allowing the presence of inhomogeneities. For the particular case of Gowdy spacetimes with the spatial topology of a three-torus and a content of linearly polarized gravitational waves, we detail a hybrid quantum theory in which we combine a loop quantization of the degrees of freedom that parametrize the subfamily of homogeneous solutions, which represent Bianchi I spacetimes, and a Fock quantization of the inhomogeneities. Two different theories are constructed and compared, corresponding to two differe…
We apply a hybrid approach which combines loop and Fock quantizations to fully quantize the linearly polarized Gowdy $T^3$ model in the presence of a massless scalar field with the same symmetries as the metric. Like in the absence of matter content, the application of loop techniques leads to a quantum resolution of the classical cosmological singularity. Most importantly, thanks to the inclusion of matter, the homogeneous sector of the model contains flat Friedmann-Robertson-Walker (FRW) solutions, which are not allowed in vacuo. Therefore, this model provides a simple setting to study at th…
A new method for constructing exact inhomogeneous universes is presented, that allows variation in 3 dimensions. The resulting spacetime may be statistically uniform on average, or have random, non-repeating variation. The construction utilises the Darmois junction conditions to join many different component spacetime regions. In the initial simple example given, the component parts are spatially flat and uniform, but much more general combinations should be possible. Further inhomogeneity may be added via swiss cheese vacuoles and inhomogeneous metrics. This model is used to explore the propo…
We obtain a scaling relation for spherically symmetric k-essence scalar fields $ϕ(r,t)$ for an inhomogeneous cosmology with the Lemaitre-Tolman- Bondi (LTB) metric. We show that this scaling relation reduces to the known relation for a homogeneous cosmology when the LTB metric reduces to the Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) metric under certain identifications of the metric functions. A k-essence lagrangian is set up and the Euler-Lagrangian equations solved assuming $ϕ(r,t)=ϕ_{1}(r) + ϕ_{2}(t)$. The solutions enable the LBT metric functions to be related to the fields. The LTB inhom…
We propose a scale-dependent cosmology in which the Robertson--Walker metric and the Einstein equation are modified in such a way that $Ω_0$, $H_0$ and the age of the Universe all become scale-dependent. Its implications on the observational cosmology and possible modifications of the standard Friedmann cosmology are discussed. For example, the age of the Universe in this model is longer than that of the standard model.
Saulder et al [2019, A&A, 622, A83; arXiv:1811.11976] have performed a novel observational test of the local expansion of the Universe for the standard cosmology as compared to an alternative model with differential cosmic expansion. Their analysis employs mock galaxy samples from the Millennium Simulation, a Newtonian $N$-body simulation on a $Λ$CDM background. For the differential expansion case the simulation has been deformed in an attempt to incorporate features of a particular inhomogeneous cosmology: the timescape model. It is shown that key geometrical features of the timescape cosmolo…
The spectral distortion of the cosmic microwave background blackbody spectrum in a radially inhomogeneous spacetime, designed to exactly reproduce a LambdaCDM expansion history along the past light cone, is shown to exceed the upper bound established by COBE-FIRAS by a factor of approximately 3700. This simple observational test helps uncover a slew of pathological features that lie hidden inside the past light cone, including a radially contracting phase at decoupling and, if followed to its logical extreme, a naked singularity at the radially inhomogeneous Big Bang.
We consider the loop quantization of the (diagonal) Bianchi type IX cosmological model. We explore different quantization prescriptions that extend the work of Wilson-Ewing and Singh. In particular, we study two different ways of implementing the so-called inverse triad corrections. We construct the corresponding Hamiltonian constraint operators and show that the singularity is formally resolved. We find the effective equations associated with the different quantization prescriptions, and study the relation with the isotropic $k$=1 model that, classically, is contained within the Bianchi IX mo…
The basic concepts and equations of Newtonian Cosmology are presented in the form necessary for the derivation and analysis of the averaged Navier-Stokes-Poisson equations. A particular attention is paid to the physical and cosmological hypotheses about the structure of Newtonian universes. The system of the Navier-Stokes-Poisson equations governing the cosmological dynamics of Newtonian universes is presented and discussed. A reformulation of the Navier-Stokes-Poisson equations in terms of the fluid kinematic quantities is given and the structure of this system of equations is analyzed.
A detailed study of an inhomogeneous dust cosmology contained in a $γ$-law family of perfect-fluid metrics recently presented by Mars and Senovilla is performed. The metric is shown to be the most general orthogonally transitive, Abelian, $G_2$ on $S_2$ solution admitting an additional homothety such that the self-similar group $H_3$ is of Bianchi type VI and the fluid flow is tangent to its orbits. The analogous cases with Bianchi types I, II, III, V, VIII and IX are shown to be impossible thus making this metric privileged from a mathematical viewpoint. The differential equations determining…
The Problem of Time (PoT) is a multi-faceted conceptual incompatibility between various areas of Theoretical Physics. Whilst usually stated as between GR and QM, in fact 8/9ths of it is already present at the classical level. Thus we adopt a `top-down' classical and then quantum approach. I consider a local resolution to the Problem of Time that is Machian, which was previously realized for relational triangle and minisuperspace models. This resolution has three levels: classical, semiclassical and combined semiclassical-histories-records. This article's specific model is a slightly inhomogene…
We study numerically the inhomogeneous pre-big-bang inflation in a spherically symmetric space-time. We find that a large initial inhomogeneity suppresses the onset of the pre-big-bang inflation. We also find that even if the pre-big-bang inflationary stage is realized, the initial inhomogeneities are not homogenized. Namely, during the pre-big-bang inflation ``hairs''(irregularities) do not fall, in sharp contrast to the usual (potential energy dominated) inflation where initial inhomogeneity and anisotropy are damped and thus the resulting universe is less sensitive to initial conditions.
We quantize an inhomogeneous cosmological model using techniques that include polymeric quantization. More explicitly, we construct well defined operators to represent the constraints and find the physical Hilbert space formed by their solutions, which reproduces the conventional Fock quantization for the inhomogeneities. The initial singularity is resolved in this inhomogeneous model in an extremely simple way and without imposing special boundary conditions, thus ensuring the robustness and generality of this resolution. Furthermore this quantization constitutes a well founded step towards t…
We develop approximation methods in the hybrid quantization of the Gowdy model with linear polarization and a massless scalar field, for the case of three-torus spatial topology. The loop quantization of the homogeneous gravitational sector of the Gowdy model (according to the improved dynamics prescription) and the presence of inhomogeneities lead to a very complicated Hamiltonian constraint. Therefore, the extraction of physical results calls for the introduction of well justified approximations. We first show how to approximate the homogeneous part of the Hamiltonian constraint, correspondi…
We perform three-dimensional numerical relativity simulations of homogeneous and inhomogeneous expanding spacetimes, with a view towards quantifying non-linear effects from cosmological inhomogeneities. We demonstrate fourth-order convergence with errors less than one part in 10^6 in evolving a flat, dust Friedmann-Lemaitre-Roberston-Walker (FLRW) spacetime using the Einstein Toolkit within the Cactus framework. We also demonstrate agreement to within one part in 10^3 between the numerical relativity solution and the linear solution for density, velocity and metric perturbations in the Hubble …
The Hubble tension casts a blight on the standard cosmology. As a possible solution to the problem, the local variation of the expansion rate has been proposed where the spatial averaging over a finite domain was introduced in order to restore the local Friedmannian behavior in an inhomogeneous cosmology. So far, however, the approaches are limited to the particular choices of the gauges, and it has been unclear whether the results are gauge-invariant. In this paper, we present the gauge-invariant formulation of the local expansion rate which is driven by the spatial average of the gauge-invar…
The hypothesis that dark matter and dark energy are unified through the Chaplygin gas is reexamined. Using a generalization of the spherical model which incorporates effects of the acoustic horizon we show that an initially perturbative Chaplygin gas evolves into a mixed system containing cold dark matter in the form of gravitational condensate. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the observed CMB angular and baryonic power spectra are reproduced.
We study an exact swiss-cheese model of the Universe, where inhomogeneous LTB patches are embedded in a flat FLRW background, in order to see how observations of distant sources are affected. We find negligible integrated effect, suppressed by (L/R_{H})^3 (where L is the size of one patch, and R_{H} is the Hubble radius), both perturbatively and non-perturbatively. We disentangle this effect from the Doppler term (which is much larger and has been used recently \cite{BMN} to try to fit the SN curve without dark energy) by making contact with cosmological perturbation theory.
In the framework of Loop Quantum Cosmology, inhomogeneous models are usually quantized by means of a hybrid approach that combines loop quantization techniques with standard quantum field theory methods. This approach is based on a splitting of the phase space in a homogeneous sector, formed by global, zero-modes, and an inhomogeneous sector, formed by the remaining, infinite number of modes, that describe the local degrees of freedom. Then, the hybrid quantization is attained by adopting a loop representation for the homogeneous gravitational sector, while a Fock representation is used for th…
In the framework of multidimensional $f(R)$ gravity, we study the metrics of compact extra dimensions assuming that our 4D space has the de Sitter metric. Manifolds described by such metrics could be formed at the inflationary and even higher energy scales. It is shown that in the presence of a scalar field, varying in the extra factor space $\mathbb{M}_2$, it is possible to obtain a variety of inhomogeneous metrics in $\mathbb{M}_2$. Each of these metrics leads to a certain value of the 4D cosmological constant $Λ_4$, and in particular, it is possible to obtain $Λ_4 =0$, as is confirmed by nu…
We present exact non-singular bounce solutions of general relativity in the presence of a positive cosmological constant and an electromagnetic field, without any exotic matter. The solutions are distinguished by being spatially inhomogeneous in one direction, while they can also contain non-trivial electromagnetic field lines. The inhomogeneity may be substantial, for instance, there can be one bounce in one region of the universe and two bounces elsewhere. Since the bounces are followed by a phase of accelerated expansion, the metrics described here also permit the study of (geodesically com…
Recently a new no-global-recollapse argument was given for some inhomogeneous and anisotropic cosmologies that utilizes surface deformation by the mean curvature flow. In this paper we discuss important properties of the mean curvature flow of spacelike surfaces in Lorentzian manifolds. We show that singularities may form during cosmic evolution and the theorems forbidding the global recollapse lose their validity. The time evolution of the spatial scalar curvature that may kinematically prevent the recollapse is determined in normal coordinates, which shows the impact of inhomogeneities expli…
We present a general algorithm which permits to construct solutions in string cosmology for heterotic and type-IIB superstrings in four dimensions. Using a chain of transformations applied in sequence: conformal, T-duality and SL(2,R) rotations, along with the usual generating techniques associated to Geroch transformations in Einstein frame, we obtain solutions with all relevant low-energy remnants of the string theory. To exemplify our algorithm we present an inhomogeneous string cosmology with S^3 topology of spatial sections, discuss some properties of the solution and point out some subtl…
Interest in cosmological singularities has remarkably grown in recent times, particularly on future singularities with the discovery of late-time acceleration of the universe and dark energy. While such explorations have previously been done in various modified gravity and quantum gravitationally inspired cosmologies (besides standard general relativistic cosmology), no such an endeavour has been taken up till now in the realms of renormalization group approaches to cosmology and we have hence took up on this journey. In this work, we consider the formation of cosmological singularities in an …
One possibility for explaining the apparent accelerating expansion of the universe is that we live in the center of a spherically inhomogeneous universe. Although current observations cannot fully distinguish $Λ$CDM and these inhomogeneous models, direct measurement of the acceleration of the universe can be a powerful tool in probing them. We have shown that, if $Λ$CDM is the correct model, DECIGO/BBO would be able to detect the positive redshift drift (which is the time evolution of the source redshift $z$) in 3--5 year gravitational wave (GW) observations from neutron-star binaries, which e…
An alternative to the postulate of dark energy required to explain the accelerated expansion of the universe is to adopt an inhomogeneous cosmological model to explain the supernovae data without dark energy. We adopt a void cosmology model, based on the inhomogeneous Lemaître-Tolman-Bondi solution of Einstein's field equations. The model can resolve observational anomalies in the $ΛCDM$ model, such as the discrepancy between the locally measured value of the Hubble constant, $H_0=73.24\pm 1.74\,{\rm km}\,{\rm s}^{-1}\,{\rm Mpc}^{-1}$, and the $H_0=66.93\pm 0.62\,{\rm km}\,{\rm s}^{-1}\,{\rm M…
We outline the key-steps toward the construction of a physical, fully relativistic cosmology. The influence of inhomogeneities on the effective evolution history of the Universe is encoded in backreaction terms and expressed through spatially averaged geometrical invariants. These are absent and potential candidates for the missing dark sources in the standard model. Since they can be interpreted as energies of an emerging scalar field (the morphon), we are in the position to propose a strategy of how phenomenological scalar field models for Dark Energy, Dark Matter and Inflation, that are usu…
We review spacetime dynamics in the presence of large-scale electromagnetic fields and then consider the effects of the magnetic component on perturbations to a spatially homogeneous and isotropic universe. Using covariant techniques, we refine and extend earlier work and provide the magnetohydrodynamic equations that describe inhomogeneous magnetic cosmologies in full general relativity. Specialising this system to perturbed Friedmann-Robertson-Walker models, we examine the effects of the field on the expansion dynamics and on the growth of density inhomogeneities, including non-adiabatic mod…
The current cosmological model ($Λ$CDM) with the underlying FLRW metric relies on the assumption of local isotropy, hence homogeneity of the Universe. Difficulties arise when one attempts to justify this model as an average description of the Universe from first principles of general relativity, since in general, the Einstein tensor built from the averaged metric is not equal to the averaged stress--energy tensor. In this context, the discrepancy between these quantities is called "cosmological backreaction" and has been the subject of scientific debate among cosmologists and relativists for m…
