We consider gravity theory with varying speed of light and varying gravitational constant. Both constants are represented by non-minimally coupled scalar fields. We examine the cosmological evolution in the near curvature singularity regime. We find that at the curvature singularity the speed of light goes to infinity while the gravitational constant vanishes. This corresponds to the Newton's Mechanics limit represented by one of the vertex of the Bronshtein-Zelmanov-Okun cube. The cosmological evolution includes both the pre-big-bang and post-big-bang phases separated by the curvature singularity. We also investigate the quantum counterpart of the considered theory and find the probability of transition of the universe from the collapsing pre-big-bang phase to the expanding post-big-bang phase.
We discuss non-minimally coupled cosmologies involving different geometric invariants. Specifically, actions containing a non-minimally coupled scalar field to gravity described, in turn, by curvature, torsion and Gauss--Bonnet scalars are considered. We show that couplings, potentials and kinetic terms are determined by the existence of Noether symmetries which, moreover, allows to reduce and solve dynamics. The main finding of the paper is that different non-minimally coupled theories, presenting the same Noether symmetries, are dynamically equivalent. In other words, Noether symmetries are …
We compare theoretical predictions with observations for a class of cosmological models in which the dark energy component is modeled as a fermionic condensate, non-minimally coupled with the gravitational field and characterized by some specific self-interaction potentials. Our analysis is based on the Markov Chain Monte Carlo Method (MCMC) and employs different data sets. It turns out that with an appropriate choice of parameters our models are fully compatible with several observed data. We combine these parameter values with phase space analysis to deduce the features of the entire cosmic …
Scalar fields coupled to gravity via $ξR Φ^2$ in arbitrary Friedmann-Robertson-Walker backgrounds can be represented by an effective flat space field theory. We derive an expression for the scalar energy density where the effective scalar mass becomes an explicit function of $ξ$ and the scale factor. The scalar quartic self-coupling gets shifted and can vanish for a particular choice of $ξ$. Gravitationally induced symmetry breaking and de-stabilization are possible in this theory.
In this paper we consider a third quantized cosmological model with varying speed of light $c$ and varying gravitational constant $G$ both represented by non-minimally coupled scalar fields. The third quantization of such a model leads to a scenario of the doubleverse with the two components being quantum mechanically entangled. We calculate the two parameters describing the entanglement, namely: the energy and the entropy of entanglement where the latter appears to be a proper measure of the entanglement. We consider a possibility that the entanglement can manifests itself as an effective per…
We present an analysis of the phase space of cosmological models based on a non minimal coupling between the geometry and a fermionic condensate. We obtain that the strong constraint coming from the Dirac equations allows a detailed design of the cosmology of these models and at the same time guarantees an evolution towards a state indistinguishable from General Relativistic cosmological models. In this light, we show how the use of some specific potentials is able to reproduce naturally two de Sitter phases separated by a power law expansion which could be an interesting model for the unifica…
Recent works showing that homogeneous and isotropic cosmologies involving scalar fields correspond to geodesics of certain augmented spaces are generalized to the non-minimal coupling case. As the Maupertuis-Jacobi principle in classical mechanics, this result allows us, in principle, to infer some of the dynamical properties of the cosmologies from the geometry of the associated augmented spaces.
In this contribution we summarize two recent applications of a correspondence between backreaction terms in averaged inhomogeneous cosmologies and an effective scalar field (the `morphon'). Backreaction terms that add to the standard sources of Friedmannian kinematical laws and that emerge from geometrical curvature invariants built from inhomogeneities, can be interpreted in terms of a minimally coupled scalar field in the case of a dust matter source. We consider closure conditions of the averaged equations that lead to different evolution scenarii: a) the standard Chaplygin equation of stat…
We show that the scalar-tensor $σ$-model action is conformally equivalent to general relativity with a minimally coupled wavemap with a particular target metric. Inflation on the source manifold is then shown to occur in a natural way due both to the arbitrary curvature couplings and the wavemap self-interactions.
By using a bottom-up reconstruction technique for non-minimally coupled scalar-tensor theories, we realize the Einstein frame attractor cosmologies in the $Ω(ϕ)$-Jordan frame. For our approach, what is needed for the reconstruction method to work is the functional form of the non-minimal coupling $Ω(ϕ)$ and of the scalar-to-tensor ratio, and also the assumption of the slow-roll inflation in the $Ω(ϕ)$-Jordan frame. By appropriately choosing the scalar-to-tensor ratio, we demonstrate that the observational indices of the attractor cosmologies can be realized directly in the $Ω(ϕ)$-Jordan frame.…
The field equations of Brans-Dicke gravity coupled to a mass-varying vector field are derived. Anisotropic cosmological solutions with a locally rotationally symmetric Bianchi type I metric and time-dependent scalar and electric vector fields are studied. A particular class of exact solutions for which all the variable parameters have a power-law time dependence is given. The universe expands with a constant expansion anisotropy within this class of solutions. We show that the accelerating expansion is driven by the scalar field and the electric vector field can be interpreted as an anisotropi…
We study cosmologies in the Randall-Sundrum models, incorporating the possibility of time-varying speed of light and Newton's constant. The cosmologies with varying speed of light (VSL) were proposed by Moffat and by Albrecht and Magueijo as an alternative to inflation for solving the cosmological problems. We consider the case in which the speed of light varies with time after the radion or the scale of the extra dimension has been stabilized. We elaborate on the conditions under which the flatness problem and the cosmological constant problem can be resolved. We find that the RS models are m…
We contrast features of simple varying speed of light (VSL) cosmologies with inflationary universe models. We present new features of VSL cosmologies and show that they face problems explaining the cosmological isotropy problem. We also find that if c falls fast enough to solve the flatness and horizon problems then the quantum wavelengths of massive particle states and the radii of primordial black holes can grow to exceed the scale of the particle horizon. This may provide VSL cosmologies with a self-reproduction property. The constraint of entropy increase is also discussed. The new problem…
We study a toy model for phantom cosmology recently introduced in the literature and consisting of two oscillators, one of which carries negative kinetic energy. The results are compared with the exact phase space picture obtained for similar dynamical systems describing, respectively, a massive canonical scalar field conformally coupled to the spacetime curvature, and a conformally coupled massive phantom. Finally, the dynamical system describing exactly a minimally coupled phantom is studied and compared with the toy model.
We define the flatness and quasi-flatness problems in cosmological models. We seek solutions to both problems in homogeneous and isotropic Brans-Dicke cosmologies with varying speed of light. We formulate this theory and find perturbative, non-perturbative, and asymptotic solutions using both numerical and analytical methods. For a particular range of variations of the speed of light the flatness problem can be solved. Under other conditions there exists a late-time attractor with a constant value of Ωthat is smaller than, but of order, unity. Thus these theories may solve the quasi-flatness p…
Although the standard cosmological model explains most of the observed phenomena it still struggles with the problem of initial singularity. An interesting scenario in which the problem of the initial singularity is somehow circumvented was proposed in the context of string theory where the canonical quantisation procedure was additionally applied. A similar effect can be achieved in the context of the canonically quantized theory with varying speed of light and varying gravitational constant where both quantities are represented by non-minimally coupled scalar fields. Such theory contains bot…
We obtain the current constraint on the minimally extended varying speed of light (meVSL) model by analyzing cosmic distance duality relation (CCDDR) of it, $D_{L}/D_{A}(1+z)^{-2} = (1+z)^{b/8}$. We use the Pantheon type Ia supernova (SNIa) data, the Hubble parameter $H(z)$ using the cosmic chronometers approach, and the cosmic microwave background (CMB) distance priors from the latest Planck data. We find that the current data show the 1-$σ$ deviation from the standard CCDDR. Thus, this provides the constraint on meVSL model and future precision observations might be able to put stronger cons…
We investigate the dynamical features of a large family of running vacuum cosmologies for which $Λ$ evolves as a polynomial in the Hubble parameter. Specifically, using the critical point analysis we study the existence and the stability of singular solutions which describe de-Sitter, radiation and matter dominated eras. We find several classes of $Λ(H)$ cosmologies for which new analytical solutions are given in terms of Laurent expansions. Finally, we show that the Milne universe and the $R_{h}=ct$ model can be seen as perturbations around a specific $Λ(H)$ model, but this model is unstable.
We study the possible singularities of isotropic cosmological models that have a varying speed of light as well as a varying gravitational constant. The field equations typically reduce to two dimensional systems which are then analyzed both by dynamical systems techniques in phase space and by applying the method of asymptotic splittings. In the general case we find initially expanding closed models which recollapse to a future singularity and open universes that are eternally expanding towards the future. The precise nature of the singularities is also discussed.
We have found exact constant solutions for the cosmological density parameter using a generalization of general relativity that incorporates a cosmic time-variation of the velocity of light in vacuum and the Newtonian gravitation constant. We have determined the conditions when these solutions are attractors for an expanding universe and solved the problems of the Standard Big Bang model for perfect fluids.
We analyse a generalisation of general relativity that incorporates a cosmic time-variation of the velocity of light in vacuum, $c,$ and the Newtonian gravitation 'constant', $G,$ proposed by Albrecht and Maguejo. We find exact solutions for Friedmann universes and determine the rate of variation of $c$ required to solve the flatness and classical cosmological constant problems. Potential problems with this approach to the resolution of the flatness and classical cosmological constant problems are highlighted. Reformulations are suggested which give the theory a more desirable limit as a theor…
Starting from the inhomogeneous shear--free Nariai metric we show, by solving the Einstein--Klein--Gordon field equations, how a self--interacting scalar field plus a material fluid, a variable cosmological term and a heat flux can drive the universe to its currently observed state of homogeneous accelerated expansion. A quintessence scenario where power-law inflation takes place for a string-motivated potential in the late--time dominated field regime is proposed.
We examine theories of gravity which include finitely many coupled scalar fields with arbitrary couplings to the curvature (wavemaps). We show that the most general scalar-tensor $σ$-model action is conformally equivalent to general relativity with a minimally coupled wavemap with a particular target metric. Inflation on the source manifold is then shown to occur in a novel way due to the combined effect of arbitrary curvature couplings and wavemap self-interactions. A new interpretation of the conformal equivalence theorem proved for such `wavemap-tensor' theories through brane-bulk dynamics …
In the context of averaged cosmologies, the effective equations can be written in the form of "regional" Friedmannian equations with additional sources arising from the so-called backreaction of inhomogeneities. We propose a mean field description of this backreaction in terms of a regionally homogeneous scalar field: this provides a physical motivation to the phenomenological scalar fields generically called quintessence fields. We explicitly reconstruct the potential of the scalar field for a one-parameter family of scaling solutions to the backreaction problem, showing that it entails most …
We determine the behaviour of a time-varying fine structure 'constant' $α(t)$ during the early and late phases of universes dominated by the kinetic energy of changing $α(t)$, radiation, dust, curvature, and lambda, respectively. We show that after leaving an initial vacuum-dominated phase during which $α$ increases, $α$ remains constant in universes like our own during the radiation era, and then increases slowly, proportional to a logarithm of cosmic time, during the dust era. If the universe becomes dominated by negative curvature or a positive cosmological constant then $α$ tends rapidly t…
We study the spherical collapse model in dark energy cosmologies, in which dark energy is modelled as a minimally coupled scalar field. We first follow the standard assumption that dark energy does not cluster on the scales of interest. Investigating four different popular potentials in detail, we show that the predictions of the spherical collapse model depend on the potential used. We also investigate the dependence on the initial conditions. Secondly, we investigate in how far perturbations in the quintessence field affect the predictions of the spherical collapse model. In doing so, we ass…
Scalar-tensor Cosmologies can be dealt under the standard of the Hojman conservation theorem that allows to fix the form of the coupling $F(ϕ)$, of the potential $V(ϕ)$ and to find out exact solutions for related cosmological models. Specifically, the existence of a symmetry transformation vector for the equations of motion gives rise to a Hojman conserved quantity on the corresponding minisuperpace and exact solutions for the cosmic scale factor $a$ and the scalar field $ϕ$ can be achieved. In particular, we take advantage of the fact that minimally coupled solutions, previously obtained in t…
The scale factor duality is a symmetry of dilaton gravity which is known to lead to pre-big-bang cosmologies. A conformal time version of the scale factor duality (SFD) was recently implemented as a UV/IR symmetry between decelerated and accelerated phases of the post-big-bang evolution within Einstein gravity coupled to a scalar field. The problem investigated in the present paper concerns the employment of the conformal time SFD methods to the construction of pre-big-bang and cyclic extensions of these models. We demonstrate that each big-bang model gives rise to two qualitatively different …
This thesis contributes to the field of gravitational lensing (GL) and observational cosmology. We discuss the use of gravitational lensing as a tool in search of exotic objects in the Universe. In the next chapter the concordance of an alternative cosmological model with the current gravitational lensing observations is explored and also a non-minimally coupled effective gravity theory that supports non-topological solitonic solutions is considered. In the last chapter we study propagation of light in strong gravitational field. Using geometrical optics approach we show that massless particle…
We study the evolution of a flat Friedmann-Robertson-Walker Universe, filled with a bulk viscous cosmological fluid, in the presence of time varying ``constants''. The dimensional analysis of the model suggests a proportionality between the bulk viscous pressure of the dissipative fluid and the energy density. On using this assumption and with the choice of the standard equations of state for the bulk viscosity coefficient, temperature and relaxation time, the general solution of the field equations can be obtained, with all physical parameters having a power-law time dependence. The symmetry …
We generalize the Bekenstein-Sandvik-Barrow-Magueijo (BSBM) model for the variation of the fine structure 'constant', $α,$ to include an exponential or inverse power-law self-potential for the scalar field $% ϕ$ which drives the time variation of $α$, and consider the dynamics of $ϕ$ in such models. We find solutions for the evolution of $ϕ$ or $α$ in matter-, radiation- and dark-energy-dominated cosmic eras. In general, the evolution of $ϕ$ is well determined solely by either the self-potential or the coupling to matter, depending on the model parameters. The results are general and applicabl…
The scalar field degree of freedom in Einstein's plus Matter field equations is decoupled for Bianchi type I and V general cosmological models. The source, apart from the minimally coupled scalar field with arbitrary potential V(Phi), is provided by a perfect fluid obeying a general equation of state p =p(rho). The resulting ODE is, by an appropriate choice of final time gauge affiliated to the scalar field, reduced to 1st order, and then the system is completely integrated for arbitrary choices of the potential and the equation of state.
We consider multidimensional gravity with a Lagrangian containing the Ricci tensor squared and the Kretschmann invariant. In a Kaluza-Klein approach with a single compact extra space of arbitrary dimension, with the aid of a slow-change approximation (as compared with the Planck scale), we build a class of spatially flat cosmological models in which both the observed scale factor $a(τ)$ and the extra-dimensional one, $b(τ)$, grow exponentially at large times, but $b(τ)$ grows slowly enough to admit variations of the effective gravitational constant $G$ within observational limits. Such models …
The total canonical (Liouville-Henneaux-Gibbons-Hawking-Stewart) measure is finite for completely nonsingular Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker classical universes with a minimally coupled massive scalar field and a positive cosmological constant. For a cosmological constant very small in units of the square of the scalar field mass, most of the measure is for nearly de Sitter solutions with no inflation at a much more rapid rate. However, if one restricts to solutions in which the scalar field energy density is ever more than twice the equivalent energy density of the cosmological constant,…
Varying physical constant cosmologies were claimed to solve standard cosmological problems such as the horizon, the flatness and the $Λ$-problem. In this paper, we suggest yet another possible application of these theories: solving the singularity problem. By specifying some examples we show that various cosmological singularities may be regularized provided the physical constants evolve in time in an appropriate way.
Contrary to the general belief, there has recently been quite a few examples of unitary evolution of quantum cosmological models. The present work gives more examples, namely Bianchi type VI and type II. These examples are important as they involve varying spatial curvature unlike the most talked about homogeneous but anisotropic cosmological models like Bianchi I, V and IX. We exhibit either explicit example of the unitary solutions of the Wheeler-DeWitt equation, or at least show that a self-adjoint extension is possible.
Using a gauge-invariant formalism we derive and solve the perturbed cosmological equations for the BSBM theory of varying fine structure 'constant'. We calculate the time evolution of inhomogeneous perturbations of the fine structure constant, $\frac{δα}α$ on small and large scales with respect to the Hubble radius. In a radiation-dominated universe small inhomogeneities in $α$ will decrease on large scales but on scales smaller than the Hubble radius they will undergo stable oscillations. In a dust-dominated universe small inhomogeneous perturbations in $α$ will become constant on large scale…
The accelerated expansion of the universe is a rather established fact in cosmology and many different models have been proposed as a viable explanation. Many of these models are based on the standard general relativistic framework of non-interacting fluids or more recently of coupled (interacting) dark energy models, where dark energy (the scalar field) is coupled to the dark matter component giving rise to a fifth-force. An interesting alternative is to couple the scalar field directly to the gravity sector via the Ricci scalar. These models are dubbed non-minimally coupled models and give r…
Assuming that curvature perturbations and gravitational waves originally arise from vacuum fluctuations in a matter-dominated phase of contraction, we study the dynamics of the cosmological perturbations evolving through a nonsingular bouncing phase described by a generic single scalar field Lagrangian minimally coupled to Einstein gravity. In order for such a model to be consistent with the current upper limits on the tensor-to-scalar ratio, there must be an enhancement of the curvature fluctuations during the bounce phase. We show that, while it remains possible to enlarge the amplitude of c…
We investigate the virialization of cosmic structures in the framework of flat FLRW cosmological models, in which the vacuum energy density evolves with time. In particular, our analysis focuses on the study of spherical matter perturbations, as they decouple from the background expansion, "turn around" and finally collapse. We generalize the spherical collapse model in the case when the vacuum energy is a running function of the Hubble rate, $Λ=Λ(H)$. A particularly well motivated model of this type is the so-called quantum field vacuum, in which $Λ(H)$ is a quadratic function, $Λ(H)=n_0+n_2\…
We investigate the Universe at the late stage of its evolution and inside the cell of uniformity 150-370 Mpc. We consider the Universe to be filled at these scales with dust like matter, a minimally coupled Galileon field and radiation. We use the mechanical approach. Therefore, the peculiar velocities of the inhomogeneities as well as the fluctuations of the other perfect fluids can be considered nonrelativistic. Such fluids are said to be coupled because they are concentrated around the inhomogeneities. We investigate the conditions under which the physical Galileon field, i.e. compatible wi…
We present exact inhomogeneous and anisotropic cosmological solutions of low-energy string theory containing dilaton and axion fields. The spacetime metric possesses cylindrical symmetry. The solutions describe ever-expanding universes with an initial curvature singularity and contain known homogeneous solutions as subcases. The asymptotic form of the solution near the initial singularity has a spatially-varying Kasner-like form. The inhomogeneous axion and dilaton fields are found to evolve quasi-homogeneously on scales larger than the particle horizon. When the inhomogeneities enter the hori…
We study evolution of a flat Friedmann-Robertson Walker universe filled with a bulk viscous cosmological fluid in a higher derivative theory of gravity in the presence of time varying gravitational and cosmological constant. Cosmological models admitting both power-law and exponential expansions are explored here in the presence of imperfect fluid described by full Israel and Stewart theory. We note some new and interesting cosmological solutions relevant for model building including present accelerating phase. In the case of power law, it is found that gravitational constant increases as the …
We propose a large class of nonsingular cosmologies of arbitrary spatial curvature whose cosmic history is determined by a primeval dynamical $Λ(t)$-term. For all values of the curvature, the models evolve between two extreme de Sitter phases driven by the relic time-varying vacuum energy density. The transition from inflation to the radiation phase is universal and points to a natural solution of the graceful exit problem regardless of the values of the curvature parameter. The flat case recovers the scenario recently discussed in the literature (Perico et al., Phys. Rev. D88, 063531, 2013). …
We generalize the cosmological duality between inflation and cyclic contraction under the interchange $a \leftrightarrow H$ to the case of non-canonical scalar field theories with varying speed of sound. The single duality in the canonical case generalizes to a family of three dualities constructed to leave the cosmological acoustic horizon invariant. We find three classes of models: (I) DBI inflation, (II) the non-canonical generalization of cyclic contraction, and (III) a new cosmological solution with rapidly decreasing speed of sound and relatively slowly growing scale factor, which we dub…
We consider generic models of quintessence and we investigate the influence of massive neutrino matter with field-dependent masses on the matter power spectrum. In case of minimally coupled neutrino matter, we examine the effect in tracker models with inverse power-law and double exponential potentials. We present detailed investigations for the scaling field with a steep exponential potential, non-minimally coupled to massive neutrino matter, and we derive constraints on field-dependent neutrino masses from the observational data.
This paper generalizes two previously known techniques for generating minimally coupled Einstein-scalar field solutions in 4 dimensions; the Buchdahl and Fonarev transformations. By applying this solution generation technique, minimally coupled Einstein-scalar field solutions can be generated from vacuum solutions with arbitrary cosmological constant in arbitrary dimension. The only requirement to a seed solution is that it posesses a hypersurface-orthogonal Killing vector field. The generalization that allows us to use seed solutions with arbitrary cosmological constant uncovers a new class o…
We study a model of scalar field with kinetic terms non-minimally coupled to to the curvature, and the scalar field coupled to the Gauss Bonnet 4-dimensional invariant. A variety of solutions are found, giving rise to different cosmological scenarios. A unified description of early time matter (radiation) dominance with transitions to late time quintessence and phantom phases have been made. Among others, we found solutions unifying asymptotically the early power law behavior and late time cosmological constant. Solutions of Chaplygin gas and generalized Chaplygin gas cosmologies have also bee…
We take a Dirac field non-minimally coupled to the gravitational field within the framework of the Poincaré gauge theory of gravity with torsion and curvature. We study the subcase of "weak" gravity, that is, the gravitational Lagrangian depends only linearly on the curvature and quadratically on the torsion. We include all pieces in curvature and torsion that are of odd parity. The second field equation of gravity is derived by varying the Lorentz connection. We solve it with respect to the torsion and decompose the first field equation of gravity and the Dirac equation into Einsteinian piece…
