Conformally Invariant Scalar-Vector-Tensor Field Theories Consistent with Conservation of Charge in a Four-Dimensional Space
Gregory W. Horndeski
备注：
40 pages. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1708.09293 In this revised edition, I have added some additional important references, and corrected some glaring typos
In a four-dimensional space I shall construct all of the conformally invariant, scalar-vector-tensor field theories that are consistent with conservation of charge, and flat space compatible. By the last assumption I mean that the Lagrangian of the theory in question is well defined and differentiable when evaluated for either a flat metric tensor, (and) or constant scalar field, (and) or vanishing vector potential. The Lagrangian of any such field theory can be chosen to be a linear combination of six conformally invariant scalar-vector-tensor Lagrangians, with the coefficients being scalar functions of the scalar field. Five of these generating Lagrangians are at most of second-order, while the sixth one is of third-order. However, the third-order Lagrangian differs from a non-conformally invariant second-order Lagrangian by a divergence. Consequently, all of the conformally invariant scalar-vector-tensor field theories that are consistent with conservation of charge, and flat space compatible, can be obtained from a second-order Lagrangian. The vector equation of any such theory is at most of second-order, and is an extension of Maxwell's equations, incorporating two other first-order terms that vanish when the scalar field is constant. Hence in regions where the scalar field is constant, the vector equation reduces to Maxwell's.
In this paper I shall construct, in a four-dimensional space, all vector-tensor field theories that are conformally invariant, consistent with conservation of charge, and flat space compatible. By the last assumption I mean that the Lagrangian of the theory in question, is well defined and differentiable, when evaluated for either a flat metric tensor (and) or vanishing vector field. Under these assumptions there exists only two classes of Lagrangians. One is represented by the Lagrangian which yields the Bach tensor density multiplied by a constant, while the other is represented by a constan…
In a four-dimensional space, I shall construct all of the conformally invariant scalar-tensor field theories, which are flat space compatible; i.e., well-defined and differentiable when evaluated for a flat metric tensor and constant scalar field. It will be shown that all such field theories must be at most of fourth-order in the derivatives of the field variables. The Lagrangian of any such field theory can be chosen to be a linear combination of four conformally invariant scalar-tensor Lagrangians, with the coefficients being functions of the scalar field. Three of these "generating" Lagran…
The classification problem for conformally-flat space-times that admit a separation of variables in the Hamilton-Jacobi equation of the scalar-tensor Brans-Dicke theory of gravity is examined. The field equations of the scalar-tensor theory of Brans and Dicke for conformally-flat Stackel space-times of type (1.1) are solved. An explicit form of the metric tensor and scalar field is obtained.
We extend previous work on conformally covariant differential operators to consider the case of second order operators acting on symmetric traceless tensor fields. The corresponding flat space Green function is explicitly constructed and shown to be in accord with the requirements of conformal invariance.
Scalar tensor theories can be expressed in different frames, such as the commonly-used Einstein and Jordan frames, and it is generally accepted that cosmological observables are the same in these frames. We revisit this by making a detailed side-by-side comparison of the quantities and equations in two conformally related frames, from the actions and fully covariant field equations to the linearised equations in both real and Fourier spaces. This confirms that the field and conservation equations are equivalent in the two frames, in the sense that we can always re-express equations in one fram…
We study transverse-tracefree (TT)-tensors on conformally flat 3-manifolds $(M,g)$. The Cotton-York tensor linearized at $g$ maps every symmetric tracefree tensor into one which is TT. The question as to whether this is the general solution to the TT-condition is viewed as a cohomological problem within an elliptic complex first found by Gasqui and Goldschmidt and reviewed in the present paper. The question is answered affirmatively when $M$ is simply connected and has vanishing 2nd de Rham cohomology.
Using a conformal version of the Bianchi I metric and a perfect fluid energy-momentum tensor, we show that the resulting Einstein field equations are equivalent to a generalized Ermakov-Milne-Pinney equation. Using a transformation analogous to the known correspondence between the classical EMP and a linear Schrödinger equation, we then construct the linear Schrödinger formulation for this cosmological model. Also, a note is included to show the extra term that arises when the energy-momentum tensor is taken to include a second term in addition to the scalar field.
We discuss expansions for the Cotton-York tensor near infinity for arbitrary slices of stationary spacetimes. From these expansions it follows directly that a necessary condition for the existence of conformally flat slices in stationary solutions is the vanishing of a certain quantity of quadrupolar nature (obstruction). The obstruction is nonzero for the Kerr solution. Thus, the Kerr metric admits no conformally flat slices. An analysis of higher orders in the expansions of the Cotton-York tensor for solutions such that the obstruction vanishes suggests that the only stationary solution admi…
In Paper II [N. G. Phillips and B. L. Hu, previous abstract] we presented the details for the regularization of the noise kernel of a quantum scalar field in optical spacetimes by the modified point separation scheme, and a Gaussian approximation for the Green function. We worked out the regularized noise kernel for two examples: hot flat space and optical Schwarzschild metric. In this paper we consider noise kernels for a scalar field in the Schwarzschild black hole. Much of the work in the point separation approach is to determine how the divergent piece conformally transforms. For the Schwa…
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The correspondence between the thermodynamic energy equation satisfied by a closed co-moving volume and the conservation equation satisfied by the energy-momentum tensor of the matter inside the co-moving volume is extended to a more general system with an arbitrary cosmological horizon and a heat source. The energy of the system consisting of a cosmological horizon and its internal matter could be conserved by defining a surface energy on the horizons. Therefore, energy conservation and energy-momentum tensor conservation can always be consistent for such a system. On the other hand, from the…
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A quantum-field model of the conformally flat space is formulated using a standard field-theoretical technique, a probability interpretation and a way to establish the classical limit. The starting point is the following: after conformal transformation of the Einstein -- Hilbert action, the conformal factor represents a scalar field with the negative kinetical term and the self-interaction inspired by the cosmological constant. (It has been found that quanta of such action have a negative value as a sequence of the negative energy.) The metric energy-momentum tensor of this scalar field is pro…
''Massless'' spin-2 field equation in de Sitter space, which is invariant under the conformal transformation, has been obtained. The frame work utilized is the symmetric rank-2 tensor field of the conformal group. Our method is based on the group theoretical approach and six-cone formalism, initially introduced by Dirac. Dirac's six-cone is used to obtain conformally invariant equations on de Sitter space. The solution of the physical sector of massless spin-2 field (linear gravity) in de Sitter ambient space is written as a product of a generalized polarization tensor and a massless minimally…
The condition for the vanishing of the Weyl tensor is integrated in the spherically symmetric case. Then, the resulting expression is used to find new, conformally flat, interior solutions to Einstein equations for locally anisotropic fluids. The slow evolution of these models is contrasted with the evolution of models with similar energy density or radial pressure distribution but non-vanishing Weyl tensor, thereby bringing out the different role played by the Weyl tensor, the local anisotropy of pressure and the inhomogeneity of the energy density in the collapse of relativistic spheres.
Koutras has proposed some methods to construct reducible proper conformal Killing tensors and Killing tensors (which are, in general, irreducible) when a pair of orthogonal conformal Killing vectors exist in a given space. We give the completely general result demonstrating that this severe restriction of orthogonality is unnecessary. In addition we correct and extend some results concerning Killing tensors constructed from a single conformal Killing vector. A number of examples demonstrate how it is possible to construct a much larger class of reducible proper conformal Killing tensors and Ki…
Considered a unified field theory approach describing matter and space (metric tensor) by means of a 3-index tensor $P^{i}_{jk}$. It is shown that if the Lagrangian has partial U(1) gauge (semi-gauge) of the type $P^{i}_{jk}->P^{i}_{jk}+a δ{^i_j} ϕ{_{,k}}+b δ{^i_k} ϕ{_{,j}}+cg_{jk}g^{mi} ϕ{_{,m}}$ where a,b,c are constants, then the Euler equations of motion contain the covariant low of conservation in the form $J^{k}_{;k}=0$.
We present general formulas for transverse and transverse-traceless (TT) symmetric tensors in flat spaces. TT tensors in conformally flat spaces can be obtained by means of a conformal transformation.
A unique constraint is defined within the framework of scalar-tensor theories, whereby the conformal factor is fixed to the fluctuation associated to the effective mass of the Hamilton-Jacobi equation for a Klein-Gordon field. The effective mass is extended to its exponential form to remove any ghost (energy) states. The constraint's Lagrange multiplier $λ$, referred to as the mediating field, is shown to act as a mediator between the scalar and tensor degrees of freedom. In its linear form, Heisenberg's uncertainty principle appears as a natural artifact of the mediating field. In its exponen…
Some years ago Koutras presented a method of constructing a conformal Killing tensor from a pair of orthogonal conformal Killing vectors. When the vector associated with the conformal Killing tensor is a gradient, a Killing tensor (in general irreducible) can then be constructed. In this paper it is shown that the severe restriction of orthogonality is unnecessary and thus it is possible that many more Killing tensors can be constructed in this way. We also extend, and in one case correct, some results on Killing tensors constructed from a single conformal Killing vector. Weir's result that, f…
The transverse and trace-free (TT) part of the extrinsic curvature represents half of the dynamical degrees of freedom of the gravitational field in the $3 + 1$ formalism. As such, it is part of the freely specifiable initial data for numerical relativity. Though TT tensors in 3-space possess only two component degrees of freedom, they cannot ordinarily be given solely by two scalar potentials. Such expressions have been derived however, in coordinate form, for all TT tensors in flat space which are also translationally or axially symmetric (Conboye and Ó Murchadha 2014 \emph{Class. Quantum Gr…
The quantum stress tensor near a three-dimensional black hole is studied for a conformally coupled scalar field. The back reaction to the metric is also investigated.
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…
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The special conformal transformation (composed by inversion - translation - inversion) is used to generate a time dependent conformally flat spacetime. In order to be an exact solution of Einstein's equations, we need as a source a stress tensor corresponding to an anisotropic fluid with negative regular energy density and positive pressures. For the static approximation, the generators of the infinitesimal transformation resemble those recently obtained by Majhi and Padmanabhan for the coordinate transformation leading to the "near horizon" Schwarzschild metric in Kruskal coordinates. The sta…
The Chevreton superenergy tensor was introduced in 1964 as a counterpart, for electromagnetic fields, of the well-known Bel-Robinson tensor of the gravitational field. We here prove the unnoticed facts that, in the absence of electromagnetic currents, Chevreton's tensor (i) is completely symmetric, and (ii) has a trace-free divergence if Einstein-Maxwell equations hold. It follows that the trace of the Chevreton tensor is a rank-2, symmetric, trace-free, {\em conserved} tensor, which is different from the energy-momentum tensor, and nonetheless can be constructed for any test Maxwell field, or…
We provide a classification of $Λ>0$-vacuum spacetimes which admit a Killing vector field with respect to which the associated "Mars-Simon tensor" (MST) vanishes and having a conformally flat $\mathcal{J}^-$ (or $\mathcal{J}^+$). To that end, we also give a complete classification of conformal Killing vector fields on the $3$-sphere $\mathbb{S}^3$ up to Möbius transformations shedding light on the two fundamental constants that characterize the family of Kerr-de Sitter-like spacetimes, which turn out to be well-defined geometrical invariants. The topology of $\mathcal{J}$ is determined in ever…
The "conformal mass prescriptions" were used recently to calculate the mass of spacetimes in higher dimensional and higher curvature theories of gravity. These definitions are closely related to Komar integrals for spacetimes that are conformally flat at great distances from the sources. We derive these relations without using the conformal infinity formalism.
Critical collapse in tensor-multi-scalar gravity theories is studied, and found that for any given target space all the theories conformally related belong to the same universal class. When only one scalar field is present, the universality is extended to include a class of non-linear gravity theories.
We show that the definition of proper time for Weyl-invariant space-times given by Perlick naturally extends to spaces with arbitrary non-metricity. We then discuss the relation between this generalized proper time and the Ehlers-Pirani-Schild definition of time when there is arbitrary non-metricity. Then we show how this generalized proper time suffers from a second clock effect. Assuming that muons are a device to measure this proper time, we constrain the non-metricity tensor on Earth's surface and then elaborate on the feasibility of such assumption.
In this paper a thorough study of the normal form and the first integrability conditions arising from {\em bi-conformal vector fields} is presented. These new symmetry transformations were introduced in {\em Class. Quantum Grav.}\textbf{21}, 2153-2177 and some of their basic properties were addressed there. Bi-conformal vector fields are defined on a pseudo-Riemannian manifold through the differential conditions $\lie P_{ab}=ϕP_{ab}$ and $\lieΠ_{ab}=χΠ_{ab}$ where $P_{ab}$ and $Π_{ab}$ are orthogonal and complementary projectors with respect to the metric tensor $\rmg_{ab}$. One of the main re…
We present a class of conformally flat solutions of the Einstein's field equations for spherical systems undergoing gravitational collapse accompanied with radial heat flux. The interior space-time of the collapsing matter is chosen to be conformal to the Robertson-Walker space-time so that its Weyl tensor vanishes identically. The conditions which ensure smooth matching of the interior space-time of the collapsing system, across its boundary, with the exterior space-time of a radiating star which is described by Vaidya metric lead to an equation governing its overall subsequent evolution. New…
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.
This work investigates the possibility of achieving a conformally flat slicing of the Kerr spacetime. We consider a hypersurface of the form $t = F(r,θ,a)$, where $(t,r,θ,ϕ)$ are the Boyer-Lindquist coordinates, solve for a vanishing Cotton-York tensor of the induced metric order by order in the spin parameter $a$, and show that the procedure fails at the fifth order. We also prove that no coordinate change can induce a spatially flat recasting of the Kerr(-de Sitter) metric, beyond linear order in $a$, adopting a more general ansatz depending on $ϕ$.
We show that the Plebanski-Demianski spacetime persists as a solution of General Relativity when the theory is supplemented with both, a conformally coupled scalar theory and with quadratic curvature corrections. The quadratic terms are of two types and are given by quadratic combinations of the Riemann tensor as well as a higher curvature interaction constructed with a scalar field which is conformally coupled to quadratic terms in the curvature. The later is built in terms of a four-rank tensor $S_{μν}^{\ \ λρ}$ that depends on the Riemann tensor and the scalar field, and that transforms cov…
This brief paper investigates the consequences for the metric tensor of space-time when the Weyl tensor (in its conformally invariant form) and the energy-momentum tensor is specified. It is shown that, unless rather special conditions hold, the metric is uniquely determined up to a constant conformal factor.
Two essential properties of energy-momentum tensors T_{μν} are their positivity and conservation. This is mathematically formalized by, respectively, an energy condition, as the dominant energy condition, and the vanishing of their divergence \nabla^μT_{μν}=0. The classical Bel and Bel-Robinson superenergy tensors, generated from the Riemann and Weyl tensors, respectively, are rank-4 tensors. But they share these two properties with energy momentum tensors: the Dominant Property (DP) and the divergence-free property in the absence of sources (vacuum). Senovilla defined a universal algebraic co…
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 …
In a previous work [S. Rahbardehghan et al. in Phys. Lett. B 750, 627 (2015)], we considered a simple brane-world model; a single $4$-dimensional brane embedded in a $5$-dimensional de Sitter (dS) space-time. Then, by including a conformally coupled scalar field in the bulk, we studied the induced Casimir energy-momentum tensor. Technically, the Krein-Gupta-Bleuler (KGB) quantization scheme as a covariant and renormalizable quantum field theory in dS space was used to perform the calculations. In the present paper, we generalize this study to a less idealized, but physically motivated, scenari…
The lecture explains the geometric basis for the recently-discovered nonholonomic mapping principle which specifies certain laws of nature in spacetimes with curvature and torsion from those in flat spacetime, thus replacing and extending Einstein's equivalence principle. An important consequence is a new action principle for determining the equation of motion of a free spinless point particle in such spacetimes. Surprisingly, this equation contains a torsion force, although the action involves only the metric. This force changes geodesic into autoparallel trajectories, which are a direct mani…
In this work we present a geometric identity involving the Bel-Robinson tensor which is formally similar to the Sparling identity (which involves the Einstein tensor through the Einstein 3-form). In our identity the Bel-Robinson tensor enters through the {\em Bel-Robinson 3-form} which, we believe, is introduced in the literature for the first time. The meaning of this identity is that it is possible to formulate a {\em generic} conservation law for the quantity represented by the Bel-Robinson tensor (superenergy). We also show how one can use the Bel-Robinson 3-form to estimate the components…
A three dimensional black hole solution of Einstein equations with negative cosmological constant coupled to a conformal scalar field is given. The solution is static, circularly symmetric, asymptotically anti-de Sitter and nonperturbative in the conformal field. The curvature tensor is singular at the origin while the scalar field is regular everywhere. The condition that the Euclidean geometry be regular at the horizon fixes the temperature to be $T=\frac{9\, r_+}{16πl^2}$. Using the Hamiltonian formulation including boundary terms of the Euclidean action, the entropy is found to be $\frac{2…
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A recently found (gr-qc/0303036) 2-index, symmetric, trace-free, divergence-free tensor is introduced for arbitrary source-free electromagnetic fields. The tensor can be constructed for any test Maxwell field in Einstein spaces (including proper vacuum), and more importantly for any Einstein-Maxwell spacetime. The tensor is explicitly given and analyzed in some special situations, such as general null electromagnetic fields, Reissner-Nordström solution, or classical electrodynamics. We present an explicit example where the conserved currents derived from the energy-momentum tensor using symmet…
In Einstein-Cartan theory, by the use of the general Noether theorem, the general covariant angular-momentum conservation law is obtained with the respect to the local Lorentz transformations. The corresponding conservative Noether current is interpreted as the angular momentum tensor of the gravity-matter system including the spin density. It is pointed out that, assuming the tetrad transformation given by eq. (15), torsion tensor can not play a role in the conservation law of angular momentum.
The massless conformally coupled scalar field is characterized by the so-called "new improved stress-energy tensor", which is capable of classically violating the null energy condition. When coupled to Einstein gravity we find a three-parameter class of exact solutions. These exact solutions include the Schwarzschild geometry, assorted naked singularities, and a large class of traversable wormholes.
In this manuscript, a conformally invariant theory of gravitation in the context of metric measure space is studied. The proposed action is invariant under both diffeomorphism and conformal transformations. Using the variational method, a generalization of the Einstein equation is obtained, wherein the conventional tensors are replaced by their conformally invariant counterparts, living in metric measure space. The invariance of the geometrical part of the action under a diffeomorphism leads to a generalized contracted second Bianchi identity. In metric measure space, the covariant derivative …
In this paper we continue the study of bi-conformal vector fields started in {\em Class. Quantum Grav.} {\bf 21} 2153-2177. These are vector fields defined on a pseudo-Riemannian manifold by the differential conditions $\lie P_{ab}=ϕP_{ab}$, $\lieΠ_{ab}=χΠ_{ab}$ where $P_{ab}$, $Π_{ab}$ are orthogonal and complementary projectors with respect to the metric tensor $\rmg_{ab}$ and $\lie$ is the Lie derivative. In a previous paper we explained how the analysis of these differential conditions enabled us to derive local geometric characterizations of the most relevant cases of {\em conformally sep…
In this short note, we verify explicitly in static coordinates that the non trivial asymptotic Killing vectors at spatial infinity for anti-de Sitter space-times correspond one to one to the conformal Killing vectors of the conformally flat metric induced on the boundary. The fall-off conditions for the metric perturbations that guarantee finiteness of the associated conserved charges are derived.
We study umbilically synchronized space-times $M$ that have vanishing electric part of the Weyl tensor and show that (i) If $dim(M) = 4$, then $M$ is conformally flat, (ii) If $dim(M) > 4$, $M$ is conformally flat if and only if the spatial slices are conformally flat. Next, we characterize umbilically synchronized spacetimes that are vacuum and have zero electric components of its Weyl tensor. Finally, we characterize conformal vector fields of an umbilically synchronized space-time.
