Higher order derivative theories, generally suffer from instabilities, known as Ostrogradsky instabilities. This issue can be resolved by removing any existing degeneracy present in such theories. We consider a model involving at most second order derivatives of scalar field non-minimally coupled to curvature terms. Here we perform (3+1) decomposition of Lagrangian to separate second order time derivative form the rest. This is useful to check the degeneracy hidden in the Lagrangian will help us to find conditions under which Ostrogradsky instability do not appear. In our case, we find no such non trivial conditions which can stop the appearance of the Ostrogradsky ghost.
We propose a new class of higher derivative scalar-tensor theories without the Ostrogradsky's ghost instabilities. The construction of our theory is originally motivated by a scalar field with spacelike gradient, which enables us to fix a gauge in which the scalar field appears to be non-dynamical. We dub such a gauge as the spatial gauge. Though the scalar field loses its dynamics, the spatial gauge fixing breaks the time diffeomorphism invariance and thus excites a scalar mode in the gravity sector. We generalize this idea and construct a general class of scalar-tensor theories through a non…
We formulate higher derivative gravity with Lagrange multiplier constraint and scalar projectors. Its gauge-fixed formulation as well as vector fields formulation is developed and corresponding spontaneous Lorentz symmetry breaking is investigated. We show that the only propagating mode is higher derivative graviton while scalar and vector modes do not propagate. Despite to higher derivatives structure of the action, its first FRW equation is the first order differential equation which admits the inflationary universe solution.
We investigate how the comoving curvature and tensor perturbations are transformed under the generalized disformal transformation with the second-order covariant derivatives of the scalar field, where the free functions depend on the fundamental elements constructed with the covariant derivatives of the scalar field with at most the quadratic order of the second-order covariant derivatives. Our analysis reveals that on the superhorizon scales the difference between the comoving curvature perturbations in the original and new frames is given by the combination of the time derivative of the como…
In this paper we will study the complete equations of motion for a ghost free quadratic curvature infinite derivative gravity. We will argue that within the scale of non-locality, Schwarzschild-type singular metric solution is not {\it permissible}. Therefore, Schwarzschild-type vacuum solution which is a prediction in Einstein-Hilbert gravity may {\it not} persist within the region of non-locality. We will also show that just quadratic curvature gravity, without infinite derivatives, always allows Schwarzschild-type singular metric solution.
We consider possible resolutions of singularities in a contracting anisotropic universe for a class of higher derivative gravity theories. We give evidence that for our models the big crunch singularity may be replaced by a nearly flat Minkowski-like phase before the Universe reenters an anisotropic expansion in a time-symmetric manner.
Total derivative terms play an important role in the integration of conformal anomaly. In four dimensional space $4D$ there is only one such term, namely $\,{\square}R$. In the case of six dimensions $6D$ the structure of surface terms is more complicated, and it is useful to construct a basis of linear independent total derivative terms. We briefly review the general scheme of integrating anomaly and present the reduction of the minimal set of the surface terms in $6D$ from eight to seven.
We discuss a set of relations, set in the form of results, conjectures and problems, between the L^{2}-norm of the Ricci curvature of a 3-manifold, the scalar curvature and the volume radius. We illustrate the scope of these relations with potential applications to the Einstein Constant Mean Curvature flow (or GR seen as a geometric flow of constant mean curvature), but we believe the framework has it own geometric interest.
Black hole spontaneous scalarization has been attracting more and more attention as it circumvents the well-known no-hair theorems. In this work, we study the scalarization in Einstein-scalar-Gauss-Bonnet theory with a probe scalar field in a black hole background with different curvatures. We first probe the signal of black hole scalarization with positive curvature in different spacetimes. The scalar field in AdS spacetime could be formed easier than that in flat case. Then, we investigate the scalar field around AdS black holes with negative and zero curvatures. Comparing with negative and …
We propose a novel but natural definition of conserved quantities for gravity models quadratic and higher in curvature. Based on the spatial asymptotics of curvature rather than of metric, it avoids the GR energy machinery's more egregious problems--such as zero energy "theorems" and failure in flat backgrounds -- in this fourth-derivative realm. In D>4, the present expression indeed correctly discriminates between second derivative Gauss-Bonnet and generic, fourth derivative, actions.
We perform a dynamical analysis for the exponential scalar field with non-minimally derivative coupling. For the quintessence case, the stable fixed points are the same with and without the non-minimally derivative coupling. For the phantom case, the attractor with dark energy domination exists for the minimal coupling only. For the non-minimally derivative coupling without the standard canonical kinetic term, only the de-Sitter attractor exists, and the dark matter solution is unstable.
Various interpretations of the Riemann Curvature Tensor, Ricci Tensor, and Scalar Curvature are described. Also, the physical meanings of the Einstein Tensor and Einstein's Equations are discussed. Finally a derivation of Newtonian Gravity from Einstein's Equations is given.
The aim of the present paper is to provide an intrinsic investigation of two special Finsler spaces whose defining properties are related to Berwald connection, namely, Finsler space of scalar curvature and of constant curvature. Some characterizations of a Finsler space of scalar curvature are proved. Necessary and sufficient conditions under which a Finsler space of scalar curvature reduces to a Finsler space of constant curvature are investigated.
We study cosmological $α$-attractors in superconformal/supergravity models, where $α$ is related to the geometry of the moduli space. For $α=1$ attractors \cite{Kallosh:2013hoa} we present a generalization of the previously known manifestly superconformal higher curvature supergravity model \cite{Cecotti:1987sa}. The relevant standard 2-derivative supergravity with a minimum of two chiral multiplets is shown to be dual to a 4-derivative higher curvature supergravity, where in general one of the chiral superfields is traded for a curvature superfield. There is a degenerate case when both matter…
We investigate the correspondence between generally covariant higher derivative scalar-tensor theory and spatially covariant gravity theory. The building blocks are the scalar field and spacetime curvature tensor together with their generally covariant derivatives for the former, and the spatially covariant geometric quantities together with their spatially covariant derivatives for the later. In the case of a single scalar degree of freedom, they are transformed to each other by gauge fixing and recovering procedures, of which we give the explicit expressions. We make a systematic classificat…
We compute curvature-dependent graviton correlation functions and couplings as well as the full curvature potential $f(R)$ in asymptotically safe quantum gravity coupled to scalars. The setup is based on a systematic vertex expansion about metric backgrounds with constant curvatures initiated in arXiv:1711.09259 for positive curvatures. We extend these results to negative curvature and investigate the influence of minimally coupled scalars. The quantum equation of motion has two solutions for all accessible numbers of scalar fields. We observe that the solution at negative curvature is a minim…
Trace anomaly for conformally invariant higher derivative 4D scalar-dilaton theory is obtained by means of calculating divergent part of one-loop effective action for such system. Its applications are briefly mentioned
We carry out a Carlotto-Schoen-type gluing with interpolating scalar curvature on cone-like sets, or deformations thereof, in the category of smooth Riemannian asymptotically Euclidean metrics.
We make a full classification of scalar monomials built of the Riemann curvature tensor up to the quadratic order and of the covariant derivatives of the scalar field up to the third order. From the point of view of the effective field theory, the third or even higher order covariant derivatives of the scalar field are of the same order as the higher curvature terms, and thus should be taken into account. Moreover, higher curvature terms and higher order derivatives of the scalar field are complementary to each other, of which novel ghost-free combinations may exist. We make a systematic class…
In the present paper we study models of neutron stars in a class of extended scalar-tensor Gauss-Bonnet (ESTGB) theories for which the scalar degree of freedom is exited only in the strong curvature regime. We show that in the framework of the ESTGB theories under consideration there exist new neutron star solutions which are formed via spontaneous scalarization of the general relativistic neutron stars. In contrast to the spontaneous scalarization in the standard scalar-tensor theories which is induced by the presence of matter, in our case the scalarization is induced by the spacetime curvat…
We study the prescribed scalar curvature problem, namely finding which function can be obtained as the scalar curvature of a metric in a given conformal class. We deal with the case of asymptotically hyperbolic manifolds and restrict ourselves to non positive prescribed scalar curvature. Following earlier results, we obtain a necessary and sufficient condition on the zero set of the prescribed scalar curvature so that the problem admits a (unique) solution.
We prove that every $(3+1)$-dimensional flat GHMC Minkowski spacetime which is not a translation spacetime or a Misner spacetime carries a unique foliation by spacelike hypersurfaces of constant scalar curvature. In otherwords, we prove that every such spacetime carries a unique time function with isochrones of constant scalar curvature. Furthermore, this time function is a smooth submersion.
We construct two types of Eguchi-Hanson metrics with the negative constant scalar curvature. The type I metrics are Kähler. The type II metrics are ALH whose total energy can be negative.
An exactly scale-invariant spectrum of scalar perturbation generated during de Sitter spacetime is found from the gravity model of the nonminimal derivative coupling with fourth-order term. The nonminimal derivative coupling term generates a healthy (ghost-free) fourth-order derivative term, while the fourth-order term provides an unhealthy (ghost) fourth-order derivative term. The Harrison-Zel'dovich spectrum obtained from Fourier transforming the fourth-order propagator in de Sitter space is recovered by computing the power spectrum in its momentum space directly. It shows that this model pr…
Using minimal hypersurfaces, we obtain topological obstructions to admitting complete metrics with positive scalar curvature on a given class of non-compact n-manifolds with n less than 8. We show that the Liouville theorem for a locally conformally flat n-manifold of non-negative scalar curvature follows from the impossibility of there being a positive scalar curvature metric on its connect sum with the n-torus. With the recent work of Chodosh-Li, the Liouville theorem is now proved in all remaining cases. Finally, using MOTS instead of minimal hypersurfaces, we show an Initial Data Set versi…
We study harmonic maps from a 3-manifold with boundary to $\mathbb{S}^1$ and prove a special case of dihedral rigidity of three dimensional cubes whose dihedral angles are $π/ 2$. Furthermore we give some applications to mapping torus hyperbolic 3-manifolds.
