In the present work we show that the second law of thermodynamics does not generally hold if the matter and gravitational fields are nonminimally coupled. We demonstrate this result by explicitly computing the evolution of the entropy of the matter fields in the case of a closed homogeneous and isotropic universe filled with dust and radiation, showing that, in this case, the sign of the entropy variation is determined by the evolution of the universe. The preservation of the second law of thermodynamics in these modified theories would require its generalization to account for a gravitational entropy contribution.
The effects of a nonminimally coupled curvature-matter model of gravity on a perturbed Minkowski metric are presented. The action functional of the model involves two functions $f^1(R)$ and $f^2(R)$ of the Ricci scalar curvature $R$. This work expands upon previous results, extending the framework developed there to compute corrections up to order $O(1/c^4)$ of the $00$ component of the metric tensor. It is shown that additional contributions arise due to both the non-linear form $f^1(R)$ and the nonminimal coupling $f^2(R)$, including exponential contributions that cannot be expressed as an e…
In extended models of gravity a nonminimal coupling to matter has been assumed to lead to irreversible particle creation. In this paper we challenge this assumption. We argue that a non-minimal coupling of the matter and gravitational sectors results in a change in particle-momentum on a cosmological timescale, irrespective of particle creation or decay. We further argue that particle creation or decay associated with a non-minimal coupling to gravity could only happen as a result of significant deviations from a homogeneous Friedmann-Robertson-Walker geometry on microscopic scales, and provid…
Weyl gravity in the presence of a non-minimal matter-curvature coupling is presented. Some properties arising from the non-metricity give rise to a second order theory whose vacuum is compatible with a cosmological constant, under conditions on the vector field.
Analytical solutions of nonminimally coupled scalar field cosmology corresponding to critical scalar field values constitute a potential challenge to the recent first-order thermodynamics of scalar-tensor gravity (a formalism picturing general relativity as the zero-temperature equilibrium state for modified gravity). The critical solutions are unstable with respect to homogeneous perturbations, hence unphysical.
In this work we explore the viability of nonminimally coupled matter- curvature gravity theories, namely the conditions required for the absence of tachyon instabilities and ghost degrees of freedom. We contrast our finds with recent claims of a pathological behaviour of this class of models, which resorted to, in our view, an incorrect analogy with k-essence.
In this paper, a new generalised gravity-matter coupled theory of gravity is presented. This theory is constructed by assuming an action with an arbitrary function $f(T,B,L_m)$ which depends on the scalar torsion $T$, the boundary term $B=\nabla_μT^μ$ and the matter Lagrangian $L_m$. Since the function depends on $B$ which appears in $R=-T+B$, it is possible to also reproduce curvature-matter coupled models such as $f(R,L_m)$ gravity. Additionally, the full theory also contains some interesting new teleparallel gravity-matter coupled theories of gravities such as $f(T,L_m)$ or $C_1 T+ f(B,L_m)…
We study the possibility that inflation is driven by a massive vector field with SO(3) global symmetry nonminimally coupled to gravity. From an E^3-invariant Robertson-Walker metric we propose an Ansatz for the vector field, allowing us to study the evolution of the system. We study the behaviour of the equations of motion using the methods of the theory of dynamical systems and find exponential inflationary regimes.
We consider a nonminimally coupled curvature-matter gravity theory at the Solar System scale. Both a fifth force of Yukawa type and a further non-Newtonian extra force that arises from the nonminimal coupling are present in the solar interior and in the solar atmosphere up to interplanetary space. The extra force depends on the spatial gradient of space-time curvature R. The conditions under which the effects of such forces can be screened by the chameleon mechanism and be made consistent with Cassini measurement of PPN parameter $γ$ are examined. This consistency analysis requires a specific …
In three dimensions, we consider the Einstein-Maxwell Lagrangian dressed by a nonminimally coupled scalar field in New Massive Gravity. For this theory, we provide two families of electrically charged Lifshitz black holes where their metric functions depend only on an integration constant. We calculate their masses using the quasilocal approach, as well as their entropy and electric charge. These charged configurations are interpreted as extremal in the sense that the mass vanishes identically while the entropy and electric charge are non zero thermodynamic quantities. Using these examples, we…
In a recent paper, Hod proved that spherically symmetric Dirichlet reflecting compact stars cannot support static nonminimally coupled scalar fields. In the present paper, we study the validity of no hair theorems for compact stars with Neumann surface boundary conditions. We find that Neumann compact stars cannot support static massive scalar field hairs with a generic dimensionless nonminimal coupling parameter.
We examine the constraints on the Yukawa regime from the non-minimally coupled curvature-matter gravity theory arising from deep underwater ocean experiments. We consider the geophysical experiment of Zumberge et al. of 1991 for searching deviations of Newton's inverse square law in ocean. In the context of non-minimally coupled curvature-matter theory of gravity the results of Zumberge et al. can be used to obtain an upper bound both on the strength $α$ and range $λ$ of the Yukawa potential arising from the non-relativistic limit of the non-minimally coupled theory. The existence of an upper …
Semiclassical approximation to the Wheeler-DeWitt equation which corresponds to gravity with a minimally coupled scalar field has been performed. To the leading order, vacuum Einstein's equation along with the functional Schrodinger equation for the matter field, propagating in the background of classical curved space are obtained. The Schrodinger equation is solved for a quartic potential. It is observed that the wave-functional admits the wormhole boundary condition even for large negative values of the coupling constant epsilon. For conformal coupling epsilon = 1/6, the Hawking-Page wormhol…
We derive the Boltzmann equation in the context of a gravity theory with non-minimal coupling between matter and curvature. We show that as the energy-momentum tensor is not conserved in these theories, it follows a condition on the normalisation of an homogeneous distribution function. The Boltzmann H-theorem is preserved such that the entropy vector flux is still a non-decreasing function in these theories. The case of an homogeneous and isotropic Universe is analysed.
We discuss constraints to some nonminimally (NMC) coupled curvature-matter models of gravity by means of Solar System experiments. First we discuss a NMC gravity model which constitutes a natural extension of $1/R^n$ gravity to the nonminimally coupled case. Such a NMC gravity model is able to predict the observed accelerated expansion of the Universe. Differently from the $f(R)=1/R^n$ gravity case, which is not compatible with Solar System observations, it turns out that this NMC model is a viable theory of gravity. Then we consider a further NMC gravity model which admits Minkowski spacetime…
Cosmological and lunar laser ranging constraints on evolving dark energy in a nonminimally coupled curvature-matter gravity model
Istituto per le Applicazioni del Calcolo, CNR（意大利国家研究委员会计算应用研究所）；INFN - Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati (LNF)（意大利国家核物理研究所弗拉斯卡蒂国家实验室）；Departamento de Física e Astronomia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Porto（波尔图大学理学院物理与天文系）；Centro de Física das Universidades do Minho e do Porto（米尼奥大学和波尔图大学物理中心）；Universitá di Camerino（卡梅里诺大学）；Al-Farabi Kazakh National University（阿里-法拉比哈萨克国立大学）；ICRANet（国际相对论天体物理中心网络）
A nonminimally coupled quintessence dark energy in teleparallel model of gravity is considered. It is clarified how a matter dominated universe with initial negligible dark energy density can evolve to a late time de Sitter space-time via the $Z_2$ symmetry breaking.
In the framework of Higgs inflation, we consider the electromagnetic field nonminimally coupled to gravity via the parity-preserving $\propto RF^{2}$ and parity-violating $\propto RF\tilde{F}$ terms. Using the perturbation theory to the leading order in these couplings, we study the generation of the electromagnetic field during the inflation stage. We derive the effective kinetic and axial coupling functions arising in the Einstein frame in the usual metric as well as Palatini formulations of gravity. For both formulations, we determine the power spectrum, energy density, and helicality of th…
In this work we have studied a cosmological model based on a quintom dark energy model non-minimally coupled with gravity, endowed with a specfic potential energy of the exponential squared type. For this specific type of potential energy and non-minimal coupling, the dynamical properties are analyzed and the corresponding cosmological effects are discussed. Considering the linear stability method, we have investigated the dynamical properties of the phase space structure, determining the physically acceptable solutions. The analysis showed that in this model we can have various cosmological e…
In this note we comment on remarks about our recent effort to understand the specificities of the Boltzmann equation in the context of the alternative theories of gravity with non-minimal coupling between curvature and matter.
In this paper we show that the on-shell Lagrangian of a perfect fluid depends on microscopic properties of the fluid, giving specific examples of perfect fluids with different on-shell Lagrangians but with the same energy-momentum tensor. We demonstrate that if the fluid is constituted by localized concentrations of energy with fixed rest mass and structure (solitons) then the average on-shell Lagrangian of a perfect fluid is given by ${\mathcal L}_m=T$, where $T$ is the trace of the energy-momentum tensor. We show that our results have profound implications for theories of gravity where the m…
In the standard model of cosmology, the background evolution of the Universe can in general be adequately described by general relativity and a uniform and isotropic metric minimally coupled with a collection of perfect fluids. These fluids are usually described by their energy-momentum tensor, which can be derived from the fluid's Lagrangian density. Under general relativity, the Lagrangian density is only relevant to the extent that it results in the correct energy-momentum tensor for a specific perfect fluid. This is not the case in theories that feature a nonminimal coupling (NMC) between …
In this work, we investigate the quasinormal modes for a massive scalar field with a nonminimal coupling with gravity in the spacetime of a loop quantum black hole, known as the Self-Dual Black Hole. In this way, we have calculated the characteristic frequencies using the 3rd order WKB approach, where we can verify a strong dependence with the mass of scalar field, the parameter of nonminimal coupling with gravity, and parameters of the Loop Quantum Gravity. From our results, we can check that the Self-Dual Black Hole is stable under the scalar perturbations when assuming small values for the …
By using Bianchi I type of homogenous and anisotropic background metric having cylindrical symmetry in $x$ direction of a local cartesian coordinates system, we solve metric field equations for a non-minimally coupled Einstein-Maxwell gravity. To do so we choose long wavelength EM waves where spatial dependence of the waves are negligible at the expansion duration. Motivation of this work is study directional effects of the EM vector potential on anisotropy trajectory of the space time expansion scale factor. This problem is checked just for de Sitter inflationary epoch because of its importan…
It is well known that one cannot apply a conformal transformation to $f(T)$ gravity to obtain a minimally coupled scalar field model, and thus no Einstein frame exists for $f(T)$ gravity. Furthermore nonminimally coupled "teleparallel dark energy models" are not conformally equivalent to $f(T)$ gravity. However, it can be shown that $f(T)$ gravity is conformally equivalent to a teleparallel phantom scalar field model with a nonminimal coupling to a boundary term only. In this work, we extend this analysis by considering a recently studied extended class of models, known as $f(T,B)$ gravity, wh…
The weak field limit of the nonminimally coupled Boltzmann equation is studied, and relations between the invariant Bardeen scalar potentials are derived. The Jean's criterion for instabilities is found through the modified dispersion relation. Special cases are scrutinised and considerations on the model parameters are discussed for Bok globules.
We investigate the stability of a free scalar field nonminimally coupled to gravity under linear perturbations in the spacetime of a charged spherical shell. Our analysis is performed in the context of quantum field theory in curved spacetimes. This paper completes previous analyses which considered the exponential enhancement of vacuum fluctuations in the spacetime of massive shells.
We perform a phase space analysis of a generalized modified gravity theory with nonminimally coupling between geometry and matter. We apply the dynamical system approach to this generalized model and find that in the cosmological context, different choices of Lagrangian density will apparently result in different phases of the Universe. By carefully choosing the variables, we prove that there is an attractor solution to describe the late time accelerating universe when the modified gravity is chosen in a simple power-law form of the curvature scalar. We further examine the temperature evolutio…
The nonminimal coupling of the kinetic term to Einstein's tensor helps the implementation of inflationary models due to the gravitationally enhanced friction. We calculate the parametrized post-Newtonian (PPN) parameters for the scalar--tensor theory of gravity with nonminimally derivative coupling. We find that under experimental constraint from the orbits of millisecond pulsars in our galaxy, the theory deviates from Einstein's general relativity in the order of $10^{-20}$, and the effect of the nonminimal coupling is negligible if we take the scalar field as dynamical dark energy. With the …
It is proved that spherically symmetric asymptotically flat neutral black holes cannot support spatially regular static configurations made of massive scalar fields with non-minimal coupling to gravity. Interestingly, our compact no-hair theorem is valid for generic values of the dimensionless physical parameter $ξ$ which quantifies the strength of coupling between the scalar field and the spacetime curvature.
It has recently been proved that horizonless compact stars with reflecting boundary conditions {\it cannot} support spatially regular matter configurations made of minimally coupled scalar fields, vector fields, and tensor fields. In the present paper we extend this intriguing no-hair property to the physically interesting regime of scalar fields with {\it nonminimal} coupling to gravity. In particular, we prove that static spherically symmetric configurations made of nonminimally coupled massless scalar fields cannot be supported by compact reflecting stars.
