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 to have asymptotically de Sitter solutions, with a potential that is bounded from below. For generic values of the couplings we also show that static black hole solutions must have a constant Ricci scalar, and provide an analysis of the possible asymptotic behavior of both, the metric as well as the scalar field in the asymptotically AdS case, when the solutions match those of general relativity in vacuum at infinity. In this frame, the spacetime fulfils standard asymptotically AdS boundary conditions, and in spite of the non-standard couplings between the curvature and the scalar field, there is a family of black hole solutions in AdS that can be interpreted as localized objects. We also provide further comments on the extension of these results to higher dimensions.
It is found that the deviation of an effective potential from the quartic form is related to the metric and vector torsion dependencies of the effective potential in the vector torsion coupled conformally induced gravity.
We study Weyl symmetry (local conformal symmetry) in unimodular gravity. It is shown that the Noether currents for both Weyl symmetry and global scale symmetry, identically vanish as in the conformally invariant scalar-tensor gravity. We clearly explain why in the class of conformally invariant gravitational theories, the Noether currents vanish by starting with the conformally invariant scalar-tensor gravity. Moreover, we comment on both classical and quantum-mechanical equivalences among Einstein's general relativity, the conformally invariant scalar-tensor gravity and the Weyl-transverse (W…
The central object in the theory of semiclassical stochastic gravity is the noise kernel which is the symmetric two point correlation function of the stress-energy tensor. Using the corresponding Wightman functions in Minkowski, Einstein and open Einstein spaces, we construct the noise kernels of a conformally coupled scalar field in these spacetimes. From them we show that the noise kernels in conformally-flat spacetimes, including the Friedmann-Robertson-Walker universes, can be obtained in closed analytic forms by using a combination of conformal and coordindate transformations.
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…
In this work we study a significantly enlarged truncation of conformally reduced quantum gravity in the context of Asymptotic Safety, including all operators that can be resolved in such a truncation including up to the sixth order in derivatives. A fixed point analysis suggests that there is no asymptotically safe fixed point in this system once one goes beyond an Einstein-Hilbert approximation. We will put these findings into context and discuss some lessons that can be learned from these results for general non-perturbative renormalisation group flows.
We have considered the quantum behavior of a conformally induced gravity in the minimal Riemann-Cartan space. The regularized one-loop effective potential considering the quantum fluctuations of the dilaton and the torsion fields in the Coleman-Weinberg sector gives a sensible phase transition for an inflationary phase in De Sitter space. For this effective potential, we have analyzed the semi-classical equation of motion of the dilaton field in the slow-rolling regime.
We study the theory of Weyl conformal gravity with matter degrees of freedom in a conformally invariant interaction. Specifically, we consider a triplet of scalar fields and SO(3) non-abelian gauge fields, i.e. the Georgi-Glashow model conformally coupled to Weyl gravity. We show that the equations of motion admit solutions spontaneously breaking the conformal symmetry and the gauge symmetry, providing a mechanism for supplying a scale in the theory. The vacuum solution corresponds to anti-de-Sitter space-time, while localized soliton solutions correspond to magnetic monopoles in asymptoticall…
Applying functional renormalization group methods, we describe two inequivalent ways of defining the renormalization group of matter-coupled four dimensional gravity, in the approximation where only the conformal factor is dynamical and taking the trace anomaly explicitly into account. We make contact with earlier work and briefly discuss the presence or absence of fixed points, depending on the truncation of the action and other approximations.
The C-metric solution of conformal gravity with a conformally coupled scalar field is presented. The solution belongs to the class of Petrov type D spacetimes and is conformal to the standard AdS C-metric appeared in vacuum Einstein gravity. For all parameter ranges, we identify some of the physically interesting static regions and the corresponding coordinate ranges. The solution may contain a black hole event horizon, an acceleration horizon, either of which may be cut by the conformal infinity or be hidden behind the conformal infinity. Since the model is conformally invariant, we also disc…
Null geodesics are invariant under a conformal transformation, and thus it might seem natural to assume that the observables corresponding to the shadow of a space-time are also conformally invariant. Here, we argue instead, that since the Arnowitt-Deser-Misner mass and the active gravitational mass of an asymptotically flat space-time are not, in general, invariant under such conformal transformations, the shadow radius for photon motion in a space-time would be quantitatively different, when viewed from two different conformally related frames, although the expression for the shadow radius i…
We show that two-dimensional (2D) AdS gravity induces on the spacetime boundary a conformally invariant dynamics that can be described in terms of a de Alfaro-Fubini-Furlan model coupled to an external source with conformal dimension two. The external source encodes the information about the gauge symmetries of the 2D gravity system. Alternatively, there exists a description in terms of a mechanical system with anholonomic constraints. The considered systems are invariant under the action of the conformal group generated by a Virasoro algebra, which occurs also as asymptotic symmetry algebra o…
The equations of motion of four-dimensional conformal gravity, whose Lagrangian is the square of the Weyl tensor, require that the Bach tensor $E_{μν}= (\nabla^ρ\nabla^σ+ \ft12 R^{ρσ})C_{μρνσ}$ vanishes. Since $E_{μν}$ is zero for any Einstein metric, and any conformal scaling of such a metric, it follows that large classes of solutions in four-dimensional conformal gravity are simply given by metrics that are conformal to Einstein metrics (including Ricci-flat). In fact it becomes more intriguing to find solutions that are {\it not} conformally Einstein. We obtain five new such vacua, which a…
We report exact black hole solutions in asymptotically flat or (A)dS four-dimensional spacetime with a conformally coupled self-interacting scalar field in $f(R)$ gravity. We first consider the asymptotically flat model $f(R) = R -2α\sqrt{R}$ and derive an exact black hole solution. Then, we consider the asymptotically (A)dS model $f(R) =R -2 Λ-2 α\sqrt{R-4 Λ}$ and derive an exact black hole solution. In both cases the modified gravity parameter $α$, which has the dimension of the inverse mass, cannot be set to zero and the self-interacting potential is determined from the Klein-Gordon equatio…
We explore the possibility of the spontaneous symmetry breaking in 5D conformally invariant gravity, whose action consists of a scalar field nonminimally coupled to the curvature with its potential. Performing dimensional reduction via ADM decomposition, we find that the model allows an exact solution giving rise to the 4D Minkowski vacuum. Exploiting the conformal invariance with Gaussian warp factor, we show that it also admits a solution which implement the spontaneous breaking of conformal symmetry. We investigate its stability by performing the tensor perturbation and find the resulting s…
In this paper, we present a class of rotating solutions in Gauss--Bonnet gravity in the presence of cosmological constant and conformally invariant Maxwell field and study the effects of the nonlinearity of the Maxwell source on the properties of the spacetimes. These solutions may be interpret as black brane solutions with inner and outer event horizons provide that the mass parameter $m$ is greater than an extremal value $m_{ext}$, an extreme black brane if $m=m_{ext}$ and a naked singularity otherwise. We investigate the conserved and thermodynamics quantities for asymptotically flat and as…
We have found that the conformally coupled induced gravity can be an infrared fixed point of induced gravity with Yukawa couplings with matter. The late time cosmology with a uniform mean matter distribution can be described by the conformally coupled induced gravity, which has an emergent global conformal symmetry in the cosmic scale. Aiming to resolve the puzzles for the dark energy, we have obtained exact cosmological equations and determined the dark energy density, the matter density, and the jerk parameter in the present universe based on the recent observational cosmic expansion data fo…
We analyze the construction of conformal theories of gravity in the realm of teleparallel theories. We first present a family of conformal theories which are quadratic in the torsion tensor and are constructed out of the tetrad field and of a scalar field. For a particular value of a coupling constant, and in the gauge where the scalar field is restricted to assume a constant value, the theory reduces to the teleparallel equivalent of general relativity, and the tetrad field satisfies Einstein's equations. A second theory is formulated out of the tetrad field only, and is not equivalent to the…
The path integral for higher-derivative quantum gravity with torsion is considered. Applying the methods of two-dimensional quantum gravity, this path integral is analyzed in the limit of conformally self-dual metrics. A scaling law for fixed-volume geometry is obtained.
Quantum mechanical boundary conditions along a timelike line, corresponding to the origin in radial coordinates, in two-dimensional dilaton gravity coupled to $N$ matter fields, are considered. Conformal invariance and vacuum stability severely constrain the possibilities. The simplest choice found corresponds to a nonlinear Liouville-type boundary interaction. The scattering of low-energy matter off the boundary can be computed perturbatively. It is found that weak incident pulses induce damped oscillations at the boundary while large incident pulses produce black holes. The response of the b…
We study the cosmological evolution and singularity crossing in the Bianchi-I universe filled with a conformally coupled scalar field and compare them with those of the Bianchi-I universe filled with a minimally coupled scalar field. We also write down the solution for the Bianchi-I Universe in the induced gravity cosmology.
We evaluate one loop quantum gravity corrections to the conformally coupled (CC) scalar self-mass-squared on a locally de Sitter background. In this paper we consider only the conformal-conformal interaction part of the self-mass-squared. This complements the minimal-minimal part worked out in the previous paper [E. O. Kahya and R. P. Woodard, Phys. Rev. D 76, 124005 (2007), arXiv: 0709.0536], and we will add the minimal-conformal part in a follow-up paper to complete the full self-mass-squared at one loop order. The computation is performed using dimensional regularization and the results are…
The present work is the second part of a series of computations for the self-mass-squared of the conformally coupled (CC) scalar interacting with gravitons. This work includes the kinetic-kinetic and kinetic-conformal parts, and thus completes the full scalar self-mass squared at one loop order in de Sitter background when combined with the conformal-conformal part previously evaluated. We use dimensional regularization and renormalize the results by subtracting appropriate counterterms. The self-mass squared is finally ready to quantum-correct the CC scalar field equation so that one can stud…
A central feature of scattering amplitudes in gravity or gauge theory is the existence of a variety of energetically soft theorems which put constraints on the amplitudes. Celestial amplitudes which are obtained from momentum-space amplitudes by a Mellin transform over the external particle energies cannot obey the usual energetically soft theorems. Instead, the symmetries of the celestial sphere imply that the scattering of conformally soft particles whose conformal weights under the 4D Lorentz group SL(2,C) are taken to zero obey special relations. Such conformally soft theorems have recentl…
We give an alternative description of the physical content of general relativity that does not require a Lorentz invariant spacetime. Instead, we find that gravity admits a dual description in terms of a theory where local size is irrelevant. The dual theory is invariant under foliation preserving 3-diffeomorphisms and 3D conformal transformations that preserve the 3-volume (for the spatially compact case). Locally, this symmetry is identical to that of Horava-Lifshitz gravity in the high energy limit but our theory is equivalent to Einstein gravity. Specifically, we find that the solutions of…
A Lorentz and conformally invariant `Schrödinger-like' equation for a massless complex scalar function $ψ$ is derived from an invariant action, and it is shown how the same $ψ$ can be used to calculate both the gravitational field $h_{μν}$ of linearized Einstein gravity in the TT gauge and the electromagnetic field $F_{μν}$ in the Lorenz gauge, and that the main difference between classical and quantum aspects of such fields lies in a certain condition that the underlying scalar wave must satisfy to keep it nondispersive. It is also shown how the existence of gravitons can be inferred from the…
We analyze the conceptual role of background independence in the application of the effective average action to quantum gravity. Insisting on a background independent renormalization group (RG) flow the coarse graining operation must be defined in terms of an unspecified variable metric since no rigid metric of a fixed background spacetime is available. This leads to an extra field dependence in the functional RG equation and a significantly different RG flow in comparison to the standard flow equation with a rigid metric in the mode cutoff. The background independent RG flow can possess a non…
Within the conformally reduced gravity model, where the metric is parametrised by a function $f(ϕ)$ of the conformal factor $ϕ$, we keep dependence on both the background and fluctuation fields, to local potential approximation and $\mathcal{O}(\partial^2)$ respectively, making no other approximation. Explicit appearances of the background metric are then dictated by realising a remnant diffeomorphism invariance. The standard non-perturbative Renormalization Group (RG) scale $k$ is inherently background dependent, which we show in general forbids the existence of RG fixed points with respect t…
The scaling properties of quantum gravity are discussed by employing a class of proper-time regulators in the functional flow equation for the conformal factor within the formalism of the background field method. Renormalization group trajectories obtained by projecting the flow on a flat topology are more stable than those obtained from a projection on a spherical topology. In the latter case the ultraviolet flow can be characterized by a Hopf bifurcation with an ultraviolet attractive limiting cycle. Although the possibility of determining the infrared flow for an extended theory space can b…
We prove that semiclassical gravity in conformally static, globally hyperbolic spacetimes with a massless, conformally coupled Klein-Gordon field is well posed, when viewed as a coupled theory for the dynamical conformal factor of the metric and the Klein-Gordon theory. Namely, it admits unique and stable solutions whenever constrained fourth-order initial data for the conformal factor and suitably defined Hadamard initial data for the Klein-Gordon state are provided on a spacelike Cauchy surface. As no spacetime symmetries are imposed on the conformal factor, the present result implies that, …
The path integral of four dimensional quantum gravity is restricted to conformally self-dual metrics. It reduces to integrals over the conformal factor and over the moduli space of conformally self--dual metrics and can be studied with the methods of two dimensional quantum gravity in conformal gauge. The conformal anomaly induces an analog of the Liouville action. The proposal of David, Distler and Kawai is generalized to four dimensions. Critical exponents and the analog of the c=1 barrier of two dimensional gravity are derived. Connections with Weyl gravity and four dimensional topological …
We show that the IR action of the healthy non-projectable Hořava-Lifshitz (HL) gravity and its small modification exhibit asymptotically Lifshitz and hyperscaling violating solutions, respectively. The model may also have an AdS$_2\times R^d$ vacuum solution. By making use of our results, one may wonder that within the context of HL gravity the Lifshitz fixed point might be treated as a CFT deformed by the time component of a vector operator.
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…
We summarize recent results on $D$-dimensional Robinson-Trautman solutions of Einstein's gravity in the presence of a conformally invariant non-linear electromagnetic field and a cosmological constant. These spacetimes contain static dyonic black holes with various horizon geometries and their time-dependent radiating generalizations, as well as a class of stealth solutions. Extensions to $f(R)$ and Gauss-Bonnet gravity are mentioned.
We investigate several quantum phenomena related to quadratic gravity after rewriting the general fourth-order action in a more convenient form that is second-order in derivatives and produces only first-class constraints in phase space. We find that a Higgs mechanism may occur in the conformally invariant subset of the general quadratic action if the theory is conformally coupled to a scalar field that acquires a non-zero vacuum expectation value and spontaneously breaks the conformal symmetry. Then, in the broken phase, the originally massless spin-2 ghost may absorb both the scalar and vect…
We show that the Kounterterms for pure AdS gravity in arbitrary even dimensions coincide with the boundary counterterms obtained through holographic renormalization if and only if the boundary Weyl tensor vanishes. In particular, the Kounterterms lead to a well posed variational problem for generic asymptotically locally AdS manifolds only in four dimensions. We determine the exact form of the counterterms for conformally flat boundaries and demonstrate that, in even dimensions, the Kounterterms take exactly the same form. This agreement can be understood as a consequence of Anderson's theorem…
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.
We study the three dimensional Einstein gravity conformally coupled to a scalar field. Solutions of this theory are geometries with vanishing scalar curvature. We consider solutions with a constant scalar field which corresponds to an infinite Newton's constant. There is a class of solutions with possible curvature singularities which asymptotic symmetries are given by two copies of the Virasoro algebra. We argue that the central charge of the corresponding CFT is infinite. Furthermore, we construct a family of Schwarzschild solutions which can be conformally mapped to the Martinez-Zanelli sol…
The functional renormalization group treatment of the conform reduced Einstein-Hilbert gravity is extended by following the evolution of the time and space derivatives separately, in order to consider the Lorentz symmetry during the evolution. We found the Reuter fixed point in the ultraviolet region. It is shown that starting from the Gaussian fixed point the Lorentz symmetry breaks down in the vicinity of the Reuter fixed point. Similarly, in the symmetry broken phase it also breaks down in the infrared region close to a critical singularity scale. By calculating the anomalous dimension form…
A 2D symmetric teleparallel gravity model is given by a generic 4-parameter action that is quadratic in the non-metricity tensor. Variational field equations are derived. A class of conformally flat solutions is given. We also discuss static and cosmological solutions.
We hereby show that the Kasner spacetime turns out to be singularity-free in Einstein's conformal gravity in vacuum or in presence of matter. Such a statement is based on the regularity of the curvature invariants and on the geodesic completion of the spacetime when it is probed by massive, massless, and conformally coupled particles. As a universal feature of the regular metric, nothing can reach the singularity located in t=0 in a finite amount of proper time (for massive particles and conformally coupled particles) or for finite values of the affine parameter (for massless particles).
We compute completely the BRST--antibracket cohomology on local functionals in two-dimensional Weyl invariant gravity for given classical field content (two dimensional metric and scalar matter fields) and gauge symmetries (two dimensional diffeomorphisms and local Weyl transformations). This covers the determination of all classical actions, of all their rigid symmetries, of all background charges and of all candidate gauge anomalies. In particular we show that the antifield dependence can be entirely removed from the anomalies and that, if the target space has isometries, the condition for t…
It is showed by a conformal rescaling that the inflationary background can be dual to a slowly expanding background, which is almost Minkowski and described by a conformal field theory conformally coupled to gravity. It is proved that the primordial curvature perturbation and tensor perturbation generated during these two conformally equivalent backgrounds are completely equal, and the scale invariance of perturbations is determined by the conformal invariance of field theory in slowly expanding background. In dual slowly expanding scenario, the primordial universe is asymptotical to a static …
In terms of the complex angular momentum method, we compute the absorption cross section by analyzing a massless test scalar field around conformally related black holes. At first, we investigate circular null geodesics and thereby prove a precondition for calculating the absorption cross section in the context of conformally related black holes. Then we use the WKB approximation method to derive the analytic expression of Regge frequency and the oscillation part of absorption cross sections. We find that this oscillation part depends on the scale factor of conformal transformations. By taking…
We study the thermodynamics and dynamics of high-dimensional Einstein-power-Yang-Mills black holes in conformal gravity. Specifically, we investigate a class of conformally related black holes whose metrics differ by a scale factor. We show that a suitable scale factor cures the geodesic incompleteness and the divergence of Kretschmann scalars at the center of black holes. In the aspect of thermodynamics, we analyse the Hawking temperature, the entropy, and the specific heat, and verify the existence of second-order phase transitions. We find that the thermodynamics of this class of conformall…
In 1992 Professor Ryszard Rcaczka started to work on formulation of a version of the Standard Model conformally coupled with gravity. Being his student I had got the honour to participate in those researches. The conformally invariant Higgs-Free Model was the result of our investigations. Ryszard Rcaczka passed away on 26 August 1996. I present here a short memorial survey of our results.
We consider four dimensional stationary and axially symmetric spacetimes for conformally coupled scalar-tensor theories. We show that, in analogy to the Lewis-Papapetrou problem in General Relativity (GR), the theory at hand can be recast in an analogous integrable form. We give the relevant rod formalism, introduced by Weyl for vacuum GR, explicitly giving the rod structure of the black hole of Bocharova et al. and Bekenstein (BBMB), in complete analogy to the Schwarzschild solution. The additional scalar field is shown to play the role of an extra Weyl potential. We then employ the Ernst met…
In Einstein's theory of general relativity the vacuum solution yields a blackhole with a curvature singularity, where there exists a point-like source with a Dirac delta distribution which is introduced as a boundary condition in the static case. It has been known for a while that ghost-free infinite derivative theory of gravity can ameliorate such a singularity at least at the level of linear perturbation around the Minkowski background. In this paper, we will show that the Schwarzschild metric does not satisfy the boundary condition at the origin within infinite derivative theory of gravity,…
General criteria for the existence of conformally flat Riemannian solutions in 3D Poincaré gauge theory without matter are formulated. Using these criteria, we show that the Oliva-Tempo-Troncoso black hole, a solution of the Bergshoeff-Hohm-Town\-send gravity, is also an exact vacuum solution of the Poincaré gauge theory. The related conserved charges, calculated from the Hamiltonian boundary term, are shown to satisfy the first law of black hole thermodynamics. The form of the boundary term is verified by using the covariant Hamiltonian approach.
Gravity model developed in the series of papers \cite{Arbuzov:2009zza,Arbuzov:2010fz,Pervushin:2011gz} is revisited. Model is based on Ogievetsky theorem that specifies structure of general coordinate transformation group. The theorem is implemented in the context of Noether theorem with the use of nonlinear representation technique. Canonical quantization is performed with the use of reparametrization-invariant time and ADM foliation techniques. Basic quantum features of the models are discussed. Mistakes occurred in the previous papers are corrected.
We study conformally-invariant theories of gravity in six dimensions. In four dimensions, there is a unique such theory that is polynomial in the curvature and its derivatives, namely Weyl-squared, and furthermore all solutions of Einstein gravity are also solutions of the conformal theory. By contrast, in six dimensions there are three independent conformally-invariant polynomial terms one could consider. There is a unique linear combination (up to overall scale) for which Einstein metrics are also solutions, and this specific theory forms the focus of our attention in this paper. We reduce t…
In Einstein-Maxwell gravity with a conformally coupled scalar field, the black hole found by Bocharova, Bronnikov, Melnikov, and Bekenstein breaks when embedded in the external magnetic field of the Melvin universe. The situation improves in presence of acceleration, allowing one to build magnetised and accelerating BBMB black hole with a thin membrane. But to overcome this and others disadvantages of BBMB spacetimes, a new class of black holes, including the rotating case, is proposed for the conformal matter coupling under consideration.
Out of several possible extensions of general relativity, the scalar-tensor theory is the most popular for several reasons. Since the quantum description of gravity is yet to be formulated properly, the understanding of a gravitational theory remains incomplete until the study of thermodynamic and fluid-gravity aspects, which provides an alternative viewpoint to understand the gravitational theory. In this review, we study these features (thermodynamics and the fluid gravity analogy) in a rigorous and yet in a concise manner for the scalar-tensor gravity, which has been revealed in our recent …
