Applying the cosmological principle to Finsler spacetimes, we identify the Lie Algebra of symmetry generators of spatially homogeneous and isotropic Finsler geometries, thus generalising Friedmann-Lemaître-Robertson-Walker geometry. In particular, we find the most general spatially homogeneous and isotropic Berwald spacetimes, which are Finsler spacetimes that can be regarded as closest to pseudo-Riemannian geometry. They are defined by a Finsler Lagrangian built from a zero-homogeneous function on the tangent bundle, which encodes the velocity dependence of the Finsler Lagrangian in a very specific way. The obtained cosmological Berwald geometries are candidates for the description of the geometry of the universe, when they are obtained as solutions from a Finsler gravity equation.
The paper introduces a general mathematical framework for action based field theories on Finsler spacetimes. As most often fields on Finsler spacetime (e.g., the Finsler fundamental function or the resulting metric tensor) have a homogeneous dependence on the tangent directions of spacetime, we construct the appropriate configuration bundles whose sections are such homogeneous fields; on these configuration bundles, the tools of coordinate free calculus of variations can be consistently applied to obtain field equations. Moreover, we prove that general covariance of natural Finsler field Lagra…
We translate Penrose's singularity theorem to a Finsler spacetime. To that end, causal concepts in Lorentzian geometry are extended, including definitions and properties of focal points and trapped surfaces, with careful attention paid to the differences that arise in the Finslerian setting.
We consider the geometry of spacetime based on a non-metric, Finslerian, length measure, which, in terms of physics, represents a generalized clock. Our defnition of Finsler spacetimes ensure a well defined notion of causality, a precise description of observers and a geometric background for field theories. Moreover we present our Finsler geometric extension of the Einstein equations, which determine the geometry of Finsler spacetimes dynamically.
We investigate whether Szabo's metrizability theorem can be extended to Finsler spaces of indefinite signature. For smooth, positive definite Finsler metrics, this important theorem states that, if the metric is of Berwald type (i.e., its Chern-Rund connection defines an affine connection on the underlying manifold), then it is affinely equivalent to a Riemann space, meaning that its affine connection is the Levi-Civita connection of some Riemannian metric. We show for the first time that this result does not extend to Finsler spacetimes. More precisely, we find a large class of Berwald spacet…
The radar experiment connects the geometry of spacetime with an observers measurement of spatial length. We investigate the radar experiment on Finsler spacetimes which leads to a general definition of radar orthogonality and radar length. The directions radar orthogonal to an observer form the spatial equal time surface an observer experiences and the radar length is the physical length the observer associates to spatial objects. We demonstrate these concepts on a forth order polynomial Finsler spacetime geometry which may emerge from area metric or pre-metric linear electrodynamics or in qua…
Recent links between Finsler Geometry and the geometry of spacetimes are briefly revisited, and prospective ideas and results are explained. Special attention is paid to geometric problems with a direct motivation in Relativity and other parts of Physics.
Some foundational results on the geometry of Lorentz-Minkowski spaces and Finsler spacetimes are obtained. We prove that the local light cone structure of a reversible Finsler spacetime with more than two dimensions is topologically the same as that of Lorentzian spacetimes: at each point we have just two strictly convex causal cones which intersect only at the origin. Moreover, we prove a reverse Cauchy-Schwarz inequality for these spaces and a corresponding reverse triangle inequality. The Legendre map is proved to be a diffeomorphism in the general pseudo-Finsler case provided the dimension…
We present a concise new definition of Finsler spacetimes that generalize Lorentzian metric manifolds and provide consistent backgrounds for physics. Extending standard mathematical constructions known from Finsler spaces we show that geometric objects like the Cartan non-linear connection and its curvature are well-defined almost everywhere on Finsler spacetimes, also on their null structure. This allows us to describe the complete causal structure in terms of timelike and null curves; these are essential to model physical observers and the propagation of light. We prove that the timelike dir…
We introduce the notion of a standard static Finsler spacetime where the base is a Finsler manifold. We prove some results which connect causality with the Finslerian geometry of the base extending analogous ones for static and stationary Lorentzian spacetimes.
We analyze the Casalbuoni-Brink-Schwarz superparticle model on a 2-dimensional curved spacetime as a super Finsler metric defined on a (2,2)-dimensional supermanifold. We propose a nonlinear Finsler connection which preserves this Finsler metric and calculates it explicitly. The equations of motion of the superparticle are reconstructed in the form of auto-parallel equations expressed by the super nonlinear connection.
The Raychaudhuri equation and its consequences for chronality are studied in the context of Finsler spacetimes. It is proved that the notable singularity theorems of Lorentzian geometry extend to the Finslerian domain. Indeed, so do the theorems by Hawking, Penrose, Hawking and Penrose, Geroch, Gannon, Tipler, or Kriele, but also the Topological Censorship theorem and so on. It is argued that the notable results in causality theory connected to achronal sets, future sets, domains of dependence, limit curve theorems, length functional, Lorentzian distance, geodesic connectedness, extend to the …
We study Finsler spacetimes and Killing vector fields taking care of the fact that the generalized metric tensor associated to the Lorentz-Finsler function $L$ is in general well defined only on a subset of the slit tangent bundle. We then introduce a new class of Finsler spacetimes endowed with a timelike Killing vector field that we call stationary splitting Finsler spacetimes. We characterize when a Finsler spacetime with a timelike Killing vector field is locally a stationary splitting. Finally, we show that the causal structure of a stationary splitting is the same of one of two Finsleria…
In this work, a version of Fermat's principle for causal curves with the same energy in time orientable Finsler spacetimes is proved. We calculate the secondvariation of the {\it time arrival functional} along a geodesic in terms of the index form associated with the Finsler spacetime Lagrangian. Then the character of the critical points of the time arrival functional is investigated and a Morse index theorem in the context of Finsler spacetime is presented.
We briefly review two recently developed extensions of the Lorentzian geometry of spacetime and prove that they are in fact closely related. The first is the concept of observer space, which generalizes the space of Lorentzian observers, i.e., future unit timelike vectors, using Cartan geometry. The second is the concept of Finsler spacetimes, which generalizes the Lorentzian metric of general relativity to an observer-dependent Finsler metric. We show that every Finsler spacetime possesses a well-defined observer space that can naturally be equipped with a Cartan geometry. Conversely, we deri…
We discuss the geodesic motion of both massive test particles, following timelike geodesics, and light, following null geodesics, on Finsler spacetimes with cosmological symmetry. Using adapted coordinates on the tangent bundle of the spacetime manifold, we derive the general form of the geodesic equation. Further, we derive a complete set of constants of motion. As an application of these findings, we derive the magnitude-redshift relation for light propagating on a cosmologically symmetric Finsler background, both for a general Finsler spacetime and for particular examples, such as spacetime…
As a prototypical massive field theory we study the scalar field on the recently introduced Finsler spacetimes. We show that particle excitations exist that propagate faster than the speed of light recognized as the boundary velocity of observers. This effect appears already in Finsler spacetime geometries with very small departures from Lorentzian metric geometry. It switches on for a sufficiently large ratio of the particle four-momentum and mass, and is the consequence of a modified version of the Coleman-Glashow velocity dispersion relation. The momentum dispersion relation on Finsler spac…
We construct gravitational dynamics for Finsler spacetimes in terms of an action integral on the unit tangent bundle. These spacetimes are generalizations of Lorentzian metric manifolds which satisfy necessary causality properties. A coupling procedure for matter fields to Finsler gravity completes our new theory that consistently becomes equivalent to Einstein gravity in the limit of metric geometry. We provide a precise geometric definition of observers and their measurements, and show that the transformations by means of which different observers communicate form a groupoid that generalizes…
Physical foundations for relativistic spacetimes are revisited, in order to check at what extent Finsler spacetimes lie in their framework. Arguments based on inertial observers (as in the foundations of Special Relativity and Classical Mechanics) are shown to correspond with a double linear approximation in the measurement of space and time. While General Relativity appears by dropping the first linearization, Finsler spacetimes appear by dropping the second one. The classical Ehlers-Pirani-Schild approach is carefully discussed and shown to be compatible with the Lorentz-Finsler case. The pr…
We derive and discuss a general redshift formula in Finsler spacetimes. The condition for the existence of a redshift potential is worked out. The results are illustrated with two examples, one refering to a spherically symmetric and static Finsler spacetime and the other to a cosmological Finsler spacetime.
Berwald geometries are Finsler geometries close to (pseudo)-Riemannian geometries. We establish a simple first order partial differential equation as necessary and sufficient condition, which a given Finsler Lagrangian has to satisfy to be of Berwald type. Applied to $(α,β)$-Finsler spaces, respectively $(A,B)$-Finsler spacetimes, this reduces to a necessary and sufficient condition for the Levi-Civita covariant derivative of the defining $1$-form. We illustrate our results with novel examples of $(α,β)$-Berwald geometries which represent Finslerian versions of Kundt (constant scalar invariant…
In this paper we first study some global properties of the energy functional on a non-reversible Finsler manifold. In particular we present a fully detailed proof of the Palais--Smale condition under the completeness of the Finsler metric. Moreover we define a Finsler metric of Randers type, which we call Fermat metric, associated to a conformally standard stationary spacetime. We shall study the influence of the Fermat metric on the causal properties of the spacetime, mainly the global hyperbolicity. Moreover we study the relations between the energy functional of the Fermat metric and the Fe…
The theory of gravitation in the spacetime with Finsler structure is constructed. It is shown that the theory keeps general covariance. Such theory reduces to Einstein's general relativity when the Finsler structure is Riemannian. Therefore, this covariant theory of gravitation is an elegant realization of Einstein's thoughts on gravitation in the spacetime with Finsler structure.
We show that the index of a lightlike geodesic in a conformally standard stationary spacetime is equal to the index of its spatial projection as a geodesic of a Finsler metric associated to the spacetime. Moreover we obtain the Morse relations of lightlike geodesics connecting a point to an integral line of the standard timelike Killing vector field by using Morse theory on the associated Finsler manifold. To this end, we prove a splitting lemma for the energy functional of a Finsler metric. Finally, we show that the reduction to Morse theory of a Finsler manifold can be done also for timelike…
The Hawking and Penrose singularity theorems for low regularity Finsler spacetimes
Dipartimento di Matematica, Università degli Studi di Pisa（比萨大学数学系）；Department of Mathematics, University of Toronto（多伦多大学数学系）；Department of Mathematics, University of Osaka（大阪大学数学系）；RIKEN Center for Advanced Intelligence Project (AIP)（理化学研究所先进智能研究中心）；Department of Mathematics, University of Vienna（维也纳大学数学系）
We generalize the kinetic theory of fluids, in which the description of fluids is based on the geodesic motion of particles, to spacetimes modeled by Finsler geometry. Our results show that Finsler spacetimes are a suitable background for fluid dynamics and that the equation of motion for a collisionless fluid is given by the Liouville equation, as it is also the case for a metric background geometry. We finally apply this model to collisionless dust and a general fluid with cosmological symmetry and derive the corresponding equations of motion. It turns out that the equation of motion for a d…
We revisit the physical arguments which lead to the definition of the stress-energy tensor $T$ in the Lorentz-Finsler setting $(M,L)$ starting at classical Relativity. Both the standard heuristic approach using fluids and the Lagrangian one are taken into account. In particular, we argue that the Finslerian breaking of Lorentz symmetry makes $T$ an anisotropic 2-tensor (i. e., a tensor for each $L$-timelike direction), in contrast with the energy-momentum vectors defined on $M$. Such a tensor is compared with different ones obtained by using a Lagrangian approach. The notion of divergence is r…
Recent observations on the quasar absorption spectra supply evidence for the variation of the fine structure constant $α$. In this paper, we propose another interpretation of the observational data on the quasar absorption spectra: a scenario with spacetime inhomogeneity and anisotropy. Maybe the spacetime is characterized by the Finsler geometry instead of the Riemann one. The Finsler geometry admits fewer symmetries than the Riemann geometry does. We investigate the Finslerian geodesic equations in the Randers spacetime (a special Finsler spacetime). It is found that the cosmological redshif…
We extend to the $n$-dimensional case a recent theorem establishing the validity of the Huygens' envelope principle for wavefronts in Finsler spaces. Our results have direct applications in analogue gravity models, for which the Fermat's principle of least time naturally gives origin to an underlying Finslerian geometry. For the sake of illustration, we consider two explicit examples motivated by recent experimental results: surface waves in flumes and vortices. For both examples, we have distinctive directional spacetime structures, namely horizons and ergospheres, respectively. We show that …
The Penrose plane wave limit is a remarkable property of Lorentzian spacetimes. Here, we discuss its extension to Finsler spacetimes by introducing suitable lightlike coordinates and adapting the Lorentzian definition of pp-waves. New examples of such Finsler pp-waves are also presented.
Finsler geometry naturally appears in the description of various physical systems. In this review I divide the emergence of Finsler geometry in physics into three categories: as dual description of dispersion relations, as most general geometric clock and as geometry being compatible with the relevant Ehlers-Pirani-Schild axioms. As Finsler geometry is a straightforward generalisation of Riemannian geometry there are many attempts to use it as generalized geometry of spacetime in physics. However, this generalisation is subtle due to the existence of non-trivial null directions. I review how a…
Finsler spacetimes have become increasingly popular within the theoretical physics community over the last two decades. Because physicists need to use pseudo-Finsler structures to describe propagation}of signals, there will be nonzero null vectors in both the tangent and cotangent spaces --- this causes significant problems in that many of the mathematical results normally obtained for "usual" (Euclidean signature) Finsler structures either do not apply, or require significant modifications to their formulation and/or proof. We shall first provide a few basic definitions, explicitly demonstrat…
Finsler geometry is a natural arena to investigate the physics of spacetimes with local Lorentz violating. The directional dependence of the Finsler metric provides a way to encode the Lorentz violating effects into the geometric structure of spacetime. Here, a classical field theory is proposed in a special Finsler geometry, the so-called Randers-Finsler spacetime, where the Lorentz violation is produced by a background vector field. By promoting the Randers-Finsler metric to a differential operator, a Finsler-invariant action for the scalar, gauge and fermions are proposed. The theory contai…
A systematic study of (smooth, strong) cone structures $\C$ and Lorentz-Finsler metrics $L$ is carried out. As a link between both notions, cone triples $(Ω,T, F)$, where $Ω$ (resp. $T$) is a 1-form (resp. vector field) with $Ω(T)\equiv 1$ and $F$, a Finsler metric on $\ker (Ω)$, are introduced. Explicit descriptions of all the Finsler spacetimes are given, paying special attention to stationary and static ones, as well as to issues related to differentiability. In particular, cone structures $\C$ are bijectively associated with classes of anisotropically conformal metrics $L$, and the notion …
We suggest the universe is Finslerian in the stage of inflation. The Finslerian background spacetime breaks rotational symmetry and induces parity violation. The primordial power spectrum is given for quantum fluctuation of the inflation field. It depends not only on the magnitude of wavenumber but also on the preferred direction. We derive the gravitational field equations in the perturbed Finslerian background spacetime, and obtain a conserved quantity outside the Hubble horizon. The angular correlation coefficients are presented in our anisotropic inflation model. The parity violation featu…
We first investigate the gravitational wave in the flat Finsler spacetime. In the Finslerian universe, we derive the perturbed gravitational field equation with tensor perturbations. The Finslerian background spacetime breaks rotational symmetry and induces parity violation. Then we obtain the modified primordial power spectrum of tensor perturbations. The parity violation feature requires that the anisotropic effect contributes to $TT,TE,EE,BB$ angular correlation coefficients with $l'=l+1$ and $TB,EB$ with $l'=l$. The numerical results show that the anisotropic contributions to angular corre…
After some introductory discussion of the definition of Finsler spacetimes and their symmetries, we consider a class of spherically symmetric and static Finsler spacetimes which are small perturbations of the Schwarzschild spacetime. The deviations from the Schwarzschild spacetime are encoded in three perturbation functions $ϕ_0(r)$, $ϕ_1(r)$ and $ϕ_2(r)$ which have the following interpretations: $ϕ_0$ perturbs the time function, $ϕ_1$ perturbs the radial length measurement and $ϕ_2$ introduces a spatial anisotropy which is a genuine Finsler feature. We work out the equations of motion for fre…
It is shown that, on a manifold with a Finsler metric of Lorentzian signature, the lightlike geodesics satisfy the following variational principle. Among all lightlike curves from a point (emission event) to a timelike curve (worldline of receiver), the lightlike geodesics make the arrival time stationary. Here ``arrival time'' refers to a parametrization of the timelike curve. This variational principle can be applied (i) to the vacuum light rays in an alternative spacetime theory, based on Finsler geometry, and (ii) to light rays in an anisotropic non-dispersive medium with a general-relativ…
Based on the analogue spacetime programme, and many other ideas currently mooted in "quantum gravity", there is considerable ongoing speculation that the usual pseudo-Riemannian (Lorentzian) manifolds of general relativity might eventually be modified at short distances. Two specific modifications that are often advocated are the adoption of Finsler geometries (or more specifically, pseudo-Finsler spacetimes) and the possibility of birefringence (or more generally, multi-refringence). We have investigated the possibility of whether it is possible to usefully and cleanly deal with these two pos…
The general notion of anisotropic connections $\nabla$ is revisited, including its precise relations with the standard setting of pseudo-Finsler metrics, i.e., the canonic nonlinear connection and the (linear) Finslerian connections. In particular, the vertically trivial Finsler connections are identified canonically with anisotropic connections. So, these connections provide a simple intrinsic interpretation of a part of any Finsler connection closer to the Koszul formulation in $M$. Moreover, a new covariant derivative and parallel transport along curves is introduced, taking first a self-pr…
Finsler geometry is a natural and fundamental generalization of Riemann geometry. The Finsler structure depends on both coordinates and velocities. We present the arrival time delay of astroparticles subject to Lorentz violation in the framework of Finsler geometry, and the result corresponds to that derived by Jacob and Piran in the standard model of cosmology.
It is well-known that static vacuum solutions of Einstein equations are analytic in suitable coordinates. We ask here for an extension of this result in the context of Finsler gravity. We consider Finsler spacetimes that retain several properties of static Lorentzian spacetimes, are Berwald and have vanishing Ricci scalar.
We discuss the most general Finsler spacetime geometry obeying the cosmological symmetry group $\mathrm{SO}(4)$. On this background geometry we derive the equations of motion for the most general kinetic fluid obeying the same cosmological symmetry. For this purpose we propose a set of coordinates on the tangent bundle of the spacetime manifold which greatly simplifies the cosmological symmetry generators.
Finsler geometry has been recently re-discovered as an interesting possibility to describe spacetime geometry beyond Riemannian geometry. The most evident effect of this class of models is the prediction of modified dispersion relations for particles moving in such backgrounds. In this paper, we are going to consider the effects of modified dispersion relations on a gauge field theory with spontaneous symmetry breaking (SSB) associated to a Higgs field. The percolation of higher dimensional, Lorentz violating operators to lower dimensional ones is discussed. We also discuss the issue of SSB in…
In this work, we obtain the Raychaudhuri equations for various types of Finsler spaces as the Finsler-Randers (FR) space-time and in a more general geometrical structure of the space-time manifold which contains two fibres that are two scalars which represent inflaton fields $ϕ^{(1)}, ϕ^{(2)}.$In addition, the energy-conditions are studied in a FR cosmology and are correlated with FRW model. Finally an application of Raychaudhuri equation for the model $M \times \{ ϕ^{(1)} \} \times \{ ϕ^{(2)} \}$ with M a FRW space is given.
We consider a triality between the Zermelo navigation problem, the geodesic flow on a Finslerian geometry of Randers type, and spacetimes in one dimension higher admitting a timelike conformal Killing vector field. From the latter viewpoint, the data of the Zermelo problem are encoded in a (conformally) Painleve-Gullstrand form of the spacetime metric, whereas the data of the Randers problem are encoded in a stationary generalisation of the usual optical metric. We discuss how the spacetime viewpoint gives a simple and physical perspective on various issues, including how Finsler geometries wi…
We investigate here all the possible invariant metric functions under the action of various kinds of semi-direct product Poincaré subgroups and their deformed partners. The investigation exhausts the possible theoretical frameworks for the spacetime realization of Cohen-Glashow's very special relativity and the deformation very special relativity approach by Gibbons-Gomis-Pope. Within Finsler-Minkowski type of spacetime, we find that the spacetime emerge a Finsler type of geometry in most cases both for undermed Poincaré subgroup and for deformed one. We give an explanation that the rotation o…
It is reasonably well-known that birefringent crystal optics can to some extent be described by the use of pseudo-Finslerian spacetimes (an extension of pseudo-Riemannian spacetime). What is less commonly appreciated is that there are two separate and quite disjoint pseudo-Finsler structures for the two photon polarizations, and further, that there are separate tangent-space pseudo-Finsler structures defined by the group velocity and co-tangent-space pseudo-co-Finsler structures defined by the phase velocity. The inter-connections between these four separate pseudo-Finsler structures are rathe…
Within the framework of projective geometry, we investigate kinematics and symmetry in $(α,β)$ spacetime-one special types of Finsler spacetime. The projectively flat $(α,β)$ spacetime with constant flag curvature is divided into four types. The symmetry in type A-Riemann spacetime with constant sectional curvature is just the one in de Sitter special relativity. The symmetry in type B-locally Minkowski spacetime is just the one in very special relativity. It is found that type C-Funk spacetime and type D-scaled Berwald's metric spacetime both possess the Lorentz group as its isometric group. …
In recent years, Planck-scale modifications to particles' dispersion relation have been deeply studied for the possibility to formulate some phenomenology of Planckian effects in astrophysical and cosmological frameworks. There are some indications [arXiv:gr-qc/0611024] that Finsler geometry can provide some generalization of Riemannian geometry which may allow to account for non-trivial (Planckian) structure of relativistic particles' configuration space. We investigate the possibility to formalize Planck-scale deformations to relativistic models in curved spacetime, within the framework of F…
