Einstein-Cartan gravity, matter, and scale-invariant generalization
Mikhail Shaposhnikov, Andrey Shkerin, Inar Timiryasov, Sebastian Zell
备注：
18 pages; v2: Weyl transformation of the fermionic kinetic term and sign of 4-fermion interaction corrected; references added; matches published version (including erratum)
We study gravity coupled to scalar and fermion fields in the Einstein-Cartan framework. We discuss the most general form of the action that contains terms of mass dimension not bigger than four, leaving out only contributions quadratic in curvature. By resolving the theory explicitly for torsion, we arrive at an equivalent metric theory containing additional six-dimensional operators. This lays the groundwork for cosmological studies of the theory. We also perform the same analysis for a no-scale scenario in which the Planck mass is eliminated at the cost of adding an extra scalar degree of freedom. Finally, we outline phenomenological implications of the resulting theories, in particular to inflation and dark matter production.
We show that the electron in the Riemann-Cartan spacetime with extra dimensions has a finite size that is much larger than the experimental upper limit on its radius. Thus the Arkani-Hamed-Dimopoulos-Dvali and Randall-Sundrum models of the weak/Planck hierarchy in particle physics are not viable if spin produces torsion according to the Einstein-Cartan theory of gravity.
We study scalar, fermionic and gauge fields coupled nonminimally to gravity in the Einstein-Cartan formulation. We construct a wide class of models with nondynamical torsion whose gravitational spectra comprise only the massless graviton. Eliminating non-propagating degrees of freedom, we derive an equivalent theory in the metric formulation of gravity. It features contact interactions of a certain form between and among the matter and gauge currents. We also discuss briefly the inclusion of curvature-squared terms.
In this paper, we have considered the g-essence and its particular cases, k-essence and f-essence, within the framework of the Einstein-Cartan theory. We have shown that a single fermionic field can give rise to the accelerated expansion within the Einstein-Cartan theory. The exact analytical solution of the Einstein-Cartan-Dirac equations is found. This solution describes the accelerated expansion of the Universe with the equation of state parameter $w=-1$ as in the case of $Λ$CDM model.
The existence and stability of the Einstein static solution have been built in the Einstein-Cartan gravity. We show that this solution in the presence of perfect fluid with spin density satisfying the Weyssenhoff restriction is cyclically stable around a center equilibrium point. Thus, study of this solution is interesting because it supports non-singular emergent cosmological models in which the early universe oscillates indeterminately about an initial Einstein static solution and is thus past eternal.
We show how Einstein-Cartan gravity can accommodate both global scale and local scale (Weyl) invariance. To this end, we construct a wide class of models with nonpropagaing torsion and a nonminimally coupled scalar field. In phenomenological applications the scalar field is associated with the Higgs boson. For global scale invariance, an additional field -- dilaton -- is needed to make the theory phenomenologically viable. In the case of the Weyl symmetry, the dilaton is spurious and the theory reduces to a sub-class of one-field models. In both scenarios of scale invariance, we derive an equi…
This article presents detailed discussions and calculations of the recent paper "Quantum Regge calculus of Einstein-Cartan theory" in Phys. Lett. B682 (2009) 300. The Euclidean space-time is discretized by a four-dimensional simplicial complex. We adopt basic tetrad and spin-connection fields to describe the simplicial complex. By introducing diffeomorphism and local Lorentz invariant holonomy fields, we construct a regularized Einstein-Cartan theory for studying the quantum dynamics of the simplicial complex and fermion fields. This regularized Einstein-Cartan action is shown to properly appr…
The present paper analyses the Einstein-Cartan theory of gravitation with Elko spinors as sources of curvature and torsion. After minimally coupling the Elko spinors to torsion, the spin angular momentum tensor is derived and its structure is discussed. It shows a much richer structure than the Dirac analogue and hence it is demonstrated that spin one half particles do not necessarily yield only an axial vector torsion component. Moreover, it is argued that the presence of Elko spinors partially solves the problem of minimally coupling Maxwell fields to Einstein-Cartan theory.
We study the Quantum Regge Calculus of Einstein-Cartan theory to describe quantum dynamics of Euclidean space-time discretized as a 4-simplices complex. Tetrad field e_μ(x) and spin-connection field ω_μ(x) are assigned to each 1-simplex. Applying the torsion-free Cartan structure equation to each 2-simplex, we discuss parallel transports and construct a diffeomorphism and {\it local} gauge-invariant Einstein-Cartan action. Invariant holonomies of tetrad and spin-connection fields along large loops are also given. Quantization is defined by a bounded partition function with the measure of SO(4)…
We discuss locally Weyl (scale) covariant generalisations of gravitational theories using Riemann-Cartan-Weyl space-times in arbitrary dimensions. We demonstrate the procedure of Weyl gauging on two examples in particular: General relativity, and topologically massive gravity in three dimensions.
We introduce bosonic (p - 1)-form fields that couple to the spin connection of the Einstein-Cartan theory of gravity thus becoming a non-trivial source of space-time torsion. We analyze all the general features of both the matter and the gravitational sectors of the theory. Finally we briefly consider the implications of the existence of such fields in different physical settings.
We present locally scale (Weyl) covariant generalisation of Minimal Massive Gravity theory using the language of exterior differential forms on Riemann-Cartan-Weyl space-times. The theory is expressed by a locally scale invariant action and locally scale covariant field equations are found by a first order variational formalism.
Einstein-Cartan gravity which is an alternative formulation of general relativity introduces new degrees of freedom contained in the torsion field which encodes the torsion feature of spacetime. Interestingly, the torsion field couples to all fermions through its axial-vector mode with a universal coupling $η=1/8$ which is possible to change under the quantum effects. We argue that Einstein-Cartan gravity provides a significant portal to probe $A'$ dark gauge boson which resides in dark sector existing as an invisible world parallel to our own and couples to the standard model (SM) particles t…
A modification of Kaluza-Klein theory is proposed in which, as a result of a symmetry breaking, five-dimensional space-time is partially parallelized implying the appearance of torsion fields. A naturally chosen action functional leads to the Einstein-Cartan-Maxwell theory where the electromagnetic field strength is represented by the fifth component of the torsion 2-form. Incorporation of a scalar field reveals that four-dimensional space-time torsion is not induced by the scalar field.
The rotational dynamics of an $N$-body system at the first post-Newtonian order in Einstein-Cartan theory is derived. This result is achieved by performing the point-particle limit of the equations of motion of the Weyssenhoff fluid, which models the quantum spin effects residing inside the bodies. For the special case of binary systems, we determine the Lagrangian function and the resulting first integrals underlying the translational dynamics and the spin precession.
Diakonov formulated a model of a primordial Dirac spinor field interacting gravitationally within the geometric framework of the Poincaré gauge theory (PGT). Thus, the gravitational field variables are the orthonormal coframe (tetrad) and the Lorentz connection. A simple gravitational gauge Lagrangian is the Einstein-Cartan choice proportional to the curvature scalar plus a cosmological term. In Diakonov's model the coframe is eliminated by expressing it in terms of the primordial spinor. We derive the corresponding field equations for the first time. We extend the Diakonov model by additional…
We consider conformally invariant form of the actions in Einstein, Weyl, Einstein-Cartan and Einstein-Cartan-Weyl space in general dimensions($>2$) and investigate the relations among them. In Weyl space, the observational consistency condition for the vector field determining non-metricity of the connection can be obtained from the equation of motion. In Einstein-Cartan space a similar role is played by the vector part of the torsion tensor. We consider the case where the trace part of the torsion is the Kalb-Ramond type of field. In this case, we express conformally invariant action in terms…
In the Einstein-Cartan theory of torsion-free gravity coupling to massless fermions, the four-fermion interaction is induced and its strength is a function of the gravitational and gauge couplings, as well as the Immirzi parameter. We study the dynamics of the four-fermion interaction to determine whether effective bilinear terms of massive fermion fields are generated. Calculating one-particle-irreducible two-point functions of fermion fields, we identify three different phases and two critical points for phase transitions characterized by the strength of four-fermion interaction: (1) chiral …
We review how the large $c$ expansion of General Relativity leads to an effective theory in the form of Twistless Torsional Newton-Cartan gravity. We show how this is a strong field expansion around the static sector of General Relativity and illustrate this through two examples.
In the context of Einstein-Cartan theory of gravity, we consider a Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) cosmological model with Weyssenhoff perfect fluid. We focus attention on those classical solutions that admit a degenerate metric in which the scale factor has smooth behavior in the transition from a Euclidean to a Lorentzian domain. It is shown that the spin-spin contact interaction enables one to obtain such a signature changing solutions due to the Riemann-Cartan ($U_4$) structure of space-time.
Based on preliminary analysis of the Hamiltonian formulation of the first order Einstein-Cartan action (arXiv:0902.0856 [gr-qc] and arXiv:0907.1553 [gr-qc]) we derive the Darboux coordinates, which are a unique and uniform change of variables preserving equivalence with the original action in all spacetime dimensions higher than two. Considerable simplification of the Hamiltonian formulation using the Darboux coordinates, compared with direct analysis, is explicitly demonstrated. Even an incomplete Hamiltonian analysis in combination with known symmetries of the Einstein-Cartan action and the …
We derive the Schrödinger-Newton equation as the non-relativistic limit of the Einstein-Dirac equations. Our analysis relaxes the assumption of spherical symmetry, made in earlier work in the literature, while deriving this limit. Since the spin of the Dirac field couples naturally to torsion, we generalize our analysis to the Einstein Cartan-Dirac (ECD) equations, again recovering the Schrödinger-Newton equation.
We derive the fixed-$Λ$ and unimodular propagators using the path integral formalism as applied to the Einstein-Cartan action. The simplicity of the action (which is linear in the lapse function) allows for an exact integration starting from the lapse function and the enforcement of the Hamiltonian constraint, leading to a product of Chern-Simons states if the connection is fixed at the endpoints. No saddle point approximation is needed. Should the metric be fixed at the endpoints, then, depending on the contour chosen for the connection, Hartle-Hawking or Vilenkin propagators are obtained. Th…
In this paper we investigate the gravitational-wave generation problem at the first post-Newtonian order in the context of Einstein-Cartan theory by exploiting the Blanchet-Damour formalism. The quantum intrinsic spin carried by slowly moving, weakly stressed, weakly self-gravitating sources is described geometrically by means of the torsion tensor. We obtain the expression of the source multipole moments with the required accuracy. The analysis of the physical meaning of the lowest-order non-radiative moments and of the asymptotic gravitational waveform is also performed. Eventually, we draw …
We define a procedure that, starting from a relativistic theory of supergravity, leads to a consistent, non-relativistic version thereof. As a first application we use this limiting procedure to show how the Newton-Cartan formulation of non-relativistic gravity can be obtained from general relativity. Then we apply it in a supersymmetric case and derive a novel, non-relativistic, off-shell formulation of three-dimensional Newton-Cartan supergravity.
Holst term represents an interesting addition to the Einstein-Cartan theory of gravity with torsion. When this term is present the contact interactions between vector and axial vector fermion currents gain an extra parity-violating component. We re-derive this interaction using a simple representation for the Holst term. The same representation serves as a useful basis for the calculation of one-loop divergences in the theory with external fermionic currents and cosmological constant. Furthermore, we explore the possibilities of the on-shell version of renormalization group and construct the e…
This paper reviews the Einstein Cartan theory (ECT), the famous extension of general relativity (GR) in presence of spacetime torsion. The vacuum equations are derived step by step. Vielbein formulation is discussed for determining the field equations in presence of matter. This review would be easily comprehensible for any student familiar with general relativity. Further, ECT is used to describe superstrings with intrinsic torsion, assuming a $D_p$-brane in presence of a curved background of the NS-NS Kalb-Ramond field. D-brane worldvolume is a flat spacetime governed by the Dirac-Born-Infel…
By introducing diffeomorphism and local Lorentz gauge invariant holonomy fields, we study in the recent article [S.-S. Xue, Phys. Rev. D82 (2010) 064039] the quantum Einstein-Cartan gravity in the framework of Regge calculus. On the basis of strong coupling expansion, mean-field approximation and dynamical equations satisfied by holonomy fields, we present in this Letter calculations and discussions to show the phase structure of the quantum Einstein-Cartan gravity, (i) the order phase: long-range condensations of holonomy fields in strong gauge couplings; (ii) the disorder phase: short-range …
On the basis of an algebraic relation between torsion and a classical spinor field a new interpretation of Einstein-Cartan gravity interacting with classical spinor field is proposed. In this approach the spinor field becomes an auxiliary field and the dynamical equation for this field (the Heisenberg equation) is a dynamical, gravitational equation for torsion. The simplest version of this theory is examined where the metric degrees of freedom are frozen and only torsion plays a role. A spherically symmetric solution of this theory is examined. This solution can be interpreted, in the spirit …
Unimodular gravity is an interesting approach to address the cosmological constant problem, since the vacuum energy density of quantum fields does not gravitate in this framework, and the cosmological constant appears as an integration constant. These features arise as a consequence of considering a constrained volume element 4-form that breaks the diffeomorphisms invariance down to volume preserving diffeomorphisms. In this work, the first-order formulation of unimodular gravity is presented by considering the spin density of matter fields as a source of spacetime torsion. Even though the mos…
We demonstrate that from the first order formulation of the Einstein-Cartan action it is possible to derive the basic differential identity that leads to translational invariance of the action in the tangent space. The transformations of fields is written explicitly for both the first and second order formulations and the group properties of transformations are studied. This, combined with the preliminary results from the Hamiltonian formulation (arXiv:0907.1553 [gr-qc]), allows us to conclude that without any modification, the Einstein-Cartan action in any dimension higher than two possesses …
We present a detailed analysis of the construction of $z=2$ and $z\neq2$ scale invariant Hořava-Lifshitz gravity. The construction procedure is based on the realization of Hořava-Lifshitz gravity as the dynamical Newton-Cartan geometry as well as a non-relativistic tensor calculus in the presence of the scale symmetry. An important consequence of this method is that it provides us the necessary mechanism to distinguish the local scale invariance from the local Schrödinger invariance. Based on this result we discuss the $z=2$ scale invariant Hořava-Lifshitz gravity and the symmetry enhancement …
We propose a modification of Einstein-Cartan gravity equations. The modified cosmology departs from the standard model of cosmology for small Hubble parameter. A characteristic Hubble scale h0, which is intrinsically related to cosmological constant, marks the boundary between the validity domains of the standard model of cosmology and modified cosmology. For large Hubble parameter, the standard model of cosmology is restored. In the opposite limit of small Hubble parameter, which is the case for present epoch, Lorentz-violating effects would manifest themselves. One of the implications is tha…
We study inflation driven by the Higgs field in the Einstein-Cartan formulation of gravity. In this theory, the presence of the Holst and Nieh-Yan terms with the Higgs field non-minimally coupled to them leads to three additional coupling constants. For a broad range of parameters, we find that inflation is both possible and consistent with observations. In most cases, the spectral index is given by $n_s=1-2/N_\star$ (with $N_\star$ the number of e-foldings) whereas the tensor-to-scalar ratio $r$ can vary between about $10^{-10}$ and $1$. Thus, there are scenarios of Higgs inflation in the Ein…
We study the Weyl vector fields which can play an important role in quantum gravity. The metric obtains its dynamical content after dynamical symmetry breaking in the phase of the effective Einstein gravity which is induced by quantum Weyl corrections. In low energy regime with scalar field there is a relation between the Weyl vector fields and the torsion fields. If this condition is given to Weyl vector fields and torsions, then the Lagrangian becomes like Maxwell type.
Two of the major open questions in particle physics are: (1) Why are the elementary fermionic particles that are so far observed have such low mass-energy compared to the Planck energy scale? And (2), what mechanical energy may be counterbalancing the divergent electrostatic and strong force energies of point-like charged fermions in the vicinity of the Planck scale? In this paper, using a hitherto unrecognized mechanism derived from the non-linear amelioration of Dirac equation known as the Hehl-Datta equation within Einstein-Cartan-Sciama-Kibble (ECSK) extension of general relativity, we pre…
We formulate the Einstein-Cartan-Dirac equations in the Newman-Penrose (NP) formalism, thereby presenting a more accurate and explicit analysis of previous such studies. The equations show in a transparent way how the Einstein-Dirac equations are modified by the inclusion of torsion. In particular, the Hehl-Datta equation is presented in NP notation. We then describe a few solutions of the Hehl-Datta equation on Minkowski space-time, and in particular report a solitonic solution which removes the unphysical behavioiur of the corresponding Dirac solution. The present work serves as a prelude to…
A general geometric construction of a generic null hypersurface in presence of torsion in the spacetime (Riemann-Cartan background), generated by a null vector $l^a$, is being developed here. We then explicitly define and structure various corresponding kinematical quantities. The dynamics of the null surface, particularly given by $\hat{G}_{ab}k^al^b$, is also discussed. The later one is constructed under the {\it geodesic constraint} condition. This yields a relation among the rate of change of expansion scalar corresponding to auxiliary null vector $k^a$ and various kinematical entities on …
The identification of a suitable gravitational energy in theories of gravity has a long history, and it is well known that a unique answer cannot be given. In the first part of this paper we present a streamlined version of the derivation of Freud's superpotential in general relativity. It is found if we once integrate the gravitational field equation by parts. This allows us to extend these results directly to the Einstein-Cartan theory. Interestingly, Freud's original expression, first stated in 1939, remains valid even when considering gravitational theories in Riemann-Cartan or, more gener…
A Palatini-type action for Einstein and Gauss-Bonnet gravity with non-trivial torsion is proposed. Three-form flux is incorporated via a deformation of the Riemann tensor, and consistency of the Palatini variational principle requires the flux to be covariantly constant and to satisfy a Jacobi identity. Studying gravity actions of third order in the curvature leads to a conjecture about general Palatini-Lovelock-Cartan gravity. We point out potential relations to string-theoretic Bianchi identities and, using the Schouten-Nijenhuis bracket, derive a set of Bianchi identities for the non-geomet…
We construct an action for four-dimensional extended string Newton-Cartan gravity which is an extension of the string Newton-Cartan gravity that underlies nonrelativistic string theory. The action can be obtained as a nonrelativistic limit of the Einstein-Hilbert action in General Relativity augmented with a term that contains an auxiliary two-form and one-form gauge field that both have zero flux on-shell. The four-dimensional extended string Newton-Cartan gravity is based on a central extension of the algebra that underlies string Newton-Cartan gravity. The construction is similar to the ear…
We derive the equations of motion for an $N$-body system in the Einstein-Cartan gravity theory at the first post-Newtonian order by exploiting the Weyssenhoff fluid as the spin model. Our approach consists in performing the point-particle limit of the continuous description of the gravitational source. The final equations provide a hint for the validity of the effacing principle at 1PN level in Einstein-Cartan model. The analogies with the general relativistic dynamics involving the macroscopic angular momentum are also discussed.
Model of Riemann-Cartan gravity with varying signature of metric is considered. The basic dynamical variables of the formalism are vierbein, spin connection, and an internal metric in the tangent space. The corresponding action contains new terms, which depend on these fields. In general case the signature of the metric is determined dynamically. The Minkowski signature is preferred dynamically because the configurations with the other signatures are dynamically suppressed. We also discuss briefly the motion of particles in the background of the modified black hole configuration, in which insi…
Recently it has been established that torsional Newton-Cartan (TNC) geometry is the appropriate geometrical framework to which non-relativistic field theories couple. We show that when these geometries are made dynamical they give rise to Horava-Lifshitz (HL) gravity. Projectable HL gravity corresponds to dynamical Newton-Cartan (NC) geometry without torsion and non-projectable HL gravity corresponds to dynamical NC geometry with twistless torsion (hypersurface orthogonal foliation). We build a precise dictionary relating all fields (including the scalar khronon), their transformations and oth…
We construct a "stringy" version of Newton-Cartan gravity in which the concept of a Galilean observer plays a central role. We present both the geodesic equations of motion for a fundamental string and the bulk equations of motion in terms of a gravitational potential which is a symmetric tensor with respect to the longitudinal directions of the string. The extension to include a non-zero cosmological constant is given. We stress the symmetries and (partial) gaugings underlying our construction. Our results provide a convenient starting point to investigate applications of the AdS/CFT correspo…
