So far, none of attempts to quantize gravity has led to a satisfactory model that not only describe gravity in the realm of a quantum world, but also its relation to elementary particles and other fundamental forces. Here, we outline the preliminary results for a model of quantum universe, in which gravity is fundamentally and by construction quantic. The model is based on three well motivated assumptions with compelling observational and theoretical evidence: quantum mechanics is valid at all scales; quantum systems are described by their symmetries; universe has infinite independent degrees of freedom. The last assumption means that the Hilbert space of the Universe has $SU(N\rightarrow \infty) \cong \text{area preserving Diff.} (S_2)$ symmetry, which is parameterized by two angular variables. We show that, in the absence of a background spacetime, this Universe is trivial and static. Nonetheless, quantum fluctuations break the symmetry and divide the Universe to subsystems. When a subsystem is singled out as reference -- observer -- and another as clock, two more continuous parameters arise, which can be interpreted as distance and time. We identify the classical spacetime with parameter space of the Hilbert space of the Universe. Therefore, its quantization is meaningless. In this view, the Einstein equation presents the projection of quantum dynamics in the Hilbert space into its parameter space. Finite dimensional symmetries of elementary particles emerge as a consequence of symmetry breaking when the Universe is divided to subsystems/particles, without having any implication for the infinite dimensional symmetry and its associated interaction - perceived as gravity. This explains why gravity is a universal force.
We consider alternative inflationary cosmologies in massive gravity with degenerate reference metrics and study the feasibilities of the emergent universe scenario, bouncing and cyclic universes. We focus on the construction of the Einstein static universe, classes of exact solutions of bouncing and cyclic universes in degenerate massive gravity. We further study the stabilities of the Einstein static universe against both homogeneous and inhomogeneous scalar perturbations and give the parameters region for a stable Einstein static universe.
One of the fundamental open questions in cosmology is whether we can regard the universe evolution without singularity like a Big Bang or a Big Rip. This challenging subject stimulates one to regard a nonsingular universe in the far past with an arbitrarily large vacuum energy. Considering the high energy regime in the cosmic history, it is believed that Einstein gravity should be corrected to an effective energy dependent theory which could be acquired by gravity's rainbow. On the other hand, employing massive gravity provided us with solutions to some of the long standing fundamental problem…
By rescaling the Gauss-Bonnet (GB) coupling constant $α\rightarrow α/(D-4)$ and considering the $D \rightarrow 4$ limit, the GB gravity gives rise to nontrivial modification of general relativity in four dimensions. In this work, we investigate the realization of the emergent universe scenario in the $4 D$ GB gravity. First, we obtain the Einstein static universe filled with a perfect fluid. Then, we show that both spatially closed and open universes can be stable against both homogeneous and inhomogeneous scalar perturbations simultaneously.
We develop a nonperturbative quantum field formalism to describe scalar gauge-invariant metric flucturations in the early universe from a 5D apparent (Ricci flat) vacuum.
We illustrate the recently proposed generalized unimodular gravity using simple examples of the Friedmann, Kantowski-Sachs and Schwarzschild geometries and show that it can be further generalized and reveal some unexpected and interesting effects.
A one-parameter deformation of Einstein?Hilbert gravity with an inverse Riemann curvature term is derived as the classical limit of quantum gravity compatible with an accelerating universe. This result is based on the investigation of semi-classical theories with sectional curvature bounds which are shown not to admit static spherically symmetric black holes if otherwise of phenomenological interest. We discuss the impact on the canonical quantization of gravity, and observe that worldsheet string theory is not affected.
In the paper, hep-th/0501055 (R.G. Cai and S.P. Kim, JHEP {\bf 0502}, 050 (2005)), it is shown that by applying the first law of thermodynamics to the apparent horizon of an FRW universe and assuming the geometric entropy given by a quarter of the apparent horizon area, one can derive the Friedmann equations describing the dynamics of the universe with any spatial curvature; using the entropy formula for the static spherically symmetric black holes in Gauss-Bonnet gravity and in more general Lovelock gravity, where the entropy is not proportional to the horizon area, one can also obtain the co…
We shall in the framework of Bohmian quantum gravity show that it is possible to find a {\it pure} quantum state which leads to the static Einstein universe whose classical counterpart is flat space--time. We obtain the solution not only in the long--wavelength approximation but also exactly.
Motivated by the dark energy issue, the one-loop quantization approach for a class of relativistic higher order theories is discussed in some detail. A specific F(R,P,Q) gravity model at the one-loop level in a de Sitter universe is investigated, extending the similar program developed for the case of $F(R)$ gravity. The stability conditions under arbitrary perturbations are derived.
In three spacetime dimensions, general relativity drastically simplifies, becoming a ``topological'' theory with no propagating local degrees of freedom. Nevertheless, many of the difficult conceptual problems of quantizing gravity are still present. In this review, I summarize the rather large body of work that has gone towards quantizing (2+1)-dimensional vacuum gravity in the setting of a spatially closed universe.
We show in a fully covariant way that, there exist a class of $f(R)$ models for which a shear-free, almost FLRW universe can expand and rotate at the same time .
We apply the recently proposed transfer matrix formalism to 2-dimensional quantum gravity coupled to $(2, 2k-1)$ minimal models. We find that the propagation of a parent universe in geodesic (Euclidean) time is accompanied by continual emission of baby universes and derive a distribution function describing their sizes. The $k\to \infty~ (c\to -\infty)$ limit is generally thought to correspond to classical geometry, and we indeed find a classical peak in the universe distribution function. However, we also observe dramatic quantum effects associated with baby universes at finite length scales.
By making use of the background field method, the one-loop quantization for Euclidean Einstein-Weyl quadratic gravity model on the de Sitter universe is investigated. Using generalized zeta function regularization, the on-shell and off-shell one-loop effective actions are explicitly obtained and one-loop renormalizability, as well as the corresponding one-loop renormalization group equations, are discussed. The so called critical gravity is also considered.
We study the modified theory of gravity in Friedmann Robertson Walker universe composed of several perfect fluids. We consider the power law inflation and determine the equation of state parameters in terms of the parameters of modified gravity's Lagrangian in the early universe. We also discuss briefly the gravitational baryogenesis in this model.
We study the condition for the consistency of the Gödel metric with the dynamical Chern-Simons modified gravity. It turns out to be that this compatibility can be achieved only if the cosmological constant is variable in the space.
Quantum gravity of a brane-like Universe is formulated, and its Einstein limit is approached. Regge-Teitelboim embedding of Arnowitt-Deser-Misner formalism is carried out. Invoking a novel Lagrange multiplier, accompanying the lapse function and the shift vector, we derive the quadratic Hamiltonian and the corresponding bifurcated Wheeler-Dewitt-like equation. The inclusion of arbitrary matter resembles minimal coupling.
In this work, we try to obtain a stable Lemaitre-Tolman-Bondi (LTB) static universe, which is spherically symmetric and radially inhomogeneous. However, this is not an easy task, and fails in general relativity (GR) and various modified gravity theories, because the corresponding LTB static universes must reduce to the Friedmann-Robertson-Walker (FRW) static universes. We find a way out in a new type of modified gravity theory, in which the conservation of energy and momentum is broken. In this work, we have proposed a novel modification to the original Rastall gravity. In some sense, our Rast…
We measure the fractal structure of four dimensional simplicial quantum gravity by identifying so-called baby universes. This allows an easy determination of the critical exponent $\g$ connected to the entropy of four-dimensional manifolds.
The modified field equations are written in logarithmic and power law versions of entropy corrected models in Einstein's gravity in the background of FRW universe. In one section, a brief review of the Ho$\check{\text r}$ava-Lifshitz gravity is discussed and the modified field equations in logarithmic and power law versions of entropy corrected models in Ho$\check{\text r}$ava-Lifshitz gravity are formulated. The stability analysis for these models are performed by describing the dynamical system. In another section, a brief review of the fractal universe is presented and the modified field eq…
We consider the effects on cosmology of higher-derivative modifications of (effective) gravity that make it asymptotically free without introducing ghosts. The weakening of gravity at short distances allows pressure to prevent the singularity, producing a solution with contraction preceding expansion.
In an induced-gravity model, the stability condition of an inflationary slow-rollover solution is shown to be $ϕ_0 \partial_{ϕ_0}V(ϕ_0)=4V(ϕ_0)$. The presence of higher derivative terms will, however, act against the stability of this expanding solution unless further constraints on the field parameters are imposed. We find that these models will acquire a non-vanishing cosmological constant at the end of inflation. Some models are analyzed for their implication to the early universe.
We study Kaluza-Klein cosmology in cuscuton gravity and find an exact solution describing an accelerating 4-dimensional universe with a stable extra dimension. A cuscuton which is a non-dynamical scalar field is responsible for the accelerating expansion and a vector field makes the extra dimensional space stable. Remarkably, the accelerating universe in our model is not exactly de Sitter.
The dynamics of the dust-shell model of universe is exactly solved for the modified Schwarzschild solution. This solution is used to derive the cosmology corresponding to the modified gravity.
It is shown that the acceleration of the universe can be understood by considering a F(T) gravity models. For these F(T) gravity models, a variant of the accelerating cosmology reconstruction program is developed. Some explicit examples of F(T) are reconstructed from the background FRW expansion history.
We discuss the modified gravity which may produce the current cosmic aceleration of the universe and eliminates the need for dark energy. It is shown that such models where the action quickly grows with the decrease of the curvature define the FRW universe with the minimal curvature. It is required the infinite time to reach the minimal curvature during the universe evolution. It is demonstrated that quantum effects of conformal fields may strongly suppress the instabilities discovered in modified gravity. We also briefly speculate on the modification of gravity combined with the presence of t…
We perform the phase space analysis in terms of the linearization technique in the Hořava-Lifshitz gravity with the softly broken detailed balance condition. It can be shown that the bouncing universe appears only for the positive spatial curvature of $k=+1$, and it is possible to obtain oscillating universe with the help of the negative dark radiation and the negative cosmological constant.
We present a brief overview of the stability analysis of the Einstein static universe in various modified theories of gravity, like f(R) gravity, Gauss-Bonnet or f(G) gravity, and Horava-Lifshitz gravity.
It has been shown that Friedmann equation of FRW universe can be derived from the first law of thermodynamics in Einstein gravity, Gauss-Bonnet gravity, Lovelock gravity, scalar-tensor gravity and $f(R)$ gravity. Moreover, it was pointed out that the temperature of the apparent horizon can be obtained using the tunneling formalism for the corresponding observers defined by Kodama vector. In this article, we find that the energy flux through the apparent horizon can be determined by using the Kodama vector. This implies the fact that the Clausius relation and the first law of thermodynamics ass…
The deformed z=2 Horava-Lifshitz gravity with coupling constant w leads to a nonrelativistic "mixmaster" cosmological model. The potential of theory is given by the sum of IR and UV potentials in the ADM Hamiltonian formalism. It turns out that adding the UV-potential cannot suppress chaotic behaviors existing in the IR-potential.
The recently proposed theory of "Asymptotically Free Mimetic Gravity" is extended to the general non-homogeneous, spatially non-flat case. We present a modified theory of gravity which is free of higher derivatives of the metric. In this theory asymptotic freedom of gravity implies the existence of a minimal black hole with vanishing Hawking temperature. Introducing a spatial curvature dependent potential, we moreover obtain non-singular, bouncing modifications of spatially non-flat Friedmann and Bianchi universes.
In this work, we consider an emergent universe in generalized gravity theories like the chameleon, f(R) and f(T) gravities. We reconstruct the potential of the chameleon field under the emergent scenario of the universe and observe its increasing nature with the evolution of the universe. We reveal that in the emergent universe scenario, the equation-of-state parameter behaves like quintessence in the case of f(R) gravity and like phantom in the case of f(T) gravity.
It is found that, when the coupling constants $α_p$ in the theory of regularized Lovelock gravity are properly chosen and the number of Lovelock tensors $p\rightarrow \infty$, there exist a fairly large number of nonsingular (singularity free) black holes and nonsingular universes. Some nonsingular black holes have numerous horizons and numerous energy levels (a bit like atom) inside the outer event horizon. On the other hand, some nonsingular universes start and end in two de Sitter phases. The ratio of energy densities for the two phases are $120$ orders. It is thus helpful to understand the…
Massive gravity is a modified theory of general relativity. In this paper, we study, using a method in which the scale factor changes as a particle in a "potential", all possible cosmic evolutions in a ghost-free massive gravity. We find that there exists, in certain circumstances, an oscillating universe or a bouncing one. If the universe starts at the oscillating region, it may undergo a number of oscillations before it quantum mechanically tunnels to the bounce point and then expand forever. But going back to the singularity from the oscillating region is physically not allowed. So, the big…
We study a 5-dimensional $f({\cal R})$ brane gravity within the framework of scalar-tensor type theories. We show that such a model predicts, for a certain choice of $f({\cal R})$ and a spatially flat universe, an exponential potential, leading to an accelerated expanding universe driven solely by the curvature of the bulk space. This result is consistent with the observational data in the cosmological scale.
Lorentz gauge theory of gravity was recently introduced. We study the homogeneous and isotropic universe of this theory. It is shown that some time after the matter in the universe is diluted enough, at $z \sim 0.6$, the decelerating expansion shifts spontaneously to an accelerating one without a dark energy. We discuss that Lorentz gauge theory puts no constraint on the total energy content of the universe at present time and therefore the magnitude of vacuum energy predicted by field theory is not contradictory anymore. It is demonstrated that in this theory the limit on the number of relati…
In this paper, we will study the rainbow deformation of the FRW cosmology in both Einstein gravity and Gauss-Bonnet gravity. We will demonstrate that the singularity in the FRW cosmology can be removed because of the rainbow deformation of the FRW metric. We will obtain the general constraints required for the FRW cosmology to be free from singularities. It will be observed that the inclusion of Gauss-Bonnet gravity can significantly change the constraints required to obtain a nonsingular universes. We will use a rainbow functions motivated from the hard spectra of gamma-ray bursts to deform t…
We discuss how a cyclic model for the flat universe can be constructively derived from Loop Quantum Gravity. This model has a lower bounce, at small values of the scale factor, which shares many similarities with that of Loop Quantum Cosmology. We find that quantum gravity corrections can be also relevant at energy densities much smaller than the Planckian one and that they can induce an upper bounce at large values of the scale factor.
We investigate if a recently introduced formulation of general relativity on a Weyl-integrable geometry, contains cosmological solutions exhibiting acceleration in the present cosmic expansion. We derive the general conditions to have acceleration in the expansion of the universe and obtain a particular solution for the Weyl scalar field describing a cosmological model for the present time in concordance with the data combination Planck + WP + BAO + SN.
We consider the possibility to produce a bouncing universe in the framework of scalar-tensor gravity models in which the scalar field potential may be negative, and even unbounded from below. We find a set of viable solutions with nonzero measure in the space of initial conditions passing a bounce, even in the presence of a radiation component, and approaching a constant gravitational coupling afterwards. Hence we have a model with a minimal modification of gravity in order to produce a bounce in the early universe with gravity tending dynamically to general relativity (GR) after the bounce.
The goal of this short report is to summarise some key results based on our previous works on model independent tests of gravity at large scales in the Universe, their connection with the properties of gravitational waves, and the implications of the recent measurement of the speed of tensors for the phenomenology of general families of gravity models for dark energy.
We analyze the problem of black body radiation in the presence of quantum gravity effects encoded in modified dispersion relations and in a model universe with large extra dimensions. In this context, modified form of Planck distribution, Jeans number, equipartition theorem, spectral energy density, Stefan-Boltzmann law and Wien's law are found and the corresponding results are interpreted. Then, entropy and specific heat of black body radiation are obtained in this setup. Finally, the modified form of Debye law and Dulong-Petit law are investigated in this framework.
The intriguing question, why the present scale of the universe is free from any perceptible footprints of rank-2 antisymmetric tensor fields? (generally known as Kalb-Ramond fields) is addressed. A quite natural explanation of this issue is given from the angle of higher-curvature gravity, both in four- and in five-dimensional spacetime. The results here obtained reveal that the amplitude of the Kalb-Ramond field may be actually large and play a significant role during the early universe, while the presence of higher-order gravity suppresses this field during the cosmological evolution, so tha…
We investigate the evolution of the Universe filled with barotropic perfect fluid in Eddington-inspired Born-Infeld gravity. We consider both the isotropic and the anisotropic universe. At the early stage when the energy density is high, the evolution is modified considerably compared with that in general relativity. For the equation-of-state parameter $w>0$, the initial singularity is not accompanied as it was discovered for radiation in earlier work. More interestingly, for pressureless dust ($w=0$), the initial state approaches a de Sitter state. This fact opens a new possibility of singula…
We extend the formalism of Hamiltonian string bit models of quantum gravity type in two spacetime dimensions to include couplings to particles. We find that the single-particle closed and open universe models respectively behave like empty open and closed universes, and that a system of two distinguishable particles in a closed universe behaves like an empty closed universe. We then construct a metamodel that contains all such models, and find that its transition amplitude is exactly the same as the sl(2) gravity model.
In the Rastall gravity a non-minimal coupling between geometry and matter fields is considered. Then the usual energy-momentum tensor conservation law is not valid. Here a Lagrangian formalism is proposed to the Rastall theory of gravity. The Gödel-type universe is studied in this gravitational model. Then it is studied whether this theory permits causality violation. The field equations do not exclude solutions with a breakdown of causality for a perfect fluid as matter content. In this case, an expression for the critical radius (beyond which the causality is violated) is determined. In addi…
We consider a model belonging to the class of gravities with dynamical torsion. The model is free of ghosts and gradient instabilities about Minkowski and torsionless Einstein backgrounds. We find that at zero cosmological constant, the model admits a self-accelerating solution with non-Riemannian connection. Small value of the effective cosmological constant is obtained at the expense of the hierarchy between the dimensionless couplings.
We illustrate a general reconstruction procedure for mimetic gravity. Focusing on a bouncing cosmological background, we derive general properties that must be satisfied by the function $f(\Boxϕ)$ implementing the limiting curvature hypothesis. We show how relevant physical information can be extracted from power law expansions of $f$ in different regimes, corresponding e.g. to the very early universe or to late times. Our results are then applied to two specific models reproducing the cosmological background dynamics obtained in group field theory and in loop quantum cosmology, and we discuss…
The Ekpyrotic scenario is studied in the context of some extensions of Hořava-Lifshitz gravity. Some particular solutions that lead to cyclic Hubble parameters are analyzed, where the corresponding gravitational actions are reconstructed by using several techniques and auxiliary fields. Its comparison with standard $F(R)$ gravity is performed. In addition, the so-called Little Rip, a stage of the universe evolution when some bounded systems may be dissolute, is also studied in this frame of theories.
In the scope of the nonlinear massive gravity, we study fixed points of evolution equations for a Bianchi type--I universe. We find a new attractor solution with non-vanishing anisotropy, on which the physical metric is isotropic but the Stuckelberg configuration is anisotropic. As a result, at the background level, the solution describes a homogeneous and isotropic universe, while a statistical anisotropy is expected from perturbations, suppressed by smallness of the graviton mass.
Here we propose the extended modified gravity theory named as $f(R,G,\mathcal{T})$ gravity where $R$ is the Ricci scalar, $G$ is the Gauss-Bonnet invariant and $\mathcal{T}$ is the trace of the stress-energy tensor. We derive the gravitational field equations in $f(R,G,\mathcal{T})$ gravity by taking least action principle. Next we construct the $f(R,G,\mathcal{T})$ in terms of $R$, $G$ and $\mathcal{T}$ in de Sitter as well as power law expansion. We also construct $f(R,G,\mathcal{T})$ if the expansion follows the finite time future singulary (big rip singularity). We investigate the energy c…
In this paper, we investigate the validity of the generalized second law of thermodynamics of the universe bounded by the event horizon. Here we consider homogeneous and isotropic model of the universe filled with perfect fluid in one case and in another case holographic model of the universe has been considered. In the third case the matter in the universe is taken in the form of non-interacting two fluid system as holographic dark energy and dust. Here we study the above cases in the Modified gravity, f(R) gravity.
We study the dynamics of isotropic and homogeneous universes in the generalized Hořava-Lifshitz gravity, and classify all possible evolutions of vacuum spacetime. In the case without the detailed balance condition, we find a variety of phase structures of vacuum spacetimes depending on the coupling constants as well as the spatial curvature $K$ and a cosmological constant $Λ$. A bounce universe solution is obtained for $Λ> 0, K=\pm 1$ or $Λ= 0, K=- 1$, while an oscillation spacetime is found for $Λ\geq 0, K=1$, or $Λ< 0, K=\pm 1$. We also propose a quantum tunneling scenario from an oscillatin…
We consider the possibility to produce a bouncing universe in the framework of scalar-tensor gravity when the scalar field has a nonconformal coupling to the Ricci scalar. We prove that bouncing universes regular in the future with essentially the same dynamics as for the conformal coupling case do exist when the coupling deviates slightly from it. This is found numerically for more substantial deviations as well. In some cases however new features are found like the ability of the system to leave the effective phantom regime.
It is discussed a truncation of the kinematical Hilbert space of Loop Quantum Gravity, which describes the dynamical system associated with an inhomogeneous cosmological model.
A generic feature of viable exponential $F(R)$-gravity is investigated. An additional modification to stabilize the effective dark energy oscillations during matter era is proposed and applied to two viable models. An analysis on the future evolution of the universe is performed. Furthermore, a unified model for early and late-time acceleration is proposed and studied.
We analyze the stability of the Einstein static universe by considering homogeneous scalar perturbations in the context of f(R) modified theories of gravity. By considering specific forms of f(R), the stability regions of the solutions are parameterized by a linear equation of state parameter w=p/rho. Contrary to classical general relativity, it is found that in f(R) gravity a stable Einstein cosmos with a positive cosmological constant does indeed exist. Thus, we are lead to conclude that, in principle, modifications in f(R) gravity stabilize solutions which are unstable in general relativity…
For certain models, the energy of the universe which includes the energy of both the matter and the gravitational fields is obtained by using the quasilocal energy-momentum in teleparallel gravity. It is shown that in the case of the Bianchi type I and II universes, not only the total energy but also the quasilocal energy-momentum for any region vanishes independently of the three dimensionless coupling constants of teleparallel gravity.
