The linearized Einstein field equations provide a low-energy wave equation for the propagation of gravitational fields which may originate from a high energy source. Motivated by loop quantum gravity, we propose the polymer quantization scheme to derive the effective propagation of such waves on a classical Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) spacetime. To overcome the challenge of polymer quantizing a time-dependent Hamiltonian, we rewrite such a Hamiltonian in a time-independent manner in the extended phase space, polymerize it, and then transform it back to the usual phase space. In this way we obtain a time-dependent polymer Hamiltonian for the gravitational waves. We then derive the effective equations of motion and show that (i) the form of the waves is modified, (ii) the speed of the waves depends on their frequencies, and (iii) quantum effects become more apparent as waves traverse longer distances.
We investigate the asymptotia of decelerating and spatially flat FLRW spacetimes at future null infinity. We find that the asymptotic algebra of diffeomorphisms can be enlarged to the recently discovered Weyl-BMS algebra for asymptotically flat spacetimes by relaxing the boundary conditions. This algebra remains undeformed in the cosmological setting contrary to previous extensions of the BMS algebra. We then study the equations of motion for asymptotically FLRW spacetimes with finite fluxes and show that the dynamics is fully constrained by the energy-momentum tensor of the source. Finally, w…
The shape of the orbit of a free particle is examined in FLRW cosmologies. The spatial projection of the orbit is time-independent and has a simple geometric description. We relate this description to the expression in terms of standard FLRW coordinates.
In quantum theory of the free Dirac field on spatially flat FLRW spacetimes we introduce a new type of vacuum able to separate the positive and negative frequencies in the rest frames. This is refereed as the rest frame vacuum shoving that this differs from the adiabatic vacuum apart from the Minkowski spacetime where these two vacua coincide.
In this talk we review the appearance of new types of singularities (big rip, sudden singularities...) in FLRW cosmological models that have arisen on considering explanations for accelerated expansion of our universe.
We point out that past-incompleteness of geodesics in FLRW spacetimes does not necessarily imply that these spacetimes start from a singularity. Namely, if a test particle that follows such a trajectory has a non-vanishing velocity, its energy was super-Planckian at some time in the past if it kept following that geodesic. That indicates a breakdown of the particle's description, which is why we should not consider those trajectories for the definition of an initial singularity. When one only considers test particles that do not have this breakdown of their trajectory, it turns out that the on…
Conjugate points play an important role in the proofs of the singularity theorems of Hawking and Penrose. We examine the relation between singularities and conjugate points in FLRW spacetimes with a singularity. In particular we prove a theorem that when a non-comoving, non-spacelike geodesic in a singular FLRW spacetime obeys conditions (39) and (40), every point on that geodesic is part of a pair of conjugate points. The proof is based on the Raychaudhuri equation. We find that the theorem is applicable to all non-comoving, non-spacelike geodesics in FLRW spacetimes with non-negative spatial…
The quantum electrodynamics (QED) on a spatially flat $(1+3)$-dimensional Friedmann-Lema\^ itre-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) spacetime with a Milne-type scale factor is outlined focusing on the amplitudes of the allowed effects in the first order of perturbations. The definition of the transition rates is reconsidered obtaining an appropriate angular behavior of the probability of the pair creation from a photon.
The FLRW spacetimes can be realized as submanifolds of $\mathbb{R}^6$. In this paper we relate the Laplace-Beltrami operator for an homogeneous scalar field $ϕ$ of $\mathbb{R}^6$ to its explicit restriction on FLRW spacetimes. We then make the link between the homogeneous solutions of the equation $\square_6 ϕ= 0$ in $\mathbb{R}^6$ and those of the Klein-Gordon equation $(\square_{f} - ξR^f + m^2)ϕ^f=0 $ for the free field $ϕ^f$ in the FLRW spacetime. We obtain as a byproduct a formula for the Ricci scalar of the FRLW spacetime in terms of the function $f$ defining this spacetime in $\mathbb{R…
We propose a method of projecting the quantum states from a state space of a given geometry into another state space generated by a different geometry, taking care on the correct normalization which is crucial in interpreting the quantum theory. Thanks to this method we can define on any spatially flat FLRW spacetime states in which genuine Minkowskian parameters are measured. We use these Minkowskian states for separating the frequencies in the rest frames of the massive scalar particles defining thus the scalar rest frame vacuum. We show that this vacuum is stable on the de Sitter expanding …
Within the framework of adiabatic regularization, we present a simple formalism to calculate number density and renormalized energy-momentum density of spin 1/2 particles in spatially flat FLRW spacetimes using an appropriate WKB ansatz for the adiabatic expansion for the field modes. The conformal and axial anomalies thus found are in exact agreement with those obtained from other renormalization methods. This formalism can be considered as an appropriate extension of the techniques originally introduced for scalar fields, applicable to fermions in curved space.
This paper provides an analytical treatment of accelerated and geodesic motion within the framework of the Friedmann -Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) spacetime. By employing conformal time transformations we manage to convert second order differential equations of motion in FLRW spacetime to first order equations in the conformally transformed spacetime. This allows us to derive a general analytical solution in closed-form for accelerated motion in spatially curved FLRW spacetime. We provide few examples of this general solution for the spatially flat cases. The last part of our work focuses …
The geodesic deviation equation (`GDE') provides an elegant tool to investigate the timelike, null and spacelike structure of spacetime geometries. Here we employ the GDE to review these structures within the Friedmann--Lema\^ıtre--Robertson--Walker (`FLRW') models, where we assume the sources to be given by a non-interacting mixture of incoherent matter and radiation, and we also take a non-zero cosmological constant into account. For each causal case we present examples of solutions to the GDE and we discuss the interpretation of the related first integrals. The de Sitter spacetime geometry …
In the present article, we show that a simple modification to the Einstein-Hilbert action can explain the possibility of mutual interaction between the cosmic fluids. That is achieved considering the Weyl Integrable Spacetime in the background of a nonflat Friedmann-Lemnaître-Robertson-Walker geometry for the universe. We show that widely-known phenomenological interacting cosmological scenarios can naturally appear in this context. We then performed the dynamical system analysis of the underlying cosmological scenario and explored many possibilities extracted from this gravitational theory.
We consider the evolution of an initially FLRW universe after the formation of a long, straight, cosmic string with arbitrary tension and mass per unit length. The birth of the string sources scalar and tensor-type perturbations in the background metric and both density and velocity perturbations in the background fluid, which compensate for the string mass and maintain energy conservation. The former generate the deficit angle within the light cone of the string and a gravitational shock front at the cosmological horizon, whereas the latter are confined within the sound cone. We study the pro…
In this paper, we investigate the asymptotic structure of gauge theories in decelerating and spatially flat Friedmann-Lemaître-Robertson-Walker universes. Firstly, we thoroughly explore the asymptotic symmetries of electrodynamics in this background, which reveals a major inconsistency already present in the flat case. Taking advantage of this treatment, we derive the associated memory effects, discussing their regime of validity and differences with respect to their flat counterparts. Next, we extend our analysis to non-Abelian Yang-Mills, coupling it dynamically and simultaneously to a Dirac…
Geodesics are used in a wide array of applications in cosmology and astrophysics. However, it is not a trivial task to efficiently calculate exact geodesic distances in an arbitrary spacetime. We show that in spatially flat (3+1)-dimensional Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) spacetimes, it is possible to integrate the second-order geodesic differential equations, and derive a general method for finding both timelike and spacelike distances given initial-value or boundary-value constraints. In flat spacetimes with either dark energy or matter, whether dust, radiation, or a stiff fluid,…
The general formalism of the free Dirac fermions on spatially flat $(1+3)$-dimensional Friedmann-Lema\^ itre-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) spacetimes is developed in momentum representation. The mode expansions in terms of the fundamental spinors satisfying the charge conjugation and normalization conditions are used for deriving the structure of the anti-commutator matrix-functions and, implicitly, of the retarded, advanced, and Feynman fermion propagators. The principal result is that the new type of integral representation we proposed recently in the de Sitter case can be applied to the Dirac fer…
We show that the big bang is a coordinate singularity for a large class of $k = -1$ inflationary FLRW spacetimes which we have dubbed 'Milne-like.' By introducing a new set of coordinates, the big bang appears as a past boundary of the universe where the metric is no longer degenerate -- a result which has already been investigated in the context of vacuum decay [12]. We generalize their results and approach the problem from a more mathematical perspective. Similar to how investigating the geometrical properties of the $r = 2m$ event horizon in Schwarzschild led to a better understanding of bl…
We establish the future non-linear stability of Friedmann-Lema\^ıtre-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) solutions to the Einstein-Euler equations of the universe filled with a large class of perfect fluids (the equations of state are allowed to be certain nonlinear or linear types both). Several previous results as specific examples can be covered in the results of this article. We emphasize that the future stability of FLRW metric for polytropic fluids with positive cosmological constant has been a difficult problem and can not be directly generalized from the previous known results. Our result in this …
We investigate toroidal Marginally Outer Trapped Surfaces (MOTS) and Marginally Outer Trapped Tubes (MOTT) in closed Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) geometries. They are constructed by embedding Constant Mean Curvature (CMC) Clifford tori in a FLRW spacetime. This construction is used to assess the quality of certain isoperimetric inequalities, recently proved in axial symmetry. Similarly to spherically symmetric MOTS existing in FLRW spacetimes, the toroidal ones are also unstable.
In this paper we present the techniques for computing cosmological bounces in polynomial $f(R)$ theories, whose order is more than two, for spatially flat FLRW spacetime. In these cases the conformally connected Einstein frame shows up multiple scalar potentials predicting various possibilities of cosmological evolution in the Jordan frame where the $f(R)$ theory lives. We present a reasonable way in which one can associate the various possible potentials in the Einstein frame, for cubic $f(R)$ gravity, to the cosmological development in the Jordan frame. The issue concerning the energy condit…
McVittie spacetimes embed the vacuum Schwarzschild(-(anti) de Sitter) spacetime in an isotropic FLRW background universe. We study the global structure of McVittie spacetimes with spatially non-flat FLRW backgrounds. This requires the extension of the definition of such spacetimes, previously given only for the flat and open cases, to the closed case. We revisit this definition and show how it gives rise to a unique spacetime (given the FLRW background, the mass parameter $M$ and the cosmological constant $Λ$) in the open and flat cases. In the closed case, an additional free function of the c…
In this work we explore under a holographic approach the dark energy - dark matter interaction in a non-flat Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker spacetime, with a cut-off for the dark energy component given in terms of the Hubble scale. Based on results coming from the use of observational data, we consider a positive interaction $Q$-term together with a Chevallier-Polarsky-Linder type parametrization for the coincidence parameter, we realize that the model admits a Type III future singularity, in this singular universe we have that for a null value of the curvature parameter its scale factor …
In the present paper we provide new examples of marginally trapped surfaces and tubes in FLRW spacetimes by using a basic relation between these objects and CMC surfaces in 3-manifolds. We also provide a new method to construct marginally trapped surfaces in closed FLRW spacetimes, which is based on the classical Hopf map. The utility of this method is illustrated by providing marginally trapped surfaces crossing expanding and collapsing regions of a closed FLRW spacetime. The approach introduced in this paper is also extended to twisted spaces.
Stochastic gravitational wave background (SGWB) is a promising tool to probe the very early universe where the standard model of particle physics and cosmology are connected closely. As a possible component of SGWB, gravitational waves (GW) from bubble collisions during the first order cosmological phase transitions deserve comprehensive analyses. In 2017, Ryusuke Jinno and Masahiro Takimoto proposed an elegant analysis approach to derive the analytical expressions of energy spectra of GW from bubble collisions in Minkowski spacetime avoiding large-scale numerical simulations for the first tim…
We construct the quantum mechanical evolution operator in the Functional Schrodinger picture - the kernel - for a scalar field in spatially homogeneous FLRW spacetimes when the field is a) free and b) coupled to a spacetime dependent source term. The essential element in the construction is the causal propagator, linked to the commutator of two Heisenberg picture scalar fields. We show that the kernels can be expressed solely in terms of the causal propagator and derivatives of the causal propagator. Furthermore, we show that our kernel reveals the standard light cone structure in FLRW spaceti…
By means of a semiclassical analysis we show that the trace anomaly does not affect the cosmological constant. We calculate the evolution of the Hubble parameter in quasi de Sitter spacetime, where the Hubble parameter varies slowly in time, and in FLRW spacetimes. We show dynamically that a Universe consisting of matter with a constant equation of state, a cosmological constant and the quantum trace anomaly evolves either to the classical de Sitter attractor or to a quantum trace anomaly driven one. There is no dynamical effect that influences the effective value of the cosmological constant.
We obtain the correct hamiltonian which describes the dynamics of classes of asymptotic open Friedmann-Lema\^ıtre-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) spacetimes, which includes Tolman geometries. We calculate the surface term that has to be added to the usual hamiltonian of General Relativity in order to obtain an improved hamiltonian with well defined functional derivatives. For asymptotic flat FLRW spaces, this surface term is zero, but for asymptotic negative curvature FLRW spaces it is not null in general. In the particular case of the Tolman geometries, they vanish. The surface term evaluated on a pa…
In general relativity, an IDEAL (Intrinsic, Deductive, Explicit, ALgorithmic) characterization of a reference spacetime metric $g_0$ consists of a set of tensorial equations $T[g]=0$, constructed covariantly out of the metric $g$, its Riemann curvature and their derivatives, that are satisfied if and only if $g$ is locally isometric to the reference spacetime metric $g_0$. The same notion can be extended to also include scalar or tensor fields, where the equations $T[g,ϕ]=0$ are allowed to also depend on the extra fields $ϕ$. We give the first IDEAL characterization of cosmological FLRW spacet…
To investigate the relationship between gravity and thermodynamics in the case of dynamic systems, we interpret the apparent horizon of the Friedmann-Lemaître-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) spacetime as a thermodynamic system. We derive the corresponding fundamental equation in the entropy representation and explore the consequences of demanding the fulfillment of the classical laws of thermodynamics. We investigate in detail the case of an FLRW spacetime with and without cosmological constant. We show that the interpretation of the apparent horizon as a thermodynamic system is possible only under ce…
The propagation of a scalar field in an open FLRW bounce-type quantum spacetime is examined, which arises within the framework of the IKKT matrix theory. In the first part of the paper, we employ general-relativity tools to study null and timelike geodesics at the classical level. This analysis reveals that massless and massive non-interacting particles can travel across the big bounce. We then exploit quantum-field-theory techniques to evaluate the scalar field propagator. In the late-time regime, we find that it resembles the standard Feynman propagator of flat Minkowski space, whereas for e…
Null infinity in asymptotically flat spacetimes posses a rich mathematical structure; including the BMS group and the Bondi news tensor that allow one to study gravitational radiation rigorously. However, FLRW spacetimes are not asymptotically flat because their stress-energy tensor does not decay sufficiently fast and in fact diverges at null infinity. This class includes matter- and radiation-dominated FLRW spacetimes. We define a class of spacetimes whose structure at null infinity is similar to FLRW spacetimes: the stress-energy tensor is allowed to diverge and the conformal factor is not …
This note discusses possible quantum effects in the context of homogeneous flat FLRW and inhomogeneous LTB gravitational spherical collapse, which lead to bounce solutions.
