Quantum Singularities in Horava-Lifshitz Cosmology

The recently proposed Horava-Lifshitz (HL) theory of gravity is analyzed from the quantum cosmology point of view. By employing usual quantum cosmology techniques, we study the quantum Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) universe filled with radiation in the context of HL gravity. We find that this universe is quantum mechanically nonsingular in two different ways: the expectation value of the scale factor $(t)$ never vanishes and, if we abandon the detailed balance condition suggested by Horava, the quantum dynamics of the universe is uniquely determined by the initial wave packet and no boundary condition at $a=0$ is indeed necessary.Comment: 13 pages, revtex, 1 figure. Final version to appear in PR

Tunneling probability for the birth of an universe with radiation in Horava-Lifshitz theory

In the present work, we study the birth of a homogeneous and isotropic Friedmann Lemaitre Robertson Walker (FLRW) cosmological model, considering Horava Lifshitz (HL) as the gravitational theory. The matter content of the model is a radiation perfect fluid. In order to study the birth of the universe in the present model, we consider the quantum cosmology mechanism of creation from nothing. In that mechanism, the universe appears after the wavefunction associated to that universe tunnels through a potential barrier. We started studying the classical model. We draw the phase portrait of the model and identify qualitatively all types of dynamical behaviors associated to it. Then, we write the Hamiltonian of the model and apply the Dirac quantization procedure to quantize a constrained theory. We find the appropriate Wheeler-DeWitt equation and solve it using the Wentzel Kramers Brillouin (WKB) approximation. Using the WKB solution, to the Wheeler DeWitt equation, we compute the tunneling probabilities for the birth of that universe (TPWKB). Since the WKB wavefunction depends on the radiation energy (E) and the free parameters coming from the HL theory (gc, gr, gs, gLambda), we compute the behavior of TPWKB as a function of E and all the HL parameters gc, gr, gs, gLambda.Comment: The paper has 20 pages and 9 figure

Lorentz symmetry is relevant

We set up a covariant renormalisation group equation on a foliated spacetime which preserves background diffeomorphism symmetry. As a first application of the new formalism, we study the effect of quantum fluctuations in Lorentz symmetry breaking theories of quantum gravity. It is found that once a small breaking is introduced e.g. at the Planck scale, quantum fluctuations enhance this breaking at low energies. A numerical analysis shows that the magnification is of order unity for trajectories compatible with a small cosmological constant. The immediate consequence is that the stringent observational constraints on Lorentz symmetry breaking are essentially scale-independent and must be met even at the Planck scale.Comment: 10 pages, 1 figur

Hypothesis on the Nature of Time

We present numerical evidence that fictitious diffusing particles in the causal dynamical triangulation (CDT) approach to quantum gravity exceed the speed of light on small distance scales. We argue this superluminal behaviour is responsible for the appearance of dimensional reduction in the spectral dimension. By axiomatically enforcing a scale invariant speed of light we show that time must dilate as a function of relative scale, just as it does as a function of relative velocity. By calculating the Hausdorff dimension of CDT diffusion paths we present a seemingly equivalent dual description in terms of a scale dependent Wick rotation of the metric. Such a modification to the nature of time may also have relevance for other approaches to quantum gravity.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figures. Conforms with version to be published in PRD. Clarifications and references adde

Mimetic gravity: a review of recent developments and applications to cosmology and astrophysics

Mimetic gravity is a Weyl-symmetric extension of General Relativity, related to the latter by a singular disformal transformation, wherein the appearance of a dust-like perfect fluid can mimic cold dark matter at a cosmological level. Within this framework, it is possible to provide an unified geometrical explanation for dark matter, the late-time acceleration, and inflation, making it a very attractive theory. In this review, we summarize the main aspects of mimetic gravity, as well as extensions of the minimal formulation of the model. We devote particular focus to the reconstruction technique, which allows the realization of any desired expansionary history of the Universe by an accurate choice of potential, or other functions defined within the theory (as in the case of mimetic $f(R)$ gravity). We briefly discuss cosmological perturbation theory within mimetic gravity. As a case study within which we apply the concepts previously discussed, we study a mimetic Ho\v{r}ava-like theory, of which we explore solutions and cosmological perturbations in detail. Finally, we conclude the review by discussing static spherically symmetric solutions within mimetic gravity, and apply our findings to the problem of galactic rotation curves. Our review provides an introduction to mimetic gravity, as well as a concise but self-contained summary of recent findings, progresses, open questions, and outlooks on future research directions.Comment: 68 pages, invited review to appear in Advances in High Energy Physic