1,767 research outputs found
Teleparallel Theories of Gravity: Illuminating a Fully Invariant Approach
Teleparallel gravity and its popular generalization gravity can be
formulated as fully invariant (under both coordinate transformations and local
Lorentz transformations) theories of gravity. Several misconceptions about
teleparallel gravity and its generalizations can be found in the literature,
especially regarding their local Lorentz invariance. We describe how these
misunderstandings may have arisen and attempt to clarify the situation. In
particular, the central point of confusion in the literature appears to be
related to the inertial spin connection in teleparallel gravity models. While
inertial spin connections are commonplace in special relativity, and not
something inherent to teleparallel gravity, the role of the inertial spin
connection in removing the spurious inertial effects within a given frame of
reference is emphasized here. The careful consideration of the inertial spin
connection leads to the construction of a fully invariant theory of
teleparallel gravity and its generalizations. Indeed, it is the nature of the
spin connection that differentiates the relationship between what have been
called good tetrads and bad tetrads and clearly shows that, in principle, any
tetrad can be utilized. The field equations for the fully invariant formulation
of teleparallel gravity and its generalizations are presented and a number of
examples using different assumptions on the frame and spin connection are
displayed to illustrate the covariant procedure. Various modified teleparallel
gravity models are also briefly reviewed.Comment: v2: 72 pages, revised version, references added, matches published
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Conformal Invariance in Einstein-Cartan-Weyl space
We consider conformally invariant form of the actions in Einstein, Weyl,
Einstein-Cartan and Einstein-Cartan-Weyl space in general dimensions() 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 of two
scalar fields of conformal weight -1, which can be cast into some interesting
form. We discuss some applications of the result.Comment: 10 pages, version to appear MPL
Angular size test on the expansion of the Universe
Assuming the standard cosmological model as correct, the average linear size
of galaxies with the same luminosity is six times smaller at z=3.2 than at z=0,
and their average angular size for a given luminosity is approximately
proportional to 1/z. Neither the hypothesis that galaxies which formed earlier
have much higher densities nor their luminosity evolution, mergers ratio, or
massive outflows due to a quasar feedback mechanism are enough to justify such
a strong size evolution. Also, at high redshift, the intrinsic ultraviolet
surface brightness would be prohibitively high with this evolution, and the
velocity dispersion much higher than observed. We explore here another
possibility to overcome this problem by considering different cosmological
scenarios that might make the observed angular sizes compatible with a weaker
evolution.
One of the models explored, a very simple phenomenological extrapolation of
the linear Hubble law in a Euclidean static universe, fits the angular size vs.
redshift dependence quite well, which is also approximately proportional to 1/z
with this cosmological model. There are no free parameters derived ad hoc,
although the error bars allow a slight size/luminosity evolution. The type Ia
supernovae Hubble diagram can also be explained in terms of this model with no
ad hoc fitted parameter.
WARNING: I do not argue here that the true Universe is static. My intention
is just to discuss which theoretical models provide a better fit to the data of
observational cosmology.Comment: 44 pages, accepted to be published in Int. J. Mod. Phys.
Inflating wormholes in the braneworld models
The braneworld model, in which our Universe is a three-brane embedded in a
five-dimensional bulk, allows the existence of wormholes, without any violation
of the energy conditions. A fundamental ingredient of traversable wormholes is
the violation of the null energy condition (NEC). However, in the brane world
models, the stress energy tensor confined on the brane, threading the wormhole,
satisfies the NEC. In conventional general relativity, wormholes existing
before inflation can be significantly enlarged by the expanding spacetime. We
investigate the evolution of an inflating wormhole in the brane world scenario,
in which the wormhole is supported by the nonlocal brane world effects. As a
first step in our study we consider the possibility of embedding a
four-dimensional brane world wormhole into a five dimensional bulk. The
conditions for the embedding are obtained by studying the junction conditions
for the wormhole geometry, as well as the full set of the five dimensional bulk
field equations. For the description of the inflation we adopt the chaotic
inflation model. We study the dynamics of the brane world wormholes during the
exponential inflation stage, and in the stage of the oscillating scalar field.
A particular exact solution corresponding to a zero redshift wormhole is also
obtained. The resulting evolution shows that while the physical and geometrical
parameters of a zero redshift wormhole decay naturally, a wormhole satisfying
some very general initial conditions could turn into a black hole, and exist
forever.Comment: 30 pages, no figures, accepted for publication in CQ
Covariant gravitational dynamics in 3+1+1 dimensions
We develop a 3+1+1 covariant formalism with cosmological and astrophysical
applications. First we give the evolution and constraint equations both on the
brane and off-brane in terms of 3-space covariant kinematical,
gravito-electro-magnetic (Weyl) and matter variables. We discuss the junction
conditions across the brane in terms of the new variables. Then we establish a
closure condition for the equations on the brane. We also establish the
connection of this formalism with isotropic and anisotropic cosmological
brane-worlds. Finally we derive a new brane solution in the framework of our
formalism: the tidal charged Taub-NUT-(A)dS brane, which obeys the closure
condition.Comment: 35 pages 1 fig; significantly expanded with (a) new closure condition
on the brane, (b) discussion of anisotropic brane-worlds, (c) stationary
vacuum space-times with local rotational symmetry including (d) a new tidal
charged Taub-NUT-(A)dS brane solution; published version
Upstream-binding factor is sequestered into herpes simplex virus type 1 replication compartments
Previous reports have shown that adenovirus recruits nucleolar protein upstream-binding factor (UBF) into adenovirus DNA replication centres. Here, we report that despite having a different mode of viral DNA replication, herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) also recruits UBF into viral DNA replication centres. Moreover, as with adenovirus, enhanced green fluorescent protein-tagged fusion proteins of UBF inhibit viral DNA replication. We propose that UBF is recruited to the replication compartments to aid replication of HSV-1 DNA. In addition, this is a further example of the role of nucleolar components in viral life cycle
Gravastar energy conditions revisited
We consider the gravastar model where the vacuum phase transition between the
de Sitter interior and the Schwarzschild or Schwarzschild-de Sitter exterior
geometries takes place at a single spherical delta-shell. We derive sharp
analytic bounds on the surface compactness (2m/r) that follow from the
requirement that the dominant energy condition (DEC) holds at the shell. In the
case of Schwarzschild exterior, the highest surface compactness is achieved
with the stiff shell in the limit of vanishing (dark) energy density in the
interior. In the case of Schwarzschild-de Sitter exterior, in addition to the
gravastar configurations with the shell under surface pressure, gravastar
configurations with vanishing shell pressure (dust shells), as well as
configurations with the shell under surface tension, are allowed by the DEC.
Respective bounds on the surface compactness are derived for all cases. We also
consider the speed of sound on the shell as derived from the requirement that
the shell is stable against the radial perturbations. The causality requirement
(sound speed not exceeding that of light) further restricts the space of
allowed gravastar configurations.Comment: LaTeX/IOP-style, 16 pages, 2 figures, changes wrt v1: motivation for
eq. (6) clarified, several referecnes added (to appear in Class. Quantum
Grav.
An ecological approach to problems of Dark Energy, Dark Matter, MOND and Neutrinos
Modern astronomical data on galaxy and cosmological scales have revealed
powerfully the existence of certain dark sectors of fundamental physics, i.e.,
existence of particles and fields outside the standard models and inaccessible
by current experiments. Various approaches are taken to modify/extend the
standard models. Generic theories introduce multiple de-coupled fields A, B, C,
each responsible for the effects of DM (cold supersymmetric particles), DE
(Dark Energy) effect, and MG (Modified Gravity) effect respectively. Some
theories use adopt vanilla combinations like AB, BC, or CA, and assume A, B, C
belong to decoupled sectors of physics. MOND-like MG and Cold DM are often
taken as opposite frameworks, e.g. in the debate around the Bullet Cluster.
Here we argue that these ad hoc divisions of sectors miss important clues from
the data. The data actually suggest that the physics of all dark sectors is
likely linked together by a self-interacting oscillating field, which governs a
chameleon-like dark fluid, appearing as DM, DE and MG in different settings. It
is timely to consider an interdisciplinary approach across all semantic
boundaries of dark sectors, treating the dark stress as one identity, hence
accounts for several "coincidences" naturally.Comment: 12p, Proceedings to the 6-th Int. Conf. of Gravitation and Cosmology.
Neutrino section expande
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