Covariant Lagrangian Formulation of Chern-Simons and BF Theories

We investigate the covariant formulation of Chern-Simons theories in a general odd dimension which can be obtained by introducing a vacuum connection field as a reference. Field equations, Noether currents and superpotentials are computed so that results are easily compared with the well-known results in dimension 3. Finally we use this covariant formulation of Chern-Simons theories to investigate their relation with topological BF theories.Comment: 23 pages, refs. adde

Dark Energy Dominance and Cosmic Acceleration in First Order Formalism

The current accelerated universe could be produced by modified gravitational dynamics as it can be seen in particular in its Palatini formulation. We analyze here a specific non-linear gravity-scalar system in the first order Palatini formalism which leads to a FRW cosmology different from the purely metric one. It is shown that the emerging FRW cosmology may lead either to an effective quintessence phase (cosmic speed-up) or to an effective phantom phase. Moreover, the already known gravity assisted dark energy dominance occurs also in the first order formalism. Finally, it is shown that a dynamical theory able to resolve the cosmological constant problem exists also in this formalism, in close parallel with the standard metric formulation.Comment: 21 pages, LaTeX file, no figures. Replaced version to be published on Phys. Rev.

Extended Loop Quantum Gravity

We discuss constraint structure of extended theories of gravitation (also known as f(R) theories) in the vacuum selfdual formulation introduced in ref. [1].Comment: 7 pages, few typos correcte

Once again about quantum deformations of D=4 Lorentz algebra: twistings of q-deformation

This paper together with the previous one (arXiv:hep-th/0604146) presents the detailed description of all quantum deformations of D=4 Lorentz algebra as Hopf algebra in terms of complex and real generators. We describe here in detail two quantum deformations of the D=4 Lorentz algebra o(3,1) obtained by twisting of the standard q-deformation U_{q}(o(3,1)). For the first twisted q-deformation an Abelian twist depending on Cartan generators of o(3,1) is used. The second example of twisting provides a quantum deformation of Cremmer-Gervais type for the Lorentz algebra. For completeness we describe also twisting of the Lorentz algebra by standard Jordanian twist. By twist quantization techniques we obtain for these deformations new explicit formulae for the deformed coproducts and antipodes of the o(3,1)-generators.Comment: 17 page

Constraints on the quantum gravity scale from kappa - Minkowski spacetime

We compare two versions of deformed dispersion relations (energy vs momenta and momenta vs energy) and the corresponding time delay up to the second order accuracy in the quantum gravity scale (deformation parameter). A general framework describing modified dispersion relations and time delay with respect to different noncommutative kappa -Minkowski spacetime realizations is firstly proposed here and it covers all the cases introduced in the literature. It is shown that some of the realizations provide certain bounds on quadratic corrections, i.e. on quantum gravity scale, but it is not excluded in our framework that quantum gravity scale is the Planck scale. We also show how the coefficients in the dispersion relations can be obtained through a multiparameter fit of the gamma ray burst (GRB) data.Comment: 9 pages, final published version, revised abstract, introduction and conclusion, to make it clear to general reade

Universality of Einstein Equations for the Ricci Squared Lagrangians

It has been recently shown that, in the first order (Palatini) formalism, there is universality of Einstein equations and Komar energy-momentum complex, in the sense that for a generic nonlinear Lagrangian depending only on the scalar curvature of a metric and a torsionless connection one always gets Einstein equations and Komar's expression for the energy-momentum complex. In this paper a similar analysis (also in the framework of the first order formalism) is performed for all nonlinear Lagrangians depending on the (symmetrized) Ricci square invariant. The main result is that the universality of Einstein equations and Komar energy-momentum complex also extends to this case (modulo a conformal transformation of the metric).Comment: 21 pages, Late

Operational experience with the LHC waveguide mode reflectometer

The LHC microwave mode reflectometer (assembly version) reached operational status by the autumn of 2005. It is now routinely used in the LHC tunnel and on the surface to take data on the beam screens of the individual LHC magnets and also groups of magnets with lengths up to 100 meters. The reflectometer operates in the frequency range from about 4 GHz to 10 GHz and employs mode selective launchers. This paper discusses the operational aspects of the system as well as methods for clutter (fake reflection) elimination and procedures for cross-checks in case of a suspected obstacle or other faul