On scale-free extensions of massive (bi-)gravity

We discuss a scale-free model of bigravity, in which the mass parameter of the standard bigravity potential is promoted to a dynamical scalar field. This modification retains the ghost-free bigravity structure, in particular it remains free of the Boulware-Deser ghost. We investigate the theory's interaction structure, focusing on its consistent scaling limits and strong coupling scales. Furthermore we explore the model's quadratic action, both around generic background configurations and paying special attention to cosmological backgrounds and to the associated background evolution. Finally we consider the possibility of realizing a phase of late-time acceleration as well as a quasi-de Sitter inflationary stage at early times, when the promoted "mass scalar" becomes the inflaton.Comment: 36 pages; v2 clarifying comments added, references updated, results unchange

The role of vector fields in modified gravity scenarios

Gravitational vector degrees of freedom typically arise in many examples of modified gravity models. We start to systematically explore their role in these scenarios, studying the effects of coupling gravitational vector and scalar degrees of freedom. We focus on set-ups that enjoy a Galilean symmetry in the scalar sector and an Abelian gauge symmetry in the vector sector. These symmetries, together with the requirement that the equations of motion contain at most two space-time derivatives, only allow for a small number of operators in the Lagrangian for the gravitational fields. We investigate the role of gravitational vector fields for two broad classes of phenomena that characterize modified gravity scenarios. The first is self-acceleration: we analyze in general terms the behavior of vector fluctuations around self-accelerating solutions, and show that vanishing kinetic terms of vector fluctuations lead to instabilities on cosmological backgrounds. The second phenomenon is the screening of long range fifth forces by means of Vainshtein mechanism. We show that if gravitational vector fields are appropriately coupled to a spherically symmetric source, they can play an important role for defining the features of the background solution and the scale of the Vainshtein radius. Our general results can be applied to any concrete model of modified gravity, whose low-energy vector and scalar degrees of freedom satisfy the symmetry requirements that we impose.Comment: 17 pages, no figures. v2: discussion improved, JCAP versio

Cosmic voids are emptier in the presence of symmetron's domain walls

The symmetron field has an environment (density) dependent behavior which is a common feature of the models with the screening mechanism and results in a rich phenomenology. This model can produce domain walls between regions with different densities. We consider this aspect and study the physics of domain walls in between (underdensity) voids and (overdensity) halo structures. The (spherical) domain walls exert a repulsive force on a test mass outside of the wall while a test mass inside of the wall sees no force. This makes the structures outside the voids go further to a larger radius. Effectively, this means the voids are becoming larger in this scenario in comparison to the standard model of cosmology. Interestingly, this makes voids emptier which may shed light on Peebles' void phenomenon.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, comments are welcom