36,694 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
versio
Kinematics of a Spacetime with an Infinite Cosmological Constant
A solution of the sourceless Einstein's equation with an infinite value for
the cosmological constant \Lambda is discussed by using Inonu-Wigner
contractions of the de Sitter groups and spaces. When \Lambda --> infinity,
spacetime becomes a four-dimensional cone, dual to Minkowski space by a
spacetime inversion. This inversion relates the four-cone vertex to the
infinity of Minkowski space, and the four-cone infinity to the Minkowski
light-cone. The non-relativistic limit c --> infinity is further considered,
the kinematical group in this case being a modified Galilei group in which the
space and time translations are replaced by the non-relativistic limits of the
corresponding proper conformal transformations. This group presents the same
abstract Lie algebra as the Galilei group and can be named the conformal
Galilei group. The results may be of interest to the early Universe Cosmology.Comment: RevTex, 7 pages, no figures. Presentation changes, including a new
Title. Version to appear in Found. Phys. Let
Vortices in the presence of a nonmagnetic atom impurity in 2D XY ferromagnets
Using a model of nonmagnetic impurity potential, we have examined the
behavior of planar vortex solutions in the classical two-dimensional XY
ferromagnets in the presence of a spin vacancy localized out of the vortex
core. Our results show that a spinless atom impurity gives rise to an effective
potential that repels the vortex structure.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures, RevTex
Quantized fields and gravitational particle creation in f(R) expanding universes
The problem of cosmological particle creation for a spatially flat,
homogeneous and isotropic Universes is discussed in the context of f(R)
theories of gravity. Different from cosmological models based on general
relativity theory, it is found that a conformal invariant metric does not
forbid the creation of massless particles during the early stages (radiation
era) of the Universe.Comment: 14 pages, 2 figure
- …