Three-manifold invariants and their relation with the fundamental group

We consider the 3-manifold invariant I(M) which is defined by means of the Chern-Simons quantum field theory and which coincides with the Reshetikhin-Turaev invariant. We present some arguments and numerical results supporting the conjecture that, for nonvanishing I(M), the absolute value | I(M) | only depends on the fundamental group \pi_1 (M) of the manifold M. For lens spaces, the conjecture is proved when the gauge group is SU(2). In the case in which the gauge group is SU(3), we present numerical computations confirming the conjecture.Comment: 22 pages, Latex document, two eps figure

FRW Cosmological Perturbations in Massive Bigravity

Cosmological perturbations of FRW solutions in ghost free massive bigravity, including also a second matter sector, are studied in detail. At early time, we find that sub horizon exponential instabilities are unavoidable and they lead to a premature departure from the perturbative regime of cosmological perturbations.Comment: latex, 14 page

Disformal invariance of continuous media with linear equation of state

We show that the effective theory describing single component continuous media with a linear and constant equation of state of the form $p=w\rho$ is invariant under a 1-parameter family of continuous disformal transformations. In the special case of $w=1/3$ (ultrarelativistic gas), such a family reduces to conformal transformations. As examples, perfect fluids, homogeneous and isotropic solids are discussed.Comment: latex, 7 page

ΔN\Delta N Formalism and Conserved Currents in Cosmology

The $\Delta N$ formalism, based on the counting of the number of e-folds during inflation in different local patches of the Universe, has been introduced several years ago as a simple and physically intuitive approach to calculate (non-linear) curvature perturbations from inflation on large sales, without resorting to the full machinery of (higher-order) perturbation theory. Later on, it was claimed the equivalence with the results found by introducing a conserved fully non-linear current $\zeta_\mu$, thereby allowing to directly connect perturbations during inflation to late-Universe observables. We discus some issues arising from the choice of the initial hyper-surface in the $\Delta N$ formalism. By using a novel exact expression for $\zeta_\mu$, valid for any barotropic fluid, we find that it is not in general related to the standard uniform density curvature perturbation $\zeta$; such a result conflicts with the claimed equivalence with $\Delta N$ formalism. Moreover, a similar analysis is done for the proposed non-perturbative generalization ${\cal R}_\mu$ of the comoving curvature perturbation ${\cal R}$.Comment: 19 pages, 1 figures. Final version accepted for publication in JCAP. Title slightly changed to avoid confusion with existing literature. Expanded content with the same conclusion

Weak Massive Gravity

We find a new class of theories of massive gravity with five propagating degrees of freedom where only rotations are preserved. Our results are based on a non-perturbative and background-independent Hamiltonian analysis. In these theories the weak field approximation is well behaved and the static gravitational potential is typically screened \`a la Yukawa at large distances, while at short distances no vDVZ discontinuity is found and there is no need to rely on nonlinear effects to pass the solar system tests. The effective field theory analysis shows that the ultraviolet cutoff is (m M_PL)^1/2 ~ 1/\mu m, the highest possible. Thus, these theories can be studied in weak-field regime at all the phenomenologically interesting scales, and are candidates for a calculable large-distance modified gravity.Comment: 5 page

The Fate of the Radion in Models with Metastable Graviton

We clarify some general issues in models where gravity is localized at intermediate distances. We introduce the radion mode, which is usually neglected, and we point out that its role in the model is crucial. We show that the brane bending effects discussed in the literature can be obtained in a formalism where the physical origin is manifest. The model violates positivity of energy due to a negative tension brane, which induces a negative kinetic term for the radion. The very same effect that violates positivity is responsible for the recovery of conventional Einstein gravity at intermediate distances.Comment: Latex file, 13 page