5,787 research outputs found
Noncommutative General Relativity
We define a theory of noncommutative general relativity for canonical
noncommutative spaces. We find a subclass of general coordinate transformations
acting on canonical noncommutative spacetimes to be volume-preserving
transformations. Local Lorentz invariance is treated as a gauge theory with the
spin connection field taken in the so(3,1) enveloping algebra. The resulting
theory appears to be a noncommutative extension of the unimodular theory of
gravitation. We compute the leading order noncommutative correction to the
action and derive the noncommutative correction to the equations of motion of
the weak gravitation field.Comment: v2: 10 pages, Discussion on noncommutative coordinate transformations
has been changed. Corresponding changes have been made throughout the pape
Cosmological Constant and Noncommutative Spacetime
We show that the cosmological constant appears as a Lagrange multiplier if
nature is described by a canonical noncommutative spacetime. It is thus an
arbitrary parameter unrelated to the action and thus to vacuum fluctuations.
The noncommutative algebra restricts general coordinate transformations to
four-volume preserving noncommutative coordinate transformations. The
noncommutative gravitational action is thus an unimodular noncommutative
gravity. We show that spacetime noncommutativity provides a very natural
justification to an unimodular gravity solution to the cosmological problem. We
obtain the right order of magnitude for the critical energy density of the
universe if we assume that the scale for spacetime noncommutativity is the
Planck scale.Comment: 7 page
Gravity-Yang-Mills-Higgs unification by enlarging the gauge group
We revisit an old idea that gravity can be unified with Yang-Mills theory by
enlarging the gauge group of gravity formulated as gauge theory. Our starting
point is an action that describes a generally covariant gauge theory for a
group G. The Minkowski background breaks the gauge group by selecting in it a
preferred gravitational SU(2) subgroup. We expand the action around this
background and find the spectrum of linearized theory to consist of the usual
gravitons plus Yang-Mills fields charged under the centralizer of the SU(2) in
G. In addition, there is a set of Higgs fields that are charged both under the
gravitational and Yang-Mills subgroups. These fields are generically massive
and interact with both gravity and Yang-Mills sector in the standard way. The
arising interaction of the Yang-Mills sector with gravity is also standard.
Parameters such as the Yang-Mills coupling constant and Higgs mass arise from
the potential function defining the theory. Both are realistic in the sense
explained in the paper.Comment: 61 pages, no figures (v2) some typos correcte
Two-dimensional gravity with a dynamical aether
We investigate the two-dimensional behavior of gravity coupled to a dynamical
unit timelike vector field, i.e. "Einstein-aether theory". The classical
solutions of this theory in two dimensions depend on one coupling constant.
When this coupling is positive the only solutions are (i) flat spacetime with
constant aether, (ii) de Sitter or anti-de Sitter spacetimes with a uniformly
accelerated unit vector invariant under a two-dimensional subgroup of SO(2,1)
generated by a boost and a null rotation, and (iii) a non-constant curvature
spacetime that has no Killing symmetries and contains singularities. In this
case the sign of the curvature is determined by whether the coupling is less or
greater than one. When instead the coupling is negative only solutions (i) and
(iii) are present. This classical study of the behavior of Einstein-aether
theory in 1+1 dimensions may provide a starting point for further
investigations into semiclassical and fully quantum toy models of quantum
gravity with a dynamical preferred frame.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figure
On the Trace-Free Einstein Equations as a Viable Alternative to General Relativity
The quantum field theoretic prediction for the vacuum energy density leads to
a value for the effective cosmological constant that is incorrect by between 60
to 120 orders of magnitude. We review an old proposal of replacing Einstein's
Field Equations by their trace-free part (the Trace-Free Einstein Equations),
together with an independent assumption of energy--momentum conservation by
matter fields. While this does not solve the fundamental issue of why the
cosmological constant has the value that is observed cosmologically, it is
indeed a viable theory that resolves the problem of the discrepancy between the
vacuum energy density and the observed value of the cosmological constant.
However, one has to check that, as well as preserving the standard cosmological
equations, this does not destroy other predictions, such as the junction
conditions that underlie the use of standard stellar models. We confirm that no
problems arise here: hence, the Trace-Free Einstein Equations are indeed viable
for cosmological and astrophysical applications.Comment: Substantial changes from v1 including added author, change of title
and emphasis of the paper although all original results of v1. remai
Vortices in fermion droplets with repulsive dipole-dipole interactions
Vortices are found in a fermion system with repulsive dipole-dipole
interactions, trapped by a rotating quasi-two-dimensional harmonic oscillator
potential. Such systems have much in common with electrons in quantum dots,
where rotation is induced via an external magnetic field. In contrast to the
Coulomb interactions between electrons, the (externally tunable) anisotropy of
the dipole-dipole interaction breaks the rotational symmetry of the
Hamiltonian. This may cause the otherwise rotationally symmetric exact
wavefunction to reveal its internal structure more directly.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure
Spin-3 Chromium Bose-Einstein Condensates
We analyze the physics of spin-3 Bose-Einstein condensates, and in particular
the new physics expected in on-going experiments with condensates of Chromium
atoms. We first discuss the ground-state properties, which, depending on still
unknown Chromium parameters, and for low magnetic fields can present various
types of phases. We also discuss the spinor-dynamics in Chromium spinor
condensates, which present significant qualitative differences when compared to
other spinor condensates. In particular, dipole-induced spin relaxation may
lead for low magnetic fields to transfer of spin into angular momentum similar
to the well-known Einstein-de Haas effect. Additionally, a rapid large
transference of population between distant magnetic states becomes also
possible.Comment: 4 pages, 3 eps figures. Error in the previous version correcte
Alternative derivation of the relativistic contribution to perihelic precession
An alternative derivation of the first-order relativistic contribution to
perihelic precession is presented. Orbital motion in the Schwarzschild geometry
is considered in the Keplerian limit, and the orbit equation is derived for
approximately elliptical motion. The method of solution makes use of coordinate
transformations and the correspondence principle, rather than the standard
perturbative approach. The form of the resulting orbit equation is similar to
that derived from Newtonian mechanics and includes first-order corrections to
Kepler's orbits due to general relativity. The associated relativistic
contribution to perihelic precession agrees with established first-order
results. The reduced radius for the circular orbit is in agreement to
first-order with that calculated from the Schwarzschild effective potential.
The method of solution is understandable by undergraduate students.Comment: 12 pages, 2 figures. Accepted for publication in the American Journal
of Physic
On the interaction of a single-photon wave packet with an excited atom
The interaction of a single-photon wave packet with an initially excited
two-level atom in free space is studied in semiclassical and quantum
approaches. It is shown that the final state of the field does not contain
doubly occupied modes. The process of the atom's transition to the ground state
may be accelerated, decelerated or even reversed by the incoming photon,
depending on parameters. The spectrum of emitted radiation is close to the sum
of the spectrum of the incoming single-photon wave packet and the natural line
shape, with small and complicated deviations.Comment: 17 pages, 5 figure
- …