Anisotropic simplicial minisuperspace model

The computation of the simplicial minisuperspace wavefunction in the case of anisotropic universes with a scalar matter field predicts the existence of a large classical Lorentzian universe like our own at late timesComment: 19 pages, Latex, 6 figure

Unfolding Physics from the Algebraic Classification of Spinor Fields

After reviewing the Lounesto spinor field classification, according to the bilinear covariants associated to a spinor field, we call attention and unravel some prominent features involving unexpected properties about spinor fields under such classification. In particular, we pithily focus on the new aspects --- as well as current concrete possibilities. They mainly arise when we deal with some non-standard spinor fields concerning, in particular, their applications in physics.Comment: 6 pages, accepted for publication in PL

Gravitational constraints of dS branes in AdS Einstein-Brans-Dicke bulk

We derive the full projected Einstein-Brans-Dicke gravitational equations associated with a n-dimensional brane embedded in a (n+1)-dimensional bulk. By making use of general conditions, as the positivity of the Brans-Dicke parameter and the effective Newton gravitational constant as well, we are able to constrain the brane cosmological constant in terms of the brane tension, the Brans-Dicke scalar field, and the trace of the stress tensor on the brane, in order to achieve a $dS$ brane. Applying these constraints to a specific five-dimensional model, a lower bound for the scalar field on the brane is elicited without solving the full equations. It is shown under which conditions the brane effective cosmological constant can be ignored in the brane projected gravitational field equations, suggesting a different fine tuning between the brane tension and the bulk cosmological.Comment: 9 pages, revTe

Schwarzschild generalized black hole horizon and the embedding space

By performing a Taylor expansion along the extra dimension of a metric describing a black hole on a brane, we explore the influence of the embedding space on the black hole horizon. In particular, it is shown that the existence of a Kottler correction of the black hole on the brane, in a viable braneworld scenario, might represent the radius of the black string collapsing to zero, for some point(s) on the black string axis of symmetry along the extra dimension. Further scrutiny on such black hole corrections by braneworld effects is elicited, the well-known results in the literature are recovered as limiting cases, and we assert and show that when the radius of the black string transversal section is zero, as one moves away from the brane into the bulk, is indeed a singularity.Comment: 7 pages, to appear in European Phys. J.

ELKO, flagpole and flag-dipole spinor fields, and the instanton Hopf fibration

In a previous paper we explicitly constructed a mapping that leads Dirac spinor fields to the dual-helicity eigenspinors of the charge conjugation operator (ELKO spinor fields). ELKO spinor fields are prime candidates for describing dark matter, and belong to a wider class of spinor fields, the so-called flagpole spinor fields, corresponding to the class-(5), according to Lounesto spinor field classification, based on the relations and values taken by their associated bilinear covariants. Such a mapping between Dirac and ELKO spinor fields was obtained in an attempt to extend the Standard Model in order to encompass dark matter. Now we prove that such a mapping, analogous to the instanton Hopf fibration map $S^3... S^7\to S^4$, prevents ELKO to describe the instanton, giving a suitable physical interpretation to ELKO. We review ELKO spinor fields as type-(5) spinor fields under the Lounesto spinor field classification, explicitly computing the associated bilinear covariants. This paper is also devoted to investigate some formal aspects of the flag-dipole spinor fields, which correspond to the class-(4) under the Lounesto spinor field classification. In addition, we prove that type-(4) spinor fields (corresponding to flag-dipoles) and ELKO spinor fields (corresponding to flagpoles) can also be entirely described in terms of the Majorana and Weyl spinor fields. After all, by choosing a projection endomorphism of the spacetime algebra Cl(1,3) it is shown how to obtain ELKO, flagpole, Majorana and Weyl spinor fields, respectively corresponding to type-(5) and -(6) spinor fields, uniquely from limiting cases of a type-(4) (flag-dipole) spinor field, in a similar result obtained by Lounesto.Comment: 17 Pages, RevTeX, accepted for publication in Adv. Appl. Clifford Al

Braneworld Remarks in Riemann-Cartan Manifolds

We analyze the projected effective Einstein equation in a 4-dimensional arbitrary manifold embedded in a 5-dimensional Riemann-Cartan manifold. The Israel-Darmois matching conditions are investigated, in the context where the torsion discontinuity is orthogonal to the brane. Unexpectedly, the presence of torsion terms in the connection does not modify such conditions whatsoever, despite of the modification in the extrinsic curvature and in the connection. Then, by imposing the Z_2-symmetry, the Einstein equation obtained via Gauss-Codazzi formalism is extended, in order to now encompass the torsion terms. We also show that the factors involving contorsion change drastically the effective Einstein equation on the brane, as well as the effective cosmological constant.Comment: 7 pages. A corrected misprint in def.(18), and the respective terms in Eqs.(20-23). All physical consequences remain unchange

Thick Braneworlds and the Gibbons-Kallosh-Linde No-go Theorem in the Gauss-Bonnet Framework

The sum rules related to thick braneworlds are constructed, in order to encompass Gauss-Bonnet terms. The generation of thick branes is hence proposed in a periodic extra dimension scenario, what circumvents the Gibbons-Kallosh-Linde no-go theorem in this context.Comment: 6 pages, to appear in the EPL. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1406.632

Hawking Radiation from Elko Particles Tunnelling across Black Strings Horizon

We apply the tunnelling method for the emission and absorption of Elko particles in the event horizon of a black string solution. We show that Elko particles are emitted at the expected Hawking temperature from black strings, but with a quite different signature with respect to the Dirac particles. We employ the Hamilton-Jacobi technique to black hole tunnelling, by applying the WKB approximation to the coupled system of Dirac-like equations governing the Elko particle dynamics. As a typical signature, different Elko particles are shown to produce the same standard Hawking temperature for black strings. However we prove that they present the same probability irrespective of outgoing or ingoing the black hole horizon. It provides a typical signature for mass dimension one fermions, that is different from the mass dimension three halves fermions inherent to Dirac particles, as different Dirac spinor fields have distinct inward and outward probability of tunnelling.Comment: 5 pages, notation for the event horizon changed, 4 lines removed, to appear in Europhys. Let