7,833 research outputs found
Weak Gravitational Lensing in Fourth Order Gravity
For a general class of analytic
we discuss the gravitational lensing in the Newtonian Limit of theory. From the
properties of Gauss Bonnet invariant it is successful to consider only two
curvature invariants between the Ricci and Riemann tensor. Then we analyze the
dynamics of photon embedded in a gravitational field of a generic
-Gravity. The metric is time independent
and spherically symmetric. The metric potentials are Schwarzschild-like, but
there are two additional Yukawa terms linked to derivatives of with respect
to two curvature invariants. Considering the case of a point-like lens, and
after of a generic matter distribution of lens, we study the deflection angle
and the images angular position. Though the additional Yukawa terms in the
gravitational potential modifies dynamics with respect to General Relativity,
the geodesic trajectory of photon is unaffected by the modification in the
action by only . While we find different results (deflection angle
smaller than one of General Relativity) only thank to introduction of a generic
function of Ricci tensor square. Finally we can affirm the lensing phenomena
for all -Gravities are equal to the ones known from General Relativity.
We conclude the paper showing and comparing the deflection angle and image
positions for -Gravity with respect to
ones of General Relativity.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figure
Conformal Transformations and Weak Field Limit of Scalar-Tensor Gravity
The weak field limit of scalar tensor theories of gravity is discussed in
view of conformal transformations. Specifically, we consider how physical
quantities, like gravitational potentials derived in the Newtonian
approximation for the same scalar-tensor theory, behave in the Jordan and in
the Einstein frame. The approach allows to discriminate features that are
invariant under conformal transformations and gives contributions in the debate
of selecting the true physical frame. As a particular example, the case of
gravity is considered.Comment: 11 pages, preliminary versio
Astrophysical constraints on extended gravity models
We investigate the propagation of gravitational waves in the context of
fourth order gravity nonminimally coupled to a massive scalar field. Using the
damping of the orbital period of coalescing stellar binary systems, we impose
constraints on the free parameters of extended gravity models. In particular,
we find that the variation of the orbital period is a function of three mass
scales which depend on the free parameters of the model under consideration; we
can constrain these mass scales from current observational data.Comment: 22 pages; minor changes to match published versio
TAX SUBSIDIES AND THE PROVISION OF HEALTH INSURANCE IN SMALL FIRMS
This paper examines the effects of tax subsidies to employer provided health insurance on the distribution of insurance across firms of different sizes. I present a simple model which shows that the tax subsidies may increase the provision of insurance in smaller firms and hence help equalize the distribution of health benefits across firms. I then test this hypothesis using data in both the United States and Canada. My findings indicate that the subsidies reduce the disparity in coverage levels between large and small firms and promote insurance through the workplace instead of on the private market. These findings imply that the tax subsidies may be distorting the labor market by allowing a number of small firms to offer health insurance.
Galaxy rotation curves in -gravity
We investigate the possibility to explain theoretically the galaxy rotation
curves by a gravitational potential in total absence of dark matter. To this
aim an analytic fourth-order theory of gravity, nonminimally coupled with a
massive scalar field is considered. Specifically, the interaction term is given
by an analytic function where is the Ricci scalar and is
the scalar field. The gravitational potential is generated by a point-like
source and compared with the so called Sanders's potential that can be exactly
reproduced in this case. This result means that the problem of dark matter in
spiral galaxies could be fully addressed by revising general relativity at
galactic scales and requiring further gravitational degrees of freedom instead
of new material components that have not been found out up to now.Comment: 17 pages, 6 figures. To appear in Phys. Rev.
Open Cell Conducting Foams for High Synchrotron Radiation Beam Liners
The possible use of open-cell conductive foams in high synchrotron radiation
particle accelerator beam liners is considered. Available materials and
modeling tools are reviewed, potential pros and cons are discussed, and
preliminary conclusions are drawn.Comment: 21 pages, 5 figures, 3 tables, 51 references, submitted to PR-STA
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