A Rotating Charged Black Hole Solution in f(R) Gravity

In the context of f(R) theories of gravity, we address the problem of finding a rotating charged black hole solution in the case of constant curvature. The new metric is obtained by solving the field equations and we show that the behavior of it is typical of a rotating charged source. In addition, we analyze the thermodynamics of the new black hole. The results ensures that the thermodynamical properties in f(R) gravities are qualitatively similar to those of standard General Relativity.Comment: 9 pages, no figure

A f(R) gravity without cosmological constant

In this work we consider the possibility of describing the current evolution of the universe, without the introduction of any cosmological constant or dark energy (DE), by modifying the Einstein-Hilbert (EH) action. In the context of the f(R) gravities within the metric formalism, we show that it is possible to find an action without cosmological constant which exactly reproduces the behavior of the EH action with cosmological constant. In addition the f(R) action is analytical at the origin having Minkowski and Schwarzschild as vacuum solutions. The found f(R) action is highly non-trivial and must be written in terms of hypergeometric functions but, in spite of looking somewhat artificial, it shows that the cosmological constant, or more generally the DE, is not a logical necessity.Comment: 5 pages, no figure

Some cosmological and astrophysical aspects of modified gravity theories

This thesis will try to contribute to the understanding of open issues in cosmology by considering f(R) and brane-world theories. In Chapter 1, we shall summarize the main features of f(R) gravities in the metric formalism and we shall introduce both the notion of brane excitations, the branons, and the brane-skyrmions. We shall finish the chapter by providing some insight about the possibility of mini black holes detection in the LHC as a signature for the validity of these modified gravity theories. The Chapter 2 will deal with f(R) theories able to mimic Einstein-Hilbert plus cosmological constant solutions and f(R) theories will be shown to be able to mimic the cosmological evolution generated by any perfect fluid with constant equation of state. The Chapter 3 will be devoted to the computation of cosmological perturbations for f(R) theories. Special attention will be paid here to obtain a completely general differential equation for the evolution of perturbations and its particularization for the so-called sub-Hubble scales will be explicitly shown. In the Chapter 4 we shall focus on the study of black holes in f(R) gravities in an arbitrary number of dimensions. With this purpose we shall study constant curvature solutions for f(R) theories as well as perturbative solutions around the standard SAdS geometry. An important part of this chapter will be then devoted to the thermodynamics of SAdS black holes in f(R) theories. In the Chapter 5 we will thoroughly study brane-skyrmions. In this context, the recent claim of detection of an unexpected feature in the CMB, referred to as the cold spot, will be explained as a topological defect on the brane in complete agreement with those calculations in the literature that tried to explain that cold spot as a texture of a NLSM. Main conclusions are summarized all together in Chapter 6 .Comment: PhD. thesis, April 2010, Complutense University of Madrid. 129 pages. Preface, five chapters and conclusions. Two appendice

Modified spinning black holes

In the context of f(R) modified gravity theories we determine that the black holes existence is determined by the sign of a parameter dependent of the mass, the charge, the spin and the scalar curvature. We obtain the different astrophysical objects derived from the presence of different horizons. Thermodynamics for this kind of black holes is studied for negative values of the curvature, revealing that we can distinguish between two kinds of BH: fast and slow.Comment: 4 pages, 6 figures, Contribution to the ERE2011 Spanish Relativity Meeting, Madrid 201

On the collapse in fourth order gravities

The gravitational collapse in fourth order theories of gravity defined by an arbitrary action of the scalar curvature shows significant deviations with General Relativity. The presence of a new scalar mode produces a higher initial contraction that favors the reduction of the collapsing time. However, depending on the particular model, there are fundamental differences when the modifications to the General Relativity collapse leave the linear regime. These analyses can be used to exclude an important region of the parameter space associated with alternative gravitational models.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, Contribution to the Proceedings of Spanish Relativity Meeting ERE2011, Madrid 201