Modified Gravity and Cosmology

The task of quantizing general relativity raises serious questions about the meaning of the present formulation and interpretation of quantum mechanics when applied to so fundamental a structure as the space-time geometry itself. This paper seeks to clarify the foundations of quantum mechanics. It presents a reformulation of quantum theory in a form believed suitable for application to general relativity. The aim is not to deny or contradict the conventional formulation of quantum theory, which has demonstrated its usefulness in an overwhelming variety of problems, but rather to supply a new, more general and complete formulation, from which the conventional interpretation can be deduced. The relationship of this new formulation to the older formulation is therefore that of a metatheory to a theory, that is, it is an underlying theory in which the nature and consistency, as well as the realm of applicability, of the older theory can be investigated and clarified.

"relative State" Formulation of Quantum Mechanics

Superstring theoryをめぐって(放談室)

There is strong evidence that the area of any surface limits the information content of adjacent spacetime regions, at $1.4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{69}$ bits per square meter. This article reviews the developments that have led to the recognition of this entropy bound, placing special emphasis on the quantum properties of black holes. The construction of light sheets, which associate relevant spacetime regions to any given surface, is discussed in detail. This article explains how the bound is tested, and its validity is demonstrated in a wide range of examples. A universal relation between geometry and information is thus uncovered. It has yet to be explained. The holographic principle asserts that its origin must lie in the number of fundamental degrees of freedom involved in a unified description of spacetime and matter. It must be manifest in an underlying quantum theory of gravity. This article surveys some successes and challenges in implementing the holographic principle.

The Holographic principle

Loop quantum cosmology (LQC) is the result of applying principles of loop quantum gravity (LQG) to cosmological settings. The distinguishing feature of LQC is the prominent role played by the quantum geometry effects of LQG. In particular, quantum geometry creates a brand new repulsive force which is totally negligible at low spacetime curvature but rises very rapidly in the Planck regime, overwhelming the classical gravitational attraction. In cosmological models, while Einstein's equations hold to an excellent degree of approximation at low curvature, they undergo major modifications in the Planck regime: for matter satisfying the usual energy conditions, any time a curvature invariant grows to the Planck scale, quantum geometry effects dilute it, thereby resolving singularities of general relativity. Quantum geometry corrections become more sophisticated as the models become richer. In particular, in anisotropic models, there are significant changes in the dynamics of shear potentials which tame their singular behavior in striking contrast to older results on anisotropies in bouncing models. Once singularities are resolved, the conceptual paradigm of cosmology changes and one has to revisit many of the standard issues—e.g. the 'horizon problem'—from a new perspective. Such conceptual issues as well as potential observational consequences of the new Planck scale physics are being explored, especially within the inflationary paradigm. These considerations have given rise to a burst of activity in LQC in recent years, with contributions from quantum gravity experts, mathematical physicists and cosmologists. The goal of this review is to provide an overview of the current state of the art in LQC for three sets of audiences: young researchers interested in entering this area; the quantum gravity community in general and cosmologists who wish to apply LQC to probe modifications in the standard paradigm of the early universe. In this review, effort has been made to streamline the material so that each of these communities can read only the sections they are most interested in, without loss of continuity.

/pdf/loop-quantum-cosmology-a-status-report-1zx4841jrd.pdf

Loop Quantum Cosmology: A Status Report

It is argued that cosmological models that feature a flow of energy from dark energy to dark matter may solve the coincidence problem of late acceleration (i.e., ''why the energy densities of both components are of the same order precisely today?). However, much refined and abundant observational data of the redshift evolution of the Hubble factor are needed to ascertain whether they can do the job.

Interacting models may be key to solve the cosmic coincidence problem

It is argued that cosmological models that feature a flow of energy from dark energy to dark matter may solve the coincidence problem of late acceleration (i.e., "why the energy densities of both components are of the same order precisely today?"). However, much refined and abundant observational data of the redshift evolution of the Hubble factor are needed to ascertain whether they can do the job.

Warm inflationary universe models in a tachyon field theory are studied. General conditions required for these models to be realizable are derived and discussed. We describe scalar perturbations (in the longitudinal gauge) and tensor perturbations for these scenarios. We develop our models for a constant dissipation parameter Γ in one case and one dependent on in the other case. We have been successful in describing such inflationary universe models. We use recent astronomical observations for constraining the parameters appearing in our model. Also, our results are compared with their analogues found in the cool inflationary case.

https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1475-7516/2006/10/009/pdf

Tachyon warm inflationary universe models

In this paper we study the emergent universe model in the context of a self-interacting Jordan–Brans–Dicke theory. The model presents a stable past eternal static solution which eventually enters a phase where the stability of this solution is broken leading to an inflationary period. We also establish constraints for the different parameters appearing in our model.

/pdf/emergent-universe-in-a-jordan-brans-dicke-theory-ez63lejwhr.pdf

Sergio del Campo

Papers

Interacting models may be key to solve the cosmic coincidence problem

Interacting models may be key to solve the cosmic coincidence problem

Tachyon warm inflationary universe models

Emergent universe in a Jordan-Brans-Dicke theory

(2+1)-dimensional black hole with Coulomb-like field