Null energy condition and superluminal propagation
TL;DR: In this paper, the null energy condition is violated in a large class of situations, including isotropic solids and fluids relevant for cosmology, and the existence of superluminal modes is shown to imply the presence of instabilities.
Abstract: We study whether a violation of the null energy condition necessarily implies the presence of instabilities. We prove that this is the case in a large class of situations, including isotropic solids and fluids relevant for cosmology. On the other hand we present several counter-examples of consistent effective field theories possessing a stable background where the null energy condition is violated. Two necessary features of these counter-examples are the lack of isotropy of the background and the presence of superluminal modes. We argue that many of the properties of massive gravity can be understood by associating it to a solid at the edge of violating the null energy condition. We briefly analyze the difficulties of mimicking u H > 0 in scalar tensor theories of gravity.
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TL;DR: In this paper, it was shown that a quantized ideal fluid will generally exhibit a small but nonzero viscosity due to the backreaction of quantum sound waves on the background.
Abstract: We show that a quantized ideal fluid will generally exhibit a small but nonzero viscosity due to the backreaction of quantum sound waves on the background. We use an effective field theory expansion to estimate this viscosity to leading order in perturbation theory. We discuss our results and whether this estimate can be used to obtain a more model-independent estimate of the ``quantum bound'' on the viscosity of physical systems.
21 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors consider parity-odd transport in 2+1 dimensional charged fluids and derive a two-parameter family of non-dissipative fluids from an effective action.
Abstract: We consider parity-odd transport in 2+1 dimensional charged fluids restricting attention to the class of non-dissipative fluids. We show that there is a two parameter family of such non-dissipative fluids which can be derived from an effective action, in contradistinction with a four parameter family that can be derived from an entropy current analysis. The effective action approach allows us to extract the adiabatic transport data, in particular the Hall viscosity and Hall conductivity amongst others, in terms of the thermodynamic functions that enter as ‘coupling constants’. Curiously, we find that Hall viscosity is forced to vanish, whilst the Hall conductivity is generically a non-vanishing function of thermodynamic data determined in terms of the hydrodynamic couplings.
20 citations
TL;DR: Hall viscosity is a dissipationless transport coefficient whose value is quantized in units of the density in some topological phases and may be used as a measure of topological order.
Abstract: Hall viscosity is a dissipationless transport coefficient whose value is quantized in units of the density in some topological phases and may be used as a measure of topological order. I give an overview of the Hall viscosity, its relation to Hall conductivity in Galilean invariant theories and its realization in effective theories.
20 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors analyzed the thermodynamic properties of the Bogomol'nyi-Prasad-Sommerfield (BPS) Skyrme model in terms of the baryon chemical potential.
Abstract: We continue the investigation of thermodynamical properties of the Bogomol'nyi-Prasad-Sommerfield (BPS) Skyrme model. In particular, we analytically compute the baryon chemical potential both in the full field theory and in a mean-field approximation. In the full field theory case, we find that the baryon chemical potential is always exactly proportional to the baryon density, for arbitrary solutions. We further find that, in the MF approximation, the BPS Skyrme model approaches the Walecka model in the limit of high density - their thermodynamical functions as well as the equation of state agree in this limit. This fact allows one to read off some properties of the ω meson from the BPS Skyrme action, even though the latter model is entirely based on the (pionic) SU(2) Skyrme field. On the other hand, at low densities, at the order of the usual nuclear matter density, the equations of state of the two models are no longer universal, such that a comparison depends on some model details. Still, also the BPS Skyrme model gives rise to nuclear saturation in this regime, leading, in fact, to an exact balance between repulsive and attractive forces. The perfect fluid aspects of the BPS Skyrme model, which, together with its BPS properties, form the base of our results, are shown to be in close formal analogy with the Eulerian formulation of relativistic fluid dynamics. Within this analogy, the BPS Skyrme model, in general, corresponds to a nonbarotropic perfect fluid.
20 citations
TL;DR: It is shown that, in fact, sound waves do carry mass, in particular, gravitational mass, which implies that a sound wave not only is affected by gravity but also generates a tiny gravitational field, an aspect not appreciated thus far.
Abstract: We show that the commonly accepted statement that sound waves do not transport mass is only true at linear order. Using effective field theory techniques, we confirm the result found by Nicolis and Penco [Phys. Rev. B 97, 134516 (2018)PRBMDO2469-995010.1103/PhysRevB.97.134516] for zero-temperature superfluids, and extend it to the case of solids and ordinary fluids. We show that, in fact, sound waves do carry mass-in particular, gravitational mass. This implies that a sound wave not only is affected by gravity but also generates a tiny gravitational field, an aspect not appreciated thus far. Our findings are valid for nonrelativistic media as well, and could have intriguing experimental implications.
20 citations
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01 Jan 1973
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors discuss the General Theory of Relativity in the large and discuss the significance of space-time curvature and the global properties of a number of exact solutions of Einstein's field equations.
Abstract: Einstein's General Theory of Relativity leads to two remarkable predictions: first, that the ultimate destiny of many massive stars is to undergo gravitational collapse and to disappear from view, leaving behind a 'black hole' in space; and secondly, that there will exist singularities in space-time itself. These singularities are places where space-time begins or ends, and the presently known laws of physics break down. They will occur inside black holes, and in the past are what might be construed as the beginning of the universe. To show how these predictions arise, the authors discuss the General Theory of Relativity in the large. Starting with a precise formulation of the theory and an account of the necessary background of differential geometry, the significance of space-time curvature is discussed and the global properties of a number of exact solutions of Einstein's field equations are examined. The theory of the causal structure of a general space-time is developed, and is used to study black holes and to prove a number of theorems establishing the inevitability of singualarities under certain conditions. A discussion of the Cauchy problem for General Relativity is also included in this 1973 book.
8,932 citations
TL;DR: For a flat universe with a cosmological constant, the transition between the two epochs is constrained to be at z = 0.46 ± 0.13 as mentioned in this paper, and w = -1.02 ± (and w < -0.76 at the 95% confidence level) for an assumed static equation of state of dark energy.
Abstract: We have discovered 16 Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) and have used them to provide the first conclusive evidence for cosmic deceleration that preceded the current epoch of cosmic acceleration. These objects, discovered during the course of the GOODS ACS Treasury program, include 6 of the 7 highest redshift SNe Ia known, all at z > 1.25, and populate the Hubble diagram in unexplored territory. The luminosity distances to these objects and to 170 previously reported SNe Ia have been determined using empirical relations between light-curve shape and luminosity. A purely kinematic interpretation of the SN Ia sample provides evidence at the greater than 99% confidence level for a transition from deceleration to acceleration or, similarly, strong evidence for a cosmic jerk. Using a simple model of the expansion history, the transition between the two epochs is constrained to be at z = 0.46 ± 0.13. The data are consistent with the cosmic concordance model of ΩM ≈ 0.3, ΩΛ ≈ 0.7 (χ = 1.06) and are inconsistent with a simple model of evolution or dust as an alternative to dark energy. For a flat universe with a cosmological constant, we measure ΩM = 0.29 ± (equivalently, ΩΛ = 0.71). When combined with external flat-universe constraints, including the cosmic microwave background and large-scale structure, we find w = -1.02 ± (and w < -0.76 at the 95% confidence level) for an assumed static equation of state of dark energy, P = wρc2. Joint constraints on both the recent equation of state of dark energy, w0, and its time evolution, dw/dz, are a factor of ~8 more precise than the first estimates and twice as precise as those without the SNe Ia discovered with HST. Our constraints are consistent with the static nature of and value of w expected for a cosmological constant (i.e., w0 = -1.0, dw/dz = 0) and are inconsistent with very rapid evolution of dark energy. We address consequences of evolving dark energy for the fate of the universe.
4,236 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the first conclusive evidence for cosmic deceleration that preceded the current epoch of cosmic acceleration was provided by the discovery of 16 Type Ia supernovae with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST).
Abstract: We have discovered 16 Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) and have used them to provide the first conclusive evidence for cosmic deceleration that preceded the current epoch of cosmic acceleration. These objects, discovered during the course of the GOODS ACS Treasury program, include 6 of the 7 highest-redshift SNe Ia known, all at z>1.25, and populate the Hubble diagram in unexplored territory. The luminosity distances to these and 170 previous SNe Ia are provided. A purely kinematic interpretation of the SN Ia sample provides evidence at the > 99% confidence level for a transition from deceleration to acceleration or similarly, strong evidence for a cosmic jerk. Using a simple model of the expansion history, the transition between the two epochs is constrained to be at z=0.46 +/- 0.13. The data are consistent with the cosmic concordance model of Omega_M ~ 0.3, Omega_Lambda~0.7 (chi^2_dof=1.06), and are inconsistent with a simple model of evolution or dust as an alternative to dark energy. For a flat Universe with a cosmological constant. When combined with external flat-Universe constraints we find w=-1.02 + 0.13 - 0.19 (and $<-0.76 at the 95% confidence level) for an assumed static equation of state of dark energy, P = w\rho c^2. Joint constraints on both the recent equation of state of dark energy, $w_0$, and its time evolution, dw/dz, are a factor of ~8 more precise than its first estimate and twice as precise as those without the SNe Ia discovered with HST. Our constraints are consistent with the static nature of and value of w expected for a cosmological constant (i.e., w_0 = -1.0, dw/dz = 0), and are inconsistent with very rapid evolution of dark energy. We address consequences of evolving dark energy for the fate of the Universe.
3,528 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors propose a mechanism by which four-dimensional Newtonian gravity emerges on a 3-brane in 5D Minkowski space with an infinite size extra dimension.
3,247 citations