arXiv subjects

Antoine Lehébel

Publications and source records attributed to Antoine Lehébel.

17 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2022

The fate of observers in circular motion

In Newtonian physics or in general relativity, energy dissipation causes observers moving along circular orbits to slowly spiral towards the source of the gravitational field. We show that the loss of energy has the same effect in any theory of gravity respecting the weak equivalence principle, by exhibiting an intimate relation between the energy of a massive test particle and the stability of its orbit. Ultimately, massive particles either plunge, or are driven towards minima of the generalized Newtonian potential, where they become static. In addition, we construct a toy metric which displays an unbound innermost stable circular orbit, allowing particles that reach this orbit to be expelled away.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2022

Astrophysical constraints on compact objects in 4D Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet gravity

We study the properties of compact objects in a particular 4D Horndeski theory originating from higher dimensional Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet gravity. Remarkably, an exact vacuum solution is known. This compact object differs from general relativity mostly in the strong field regime. We discuss some properties of black holes in this framework and investigate in detail the properties of neutron stars, both static and in slow rotation. We find that for relatively modest deviations from general relativity, the secondary object in GW190814 is compatible with being a slowly-rotating neutron star, without resorting to very stiff or exotic equations of state. Remarkably, the equilibrium sequence of neutron stars matches asymptotically to the black hole limit, completetly closing the mass gap between neutron stars and black holes of same radius, although the stability of equilibrium solutions has yet to be determined. As a consequence, there exists a universal endpoint for the neutron star sequence, independent of the equation of state. In light of our results and of current observational constraints, we discuss specific constraints on the coupling constant that parametrizes deviations from general relativity in this theory.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2021

Quadratic curvature corrections to stringy effective actions and the absence of de Sitter vacua

We investigate the combined effect of fluxes and higher-order curvature corrections, in the form of the Gauss-Bonnet term, on the existence of de Sitter vacua in a heterotic string inspired framework, compactified on spheres and tori. We first gain some intuition on the effects of these corrections by studying a perturbative expansion in the small Gauss-Bonnet coupling. Then, for choices of potential closer to the string theory predictions, we show that the inclusion of quadratic curvature corrections actually reduces the parametric likelihood of de Sitter solutions.

hep-th↗

arXiv2021

Neutron star scalarization with Gauss-Bonnet and Ricci scalar couplings

Spontaneous scalarization of neutron stars has been extensively studied in the Damour and Esposito-Farèse model, in which a scalar field couples to the Ricci scalar or, equivalently, to the trace of the energy-momentum tensor. However, scalarization of both black holes and neutron stars may also be triggered by a coupling of the scalar field to the Gauss-Bonnet invariant. The case of the Gauss-Bonnet coupling has also received a lot of attention lately, but the synergy of the Ricci and Gauss-Bonnet couplings has been overlooked for neutron stars. Here, we show that combining both couplings has interesting effects on the properties of scalarized neutron stars, such as affecting their domain of existence or the amount of scalar charge they carry.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2021

Black hole scalarization with Gauss-Bonnet and Ricci scalar couplings

Spontaneous scalarization is a gravitational phenomenon in which deviations from general relativity arise once a certain threshold in curvature is exceeded, while being entirely absent below that threshold. For black holes, scalarization is known to be triggered by a coupling between a scalar and the Gauss-Bonnet invariant. A coupling with the Ricci scalar, which can trigger scalarization in neutron stars, is instead known to not contribute to the onset of black hole scalarization, and has so far been largely ignored in the literature when studying scalarized black holes. In this paper, we study the combined effect of both these couplings on black hole scalarization. We show that the Ricci coupling plays a significant role in the properties of scalarized solutions and their domain of existence. This work is an important step in the construction of scalarization models that evade binary pulsar constraints and have general relativity as a cosmological late-time attractor, while still predicting deviations from general relativity in black hole observations.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2020

The onset of spontaneous scalarization in generalised scalar-tensor theories

In gravity theories that exhibit spontaneous scalarization, astrophysical objects are identical to their general relativistic counterpart until they reach a certain threshold in compactness or curvature. Beyond this threshold, they acquire a non-trivial scalar configuration, which also affects their structure. The onset of scalarization is controlled only by terms that contribute to linear perturbation around solutions of general relativity. The complete set of these terms has been identified for generalized scalar-tensor theories. Stepping on this result, we study the onset on scalarization in generalized scalar-tensor theories and determine the relevant thresholds in terms of the contributing coupling constants and the properties of the compact object.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2020

A natural theory of dark energy

We propose a mechanism that generates a naturally light dark energy field (with Hubble scale mass), starting from a theory with exclusively high scale (Planckian) couplings. It is derived from the clockwork model, with ${\cal O}(100)$ scalar fields interacting among themselves as well as with a 4-form field strength. We explicitly embed our model in type IIA supergravity. We also give an alternative interpretation in a braneworld set-up.

hep-th↗

arXiv2020

Black holes in self-tuning cubic Horndeski cosmology

Observations of neutron star mergers in the late Universe have given significant restrictions to the class of viable scalar-tensor theories. In this paper we construct black holes within the "self-tuning" class of this restricted set, whereby the bare cosmological constant is absorbed by the dynamics of the scalar, giving a lower effective cosmological constant. We use analytic expansions at the singularity, black hole and cosmological horizon, and asymptotic region, coupled with numerical solutions, to find well-behaved black holes that asymptote to the self-tuned de Sitter geometry. The geometry differs from standard general relativity black holes near the horizon, and the scalar field velocity provides a hair for the black holes.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2019

The sound of DHOST

We show that, in generic higher-order scalar-tensor theories which avoid the Ostrogradsky instability, the presence of a scalar field significantly modifies the propagation of matter perturbations, even in weakly curved backgrounds. This affects notably the speed of sound in the atmosphere of the Earth. It can also generate instabilities in homogeneous media. We use this to constrain the viable higher-order scalar-tensor models.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2018

Hamiltonian vs stability and application to Horndeski theory

A Hamiltonian density bounded from below implies that the lowest-energy state is stable. We point out, contrary to common lore, that an unbounded Hamiltonian density does not necessarily imply an instability: Stability is indeed a coordinate-independent property, whereas the Hamiltonian density does depend on the choice of coordinates. We discuss in detail the relation between the two, starting from k-essence and extending our discussion to general field theories. We give the correct stability criterion, using the relative orientation of the causal cones for all propagating degrees of freedom. We then apply this criterion to an exact Schwarzschild-de Sitter solution of a beyond-Horndeski theory, while taking into account the recent experimental constraint regarding the speed of gravitational waves. We extract the spin-2 and spin-0 causal cones by analyzing respectively all the odd-parity and the $\ell = 0$ even-parity modes. Contrary to a claim in the literature, we prove that this solution does not exhibit any kinetic instability for a given range of parameters defining the theory.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2018

Compact astrophysical objects in modified gravity

Twenty years have passed since the discovery of the accelerated expansion of the Universe, reviving the interest for alternative theories of gravity. Adding a scalar degree of freedom to the usual metric of general relativity is one of the simplest ways to modify our gravitational theory. In parallel, our knowledge about black holes and neutron stars is booming, notably thanks to the advent of gravitational wave astronomy. This thesis is at the crossroads between the two fields, investigating the properties of compact objects in extended scalar-tensor theories. We start by reviewing essential no-hair results established since the seventies. After discussing the no-hair theorem proposed for black holes in Horndeski theory, we present its extension to stars. The second part of the thesis investigates in detail the various ways to circumvent this theorem. These notably include solutions with a time-dependent scalar field in order to match cosmological evolution, but also static and asymptotically flat configurations. In a third part, we establish an important stability criterion for these solutions, based on their causal structure. It is also the occasion to study the propagation of gravitational waves in black hole environments, and to select the theories where gravitational waves travel at the same speed as light.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2018

Stability of a black hole and the speed of gravity waves within self-tuning cosmological models

The gravitational wave event GW170817 together with its electromagnetic counterparts constrains the speed of gravity to be extremely close to that of light. We first show, on the example of an exact Schwarzschild-de Sitter solution of a specific beyond-Horndeski theory, that imposing the strict equality of these speeds in the asymptotic homogeneous Universe suffices to guarantee so even in the vicinity of the black hole, where large curvature and scalar-field gradients are present. We also find that the solution is stable in a range of the model parameters. We finally show that an infinite class of beyond-Horndeski models satisfying the equality of gravity and light speeds still provide an elegant self-tuning: The very large bare cosmological constant entering the Lagrangian is almost perfectly counterbalanced by the energy-momentum tensor of the scalar field, yielding a tiny observable effective cosmological constant.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2017

A no-hair theorem for stars in Horndeski theories

We consider a generic scalar-tensor theory involving a shift-symmetric scalar field and minimally coupled matter fields. We prove that the Noether current associated with shift-symmetry vanishes in regular, spherically symmetric and static spacetimes. We use this fact to prove the absence of scalar hair for spherically symmetric and static stars in Horndeski and beyond theories. We carefully detail the validity of this no-hair theorem.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2017

Asymptotically flat black holes in Horndeski theory and beyond

We find spherically symmetric and static black holes in shift-symmetric Horndeski and beyond Horndeski theories. They are asymptotically flat and sourced by a non trivial static scalar field. The first class of solutions is constructed in such a way that the Noether current associated with shift symmetry vanishes, while the scalar field cannot be trivial. This in certain cases leads to hairy black hole solutions (for the quartic Horndeski Lagrangian), and in others to singular solutions (for a Gauss-Bonnet term). Additionally, we find the general spherically symmetric and static solutions for a pure quartic Lagrangian, the metric of which is Schwarzschild. We show that under two requirements on the theory in question, any vacuum GR solution is also solution to the quartic theory. As an example, we show that a Kerr black hole with a non-trivial scalar field is an exact solution to these theories.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2016

Black holes and stars in Horndeski theory

We review black hole and star solutions for Horndeski theory. For non-shift symmetric theories, black holes involve a Kaluza-Klein reduction of higher dimensional Lovelock solutions. On the other hand, for shift symmetric theories of Horndeski and beyond Horndeski, black holes involve two classes of solutions: those that include, at the level of the action, a linear coupling to the Gauss-Bonnet term and those that involve time dependence in the galileon field. We analyze the latter class in detail for a specific subclass of Horndeski theory, discussing the general solution of a static and spherically symmetric spacetime. We then discuss stability issues, slowly rotating solutions as well as black holes coupled to matter. The latter case involves a conformally coupled scalar field as well as an electromagnetic field and the (primary) hair black holes thus obtained. We review and discuss the recent results on neutron stars in Horndeski theories.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2016

Black holes in a cubic Galileon universe

We find and study the properties of black hole solutions for a subclass of Horndeski theory including the cubic Galileon term. The theory under study has shift symmetry but not reflection symmetry for the scalar field. The Galileon is assumed to have linear time dependence characterized by a velocity parameter. We give analytic 3-dimensional solutions that are akin to the BTZ solutions but with a non-trivial scalar field that modifies the effective cosmological constant. We then study the 4-dimensional asymptotically flat and de Sitter solutions. The latter present three different branches according to their effective cosmological constant. For two of these branches, we find families of black hole solutions, parametrized by the velocity of the scalar field. These spherically symmetric solutions, obtained numerically, are different from GR solutions close to the black hole event horizon, while they have the same de-Sitter asymptotic behavior. The velocity parameter represents black hole primary hair.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2015

Stability of rings around a triaxial primary

Generally, the oblateness of a planet or moon is what causes rings to settle into its equatorial plane. However, the recent suggestion that a ring system might exist (or have existed) about Rhea, a moon whose shape includes a strong prolate component pointed toward Saturn, raises the question of whether rings around a triaxial primary can be stable. We study the role of prolateness in the behavior of rings around Rhea and extend our results to similar problems such as possible rings around exoplanets. Using a Hamiltonian approach, we point out that the dynamical behavior of ring particles is governed by three different time scales: the orbital period of the particles, the rotation period of the primary, and the precession period of the particles' orbital plane. In the case of Rhea, two of these are well separated from the third, allowing us to average the Hamiltonian twice. To study the case of slow rotation of the primary, we also carry out numerical simulations of a thin disk of particles undergoing secular effects and damping. For Rhea, the averaging reduces the Hamiltonian to an oblate potential, under which rings would be stable only in the equatorial plane. This is not the case for Iapetus; rather, it is the lack of a prolate component to its shape that allows Iapetus to host rings. Plausible exoplanets should mostly be in the same regime as Rhea, though other outcomes are possible. The numerical simulations indicate that, even when the double averaging is irrelevant, rings settle in the equatorial plane on an approximately constant time scale.

astro-ph.EP↗