arXiv subjects

E. Elizalde

Publications and source records attributed to E. Elizalde.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2011

Universal procedure to cure future singularities of dark energy models

A systematic search for different viable models of the dark energy universe, all of which give rise to finite-time, future singularities, is undertaken, with the purpose to try to find a solution to this common problem. After some work, a universal procedure to cure all future singularities is developed and carefully tested with the help of explicit examples corresponding to each one of the four different types of possible singularities, as classified in the literature. The cases of a fluid with an equation of state which depends on some parameter, of modified gravity non-minimally coupled to a matter Lagrangian, of non-local gravity, and of isotropic turbulence in a dark fluid universe theory are investigated in detail.

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arXiv2011

Non-singular exponential gravity: a simple theory for early- and late-time accelerated expansion

A theory of exponential modified gravity which explains both early-time inflation and late-time acceleration, in a unified way, is proposed. The theory successfully passes the local tests and fulfills the cosmological bounds and, remarkably, the corresponding inflationary era is proven to be unstable. Numerical investigation of its late-time evolution leads to the conclusion that the corresponding dark energy epoch is not distinguishable from the one for the $Λ$CDM model. Several versions of this exponential gravity, sharing similar properties, are formulated. It is also shown that this theory is non-singular, being protected against the formation of finite-time future singularities. As a result, the corresponding future universe evolution asymptotically tends, in a smooth way, to de Sitter space, which turns out to be the final attractor of the system.

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arXiv2011

Fermionic condensate and Casimir densities in the presence of compact dimensions with applications to nanotubes

We investigate the fermionic condensate and the vacuum expectation value of the energy-momentum tensor for a massive fermionic field in the geometry of two parallel plate on the background of Minkowski spacetime with an arbitrary number of toroidally compactified spatial dimensions, in the presence of a constant gauge field. Bag boundary conditions are imposed on the plates and periodicity conditions with arbitrary phases are considered along the compact dimensions. The boundary induced parts in the fermionic condensate and the vacuum energy density are negative, with independence of the phases in the periodicity conditions and of the value of the gauge potential. Interaction forces between the plates are thus always attractive. However, in physical situations where the quantum field is confined to the region between the plates, the pure topological part contributes as well, and then the resulting force can be either attractive or repulsive, depending on the specific phases encoded in the periodicity conditions along the compact dimensions, and on the gauge potential, too. Applications of the general formulas to cylindrical carbon nanotubes are considered, within the framework of a Dirac-like theory for the electronic states in graphene. In the absence of a magnetic flux, the energy density for semiconducting nanotubes is always negative. For metallic nanotubes the energy density is positive for long tubes and negative for short ones. The resulting Casimir forces acting on the edges of the nanotube are attractive for short tubes with independence of the tube chirality. The sign of the force for long nanotubes can be controlled by tuning the magnetic flux. This opens the way to the design of efficient actuators driven by the Casimir force at the nanoscale.

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arXiv2010

Unifying inflation with dark energy in modified F(R) Horava-Lifshitz gravity

We study FRW cosmology for a non-linear modified F(R) Horava-Lifshitz gravity which has a viable convenient counterpart. A unified description of early-time inflation and late-time acceleration is possible in this theory, but the cosmological dynamic details are generically different from the ones of the convenient viable F(R) model. Remarkably, for some specific choice of parameters they do coincide. The emergence of finite-time future singularities is investigated in detail. It is shown that these singularities can be cured by adding an extra, higher-derivative term, which turns out to be qualitatively different when compared with the corresponding one of the convenient F(R) theory.

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arXiv2010

Reconstructing cosmic acceleration from modified and non-minimal gravity: The Yang-Mills case

A variant of the accelerating cosmology reconstruction program is developed for $f(R)$ gravity and for a modified Yang-Mills/Maxwell theory. Reconstruction schemes in terms of e-foldings and by using an auxiliary scalar field are developed and carefully compared, for the case of $f(R)$ gravity. An example of a model with a transient phantom behavior without real matter is explicitly discussed in both schemes. Further, the two reconstruction schemes are applied to the more physically interesting case of a Yang-Mills/Maxwell theory, again with explicit examples. Detailed comparison of the two schemes of reconstruction is presented also for this theory. It seems to support, as well, physical non-equivalence of the two frames.

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arXiv2010

Black hole and de Sitter solutions in a covariant renormalizable field theory of gravity

It is shown that Schwarzschild black hole and de Sitter solutions exist as exact solutions of a recently proposed relativistic covariant formulation of (power-counting) renormalizable gravity with a fluid. The formulation without a fluid is also presented here. The stability of the solutions is studied and their corresponding entropies are computed, by using the covariant Wald method. The area law is shown to hold both for the Schwarzschild and for the de Sitter solutions found, confirming that, for the $β=1$ case, one is dealing with a minimal modification of GR.

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arXiv2010

Casimir effect for parallel plates in de Sitter spacetime

The Wightman function and the vacuum expectation values of the field squared and of the energy-momentum tensor are obtained, for a massive scalar field with an arbitrary curvature coupling parameter, in the region between two infinite parallel plates, on the background of de Sitter spacetime. The field is prepared in the Bunch-Davies vacuum state and is constrained to satisfy Robin boundary conditions on the plates. For the calculation, a mode-summation method is used, supplemented with a variant of the generalized Abel-Plana formula. This allows to explicitly extract the contributions to the expectation values which come from each single boundary, and to expand the second-plate-induced part in terms of exponentially convergent integrals. Several limiting cases of interest are then studied. Moreover, the Casimir forces acting on the plates are evaluated, and it is shown that the curvature of the background spacetime decisively influences the behavior of these forces at separations larger than the curvature scale of de Sitter spacetime. In terms of the curvature coupling parameter and the mass of the field, two very different regimes are realized, which exhibit monotonic and oscillatory behavior of the vacuum expectation values, respectively. The decay of the Casimir force at large plate separation is shown to be power-law (monotonic or oscillating), with independence of the value of the field mass.

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arXiv2010

Spherical systems in models of nonlocally corrected gravity

The properties of static, spherically symmetric configurations are considered in the framework of two models of nonlocally corrected gravity, suggested in S. Deser and R. Woodard., Phys. Rev. Lett. 663, 111301 (2007), and S. Capozziello et al., Phys. Lett. B 671, 193 (2009). For the first case, where the Lagrangian of nonlocal origin represents a scalar-tensor theory with two massless scalars, an explicit condition is found under which both scalars are canonical (non-phantom). If this condition does not hold, one of the fields exhibits a phantom behavior. Scalar-vacuum configurations then behave in a manner known for scalar-tensor theories. In the second case, the Lagrangian of nonlocal origin exhibits a scalar field interacting with the Gauss-Bonnet (GB) invariant and contains an arbitrary scalar field potential. It is found that the GB term, in general, leads to violation of the well-known no-go theorems valid for minimally coupled scalar fields in general relativity. It is shown, however, that some configurations of interest are still forbidden, whatever be the scalar field potential and the GB-scalar coupling function, namely, "force-free" wormholes (such that g_{tt}= const) and black holes with higher-order horizons.

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arXiv2009

Vacuum energy fluctuations, the induced cosmological constant and cosmological reconstruction in non-minimal modified gravity models

The one-loop effective action for non-minimal scalar modified gravity on de Sitter background with a constant scalar field is found. The corresponding induced cosmological constant is evaluated. It is shown that quantum effects in non-minimal modified gravity may induce an early-time de Sitter universe even in the situation when such solution does not occur on the classical level. Classical reconstruction of the theory is presented in such a way that the resulting theory has a cosmological solution unifying early-time inflation with late-time acceleration.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2009

Repulsive Casimir effect from extra dimensions and Robin boundary conditions: from branes to pistons

We evaluate the Casimir energy and force for a massive scalar field with general curvature coupling parameter, subject to Robin boundary conditions on two codimension-one parallel plates, located on a $(D+1)$-dimensional background spacetime with an arbitrary internal space. The most general case of different Robin coefficients on the two separate plates is considered. With independence of the geometry of the internal space, the Casimir forces are seen to be attractive for special cases of Dirichlet or Neumann boundary conditions on both plates and repulsive for Dirichlet boundary conditions on one plate and Neumann boundary conditions on the other. For Robin boundary conditions, the Casimir forces can be either attractive or repulsive, depending on the Robin coefficients and the separation between the plates, what is actually remarkable and useful. Indeed, we demonstrate the existence of an equilibrium point for the interplate distance, which is stabilized due to the Casimir force, and show that stability is enhanced by the presence of the extra dimensions. Applications of these properties in braneworld models are discussed. Finally, the corresponding results are generalized to the geometry of a piston of arbitrary cross section.

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arXiv2009

Initial and final de Sitter universes from modified $f(R)$ gravity

Viable models of modified gravity which satisfy both local as well as cosmological tests are investigated. It is demonstrated that some versions of such highly non-linear models exhibit multiply de Sitter universe solutions, which often appear in pairs, being one of them stable and the other unstable. It is explicitly shown that, for some values of the parameters, it is possible to find several de Sitter spaces (as a rule, numerically); one of them may serve for the inflationary stage, while the other can be used for the description of the dark energy epoch. The numerical evolution of the effective equation of state parameter is also presented, showing that these models can be considered as natural candidates for the unification of early-time inflation with late-time acceleration through dS critical points. Moreover, based on the de Sitter solutions, multiply SdS universes are constructed which might also appear at the (pre-)inflationary stage. Their thermodynamics are studied and free energies are compared.

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arXiv2008

Dark energy, exotic matter and properties of horizons in black hole physics and cosmology

We summarize recent results on the properties of near-horizon metrics in different spherically symmetric space-times, including Kantowski-Sachs cosmological models whose evolution begins with a horizon (the so-called Null Big Bang) and static metrics related to black holes. We describe the types of matter compatible with cosmological and black-hole horizons. It turns out, in particular, that a black hole horizon can be in equilibrium with a fluid of disordered cosmic strings ("black holes can have curly hair"). We also discuss different kinds of horizons from the viewpoint of the behavior of tidal forces acting on an extended body and recently classified as "usual", "naked" and "truly naked" ones; in the latter case, tidal forces are infinite in a freely falling reference frame. It is shown that all truly naked horizons, as well as many of those previously characterized as naked and even usual ones, do not admit an extension and therefore must be considered as singularities. The whole analysis is performed locally (in a neighborhood of a candidate horizon) in a model-independent manner. Finally, the possible importance of some of these models in generating dynamic, perturbatively small vacuum fluctuation contributions to the cosmological constant (within a cosmological Casimir-effect approach to this problem) is discussed.

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arXiv2008

Horizons vs. singularities in spherically symmetric space-times

We discuss different kinds of Killing horizons possible in static, spherically symmetric configurations and recently classified as "usual", "naked" and "truly naked" ones depending on the near-horizon behavior of transverse tidal forces acting on an extended body. We obtain necessary conditions for the metric to be extensible beyond a horizon in terms of an arbitrary radial coordinate and show that all truly naked horizons, as well as many of those previously characterized as naked and even usual ones, do not admit an extension and therefore must be considered as singularities. Some examples are given, showing which kinds of matter are able to create specific space-times with different kinds of horizons, including truly naked ones. Among them are fluids with negative pressure and scalar fields with a particular behavior of the potential. We also discuss horizons and singularities in Kantowski-Sachs spherically symmetric cosmologies and present horizon regularity conditions in terms of an arbitrary time coordinate and proper (synchronous) time. It turns out that horizons of orders 2 and higher occur in infinite proper times in the past or future, but one-way communication with regions beyond such horizons is still possible.

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arXiv2008

Class of viable modified $f(R)$ gravities describing inflation and the onset of accelerated expansion

A general approach to viable modified $f(R)$ gravity is developed in both the Jordan and the Einstein frames. A class of exponential, realistic modified gravities is introduced and investigated with care. Special focus is made on step-class models, most promising from the phenomenological viewpoint and which provide a natural way to classify all viable modified gravities. One- and two-steps models are explicitly considered, but the analysis is extensible to $N$-step models. Both inflation in the early universe and the onset of recent accelerated expansion arise in these models in a natural, unified way. Moreover, it is demonstrated that models in this category easily pass all local tests, including stability of spherical body solution, non-violation of Newton's law, and generation of a very heavy positive mass for the additional scalar degree of freedom.

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arXiv2008

Black hole entropy in modified gravity models

An analysis of some modified gravity models, based on the study of pure Schwarzschild and of Schwarzschild-de Sitter black holes, and involving the use of the Noether charge method, is carried out. Corrections to the classical Einsteinian black hole entropy appear. It is shown explicitly how the condition of positive entropy can be used in order to constrain the viability of modified gravity theories.

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arXiv2007

Dark energy generated from a (super)string effective action with higher order curvature corrections and a dynamical dilaton

We investigate the possibility of a dark energy universe emerging from an action with higher-order string loop corrections to Einstein gravity in the presence of a massless dilaton. These curvature corrections (up to $R^4$ order) are different depending upon the type of (super)string model which is considered. We find in fact that Type II, heterotic, and bosonic strings respond differently to dark energy. A dark energy solution is shown to exist in the case of the bosonic string, while the other two theories do not lead to realistic dark energy universes. Detailed analysis of the dynamical stability of the de-Sitter solution is presented for the case of a bosonic string. A general prescription for the construction of a de-Sitter solution for the low-energy (super)string effective action is also indicated. Beyond the low-energy (super)string effective action, when the higher-curvature correction coefficients depend on the dilaton, the reconstruction of the theory from the universe expansion history is done with a corresponding prescription for the scalar potentials.

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arXiv2007

A FRW Dark Fluid with a Non-Linear Inhomogeneous Equation of State

A dark Friedman-Robertson-Walker fluid governed by a non-linear inhomogeneous equation of state is considered which can be viewed as a conveniently simple paradigm for a whole class of models which exhibit phase transitions from a non-phantom towards a phantom era (superacceleration transition). From another side, such dark fluid models may describe also quintessence-like cosmic acceleration. Thermodynamical considerations for the processes involved, which are of great importance in the characterization of the global evolution of the corresponding universe, are given too. Connecting the proposed equation of state with an anisotropic Kasner universe with viscosity, we are led to the plausible conjecture of a dark fluid origin of the anisotropies in the early universe.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2007

Phantom scalar dark energy as modified gravity: understanding the origin of the Big Rip singularity

It is shown that phantom scalar models can be mapped into a mathematically equivalent, modified $F(R)$ gravity, which turns out to be complex, in general. Only for even scalar potentials is the ensuing modified gravity real. It is also demonstrated that, even in this case, modified gravity becomes complex at the region where the original phantom dark energy theory develops a Big Rip singularity. A number of explicit examples are presented which show that these two theories are not completely equivalent, from the physical viewpoint. This basically owes to the fact that the physical metric in both theories differ in a time-dependent conformal factor. As a result, an FRW accelerating solution, or FRW instanton, in the scalar-tensor theory may look as a deccelerating FRW solution, or a non-instantonic one, in the corresponding modified gravity theory.

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