arXiv subjects

Gianluca Calcagni

Publications and source records attributed to Gianluca Calcagni.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

arXiv2010

Nonlocal gravity and the diffusion equation

We propose a nonlocal scalar-tensor model of gravity with pseudodifferential operators inspired by the effective action of p-adic string and string field theory on flat spacetime. An infinite number of derivatives act both on the metric and scalar field sector. The system is localized via the diffusion equation approach and its cosmology is studied. We find several exact dynamical solutions, also in the presence of a barotropic fluid, which are stationary in the diffusion flow. In particular, and contrary to standard general relativity, there exist solutions with exponential and power-law scale factor also in an open universe, as well as solutions with sudden future singularities or a bounce. Also, from the point of view of quantum field theory, spontaneous symmetry breaking can be naturally realized in the class of actions we consider.

hep-th↗

arXiv2010

Fractal universe and quantum gravity

We propose a field theory which lives in fractal spacetime and is argued to be Lorentz invariant, power-counting renormalizable, ultraviolet finite, and causal. The system flows from an ultraviolet fixed point, where spacetime has Hausdorff dimension 2, to an infrared limit coinciding with a standard four-dimensional field theory. Classically, the fractal world where fields live exchanges energy momentum with the bulk with integer topological dimension. However, the total energy momentum is conserved. We consider the dynamics and the propagator of a scalar field. Implications for quantum gravity, cosmology, and the cosmological constant are discussed.

hep-th↗

arXiv2010

Cosmological rolling solutions of nonlocal theories

We find nonperturbative solutions of a nonlocal scalar field equation, with cubic or exponential potential on a cosmological background. The former case corresponds to the lowest level effective tachyon action of cubic string field theory. While the well known Minkowski solution is wildly oscillating, due to Hubble friction its cosmological counterpart describes smooth rolling towards the local minimum of the potential.

hep-th↗

arXiv2010

Cosmological Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer condensate as dark energy

We argue that the occurrence of late-time acceleration can conveniently be described by first-order general relativity covariantly coupled to fermions. Dark energy arises as a Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer condensate of fermions which forms in the early universe. At late times, the gap and chemical potential evolve to have an equation of state with effective negative pressure, thus naturally leading to acceleration.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2010

Quantum field theory, gravity and cosmology in a fractal universe

We propose a model for a power-counting renormalizable field theory living in a fractal spacetime. The action is Lorentz covariant and equipped with a Stieltjes measure. The system flows, even in a classical sense, from an ultraviolet regime where spacetime has Hausdorff dimension 2 to an infrared limit coinciding with a standard $D$-dimensional field theory. We discuss the properties of a scalar field model at classical and quantum level. Classically, the field lives on a fractal which exchanges energy-momentum with the bulk of integer topological dimension D. Although an observer experiences dissipation, the total energy-momentum is conserved. The field spectrum is a continuum of massive modes. The gravitational sector and Einstein equations are discussed in detail, also on cosmological backgrounds. We find ultraviolet cosmological solutions and comment on their implications for the early universe.

hep-th↗

arXiv2010

String theory as a diffusing system

Recent results on the effective non-local dynamics of the tachyon mode of open string field theory (OSFT) show that approximate solutions can be constructed which obey the diffusion equation. We argue that this structure is inherited from the full theory, where it admits a universal formulation. In fact, all known exact OSFT solutions are superpositions of diffusing surface states. In particular, the diffusion equation is a spacetime manifestation of OSFT gauge symmetries.

hep-th↗

arXiv2010

Detailed balance in Horava-Lifshitz gravity

We study Horava-Lifshitz gravity in the presence of a scalar field. When the detailed balance condition is implemented, a new term in the gravitational sector is added in order to maintain ultraviolet stability. The four-dimensional theory is of a scalar-tensor type with a positive cosmological constant and gravity is nonminimally coupled with the scalar and its gradient terms. The scalar field has a double-well potential and, if required to play the role of the inflation, can produce a scale-invariant spectrum. The total action is rather complicated and there is no analog of the Einstein frame where Lorentz invariance is recovered in the infrared. For these reasons it may be necessary to abandon detailed balance. We comment on open problems and future directions in anisotropic critical models of gravity.

hep-th↗

arXiv2009

Cosmology of the Lifshitz universe

We study the ultraviolet complete non-relativistic theory recently proposed by Horava. After introducing a Lifshitz scalar for a general background, we analyze the cosmology of the model in Lorentzian and Euclidean signature. Vacuum solutions are found and it is argued the existence of non-singular bouncing profiles. We find a general qualitative agreement with both the picture of Causal Dynamical Triangulations and Quantum Einstein Gravity. However, inflation driven by a Lifshitz scalar field on a classical background might not produce a scale-invariant spectrum when the principle of detailed balance is assumed.

hep-th↗

arXiv2009

Kinks of open superstring field theory

We construct approximate kink solutions of supersymmetric open string field theory at lowest level when non-local operators in the tachyon effective action are fully taken into account. To this purpose we derive two duplication formulae for products of incomplete gamma functions, which determine the level of approximation of the solutions. The time kink is an instanton of the Euclidean theory with a well-defined tunneling probability. The spatial kink solution represents an unstable D9-brane decaying into a stable D8-brane. We calculate the ratio of the brane tensions, which almost exactly reproduces the expected value.

hep-th↗

arXiv2009

Barbero-Immirzi field in canonical formalism of pure gravity

The Barbero-Immirzi (BI) parameter is promoted to a field and a canonical analysis is performed when it is coupled with a Nieh-Yan topological invariant. It is shown that, in the effective theory, the BI field is a canonical pseudoscalar minimally coupled with gravity. This framework is argued to be more natural than the one of the usual Holst action. Potential consequences in relation with inflation and the quantum theory are briefly discussed.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2009

Superconducting loop quantum gravity and the cosmological constant

We argue that the cosmological constant is exponentially suppressed in a candidate ground state of loop quantum gravity as a nonperturbative effect of a holographic Fermi-liquid theory living on a two-dimensional spacetime. Ashtekar connection components, corresponding to degenerate gravitational configurations breaking large gauge invariance and CP symmetry, behave as composite fermions that condense as in Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer theory of superconductivity. Cooper pairs admit a description as wormholes on a de Sitter boundary.

hep-th↗

arXiv2008

Tachyon solutions in boundary and cubic string field theory

We construct rolling tachyon solutions of open and boundary string field theory (OSFT and BSFT, respectively), in the bosonic and supersymmetric (susy) case. The wildly oscillating solution of susy OSFT is recovered, together with a family of time-dependent BSFT solutions for the bosonic and susy string. These are parametrized by an arbitrary constant r involved in solving the Green equation of the target fields. When r=0 we recover previous results in BSFT, whereas for r attaining the value predicted by OSFT it is shown that the bosonic OSFT solution is the derivative of the boundary one; in the supersymmetric case the relation between the two solutions is more complicated. This technical correspondence sheds some light on the nature of wild oscillations, which appear in both theories whenever r>0.

hep-th↗

arXiv2008

Loop quantum cosmology and tensor perturbations in the early universe

We study the tensor modes of linear metric perturbations within an effective framework of loop quantum cosmology. After a review of inverse-volume and holonomy corrections in the background equations of motion, we solve the linearized tensor modes equations and extract their spectrum. Ignoring holonomy corrections, the tensor spectrum is blue tilted in the near-Planckian superinflationary regime and may be observationally disfavoured. However, in this case background dynamics is highly nonperturbative, hence the use of standard perturbative techniques may not be very reliable. On the other hand, in the quasi-classical regime the tensor index receives a small negative quantum correction, slightly enhancing the standard red tilt in slow-roll inflation. We discuss possible interpretations of this correction, which depends on the choice of semiclassical state.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2008

Quantum gravity as a Fermi liquid

We present a reformulation of loop quantum gravity with a cosmological constant and no matter as a Fermi-liquid theory. When the topological sector is deformed and large gauge symmetry is broken, we show that the Chern-Simons state reduces to Jacobson's degenerate sector describing 1+1 dimensional propagating fermions with nonlocal interactions. The Hamiltonian admits a dual description which we realize in the simple BCS model of superconductivity. On one hand, Cooper pairs are interpreted as wormhole correlations at the de Sitter horizon; their number yields the de Sitter entropy. On the other hand, BCS is mapped into a deformed conformal field theory reproducing the structure of quantum spin networks. When area measurements are performed, Cooper-pair insertions are activated on those edges of the spin network intersecting the given area, thus providing a description of quantum measurements in terms of excitations of a Fermi sea to superconducting levels. The cosmological constant problem is naturally addressed as a nonperturbative mass-gap effect of the true Fermi-liquid vacuum.

hep-th↗

arXiv2008

Nonlocal instantons and solitons in string models

We study a class of nonlocal systems which can be described by a local scalar field diffusing in an auxiliary radial dimension. As examples p-adic, open and boundary string field theory are considered on Minkowski, Friedmann-Robertson-Walker and Euclidean metric backgrounds. Starting from distribution-like initial field configurations which are constant almost everywhere, we construct exact and approximate nonlocal solutions. The Euclidean p-adic lump is interpreted as a solitonic brane, and the Euclidean kink of supersymmetric open string field theory as an instanton. Some relations between solutions of different string theories are highlighted also thanks to a reformulation of nonlocal systems as fixed points in a renormalization group flow.

hep-th↗

arXiv2008

Localization of nonlocal theories

We show that a certain class of nonlocal scalar models, with a kinetic operator inspired by string field theory, is equivalent to a system which is local in the coordinates but nonlocal in an auxiliary evolution variable. This system admits both Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulations, and its Cauchy problem and quantization are well-defined. We classify exact nonperturbative solutions of the localized model which can be found via the diffusion equation governing the fields.

hep-th↗

arXiv2007

Route to nonlocal cosmology

An analytic approach to phenomenological models inspired by cubic string field theory is introduced and applied to some examples. We study a class of actions for a minimally coupled, homogeneous scalar field whose energy density contains infinitely many time derivatives. These nonlocal systems are systematically localized and an algorithm to find cosmological solutions of the dynamical equations is provided. Our formalism is able to define the nonlocal field in regions of the parameter space which are inaccessible by standard methods. Also, problems related to nonlocality are reinterpreted under a novel perspective and naturally overcome. We consider phenomenological models living on a Friedmann-Robertson-Walker background with power-law scale factor, both in four dimensions and on a high-energy braneworld. The quest for solutions unravels general features of nonlocal dynamics indicating several future directions of investigation.

hep-th↗

arXiv2007

Stability of multi-field cosmological solutions

We explore the stability properties of multi-field solutions of assisted inflation type, where several fields collectively evolve to the same configuration. In the case of noninteracting fields, we show that the condition for such solutions to be stable is less restrictive than that required for tracking in quintessence models. Our results, which do not rely on the slow-roll approximation, further indicate that to linear order in homogeneous perturbations the fields are in fact unaware of each other's existence. We end by generalizing our results to some cases of interacting fields and to other background solutions and dynamics, including the high-energy braneworld.

astro-ph↗