arXiv subjects

J. G. Pereira

Publications and source records attributed to J. G. Pereira.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2012

de Sitter geodesics: reappraising the notion of motion

The de Sitter spacetime is transitive under a combination of translations and proper conformal transformations. Its usual family of geodesics, however, does not take into account this property. As a consequence, there are points in de Sitter spacetime which cannot be joined to each other by any one of these geodesics. By taking into account the appropriate transitivity properties in the variational principle, a new family of maximizing trajectories is obtained, whose members are able to connect any two points of the de Sitter spacetime. These geodesics introduce a new notion of motion, given by a combination of translations and proper conformal transformations, which may possibly become important at very-high energies, where conformal symmetry plays a significant role.

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arXiv2011

de Sitter relativity: a natural scenario for an evolving Lambda

The dispersion relation of de Sitter special relativity is obtained in a simple and compact form, which is formally similar to the dispersion relation of ordinary special relativity. It is manifestly invariant under change of scale of mass, energy and momentum, and can thus be applied at any energy scale. When applied to the universe as a whole, the de Sitter special relativity is found to provide a natural scenario for the existence of an evolving cosmological term, and agrees in particular with the present-day observed value. It is furthermore consistent with a conformal cyclic view of the universe, in which the transition between two consecutive eras occurs through a conformal invariant spacetime.

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arXiv2010

Consistent Gravitationally-Coupled Spin-2 Field Theory

Inspired by the translational gauge structure of teleparallel gravity, the theory for a fundamental massless spin-2 field is constructed. Accordingly, instead of being represented by a symmetric second-rank tensor, the fundamental spin-2 field is assumed to be represented by a spacetime (world) vector field assuming values in the Lie algebra of the translation group. The flat-space theory naturally emerges in the Fierz formalism and is found to be equivalent to the usual metric-based theory. However, the gravitationally coupled theory, with gravitation itself described by teleparallel gravity, is shown not to present the consistency problems of the spin-2 theory constructed on the basis of general relativity.

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arXiv2010

Nonlinear Gravitational Waves: Their Form and Effects

A gravitational wave must be nonlinear to be able to transport its own source, that is, energy and momentum. A physical gravitational wave, therefore, cannot be represented by a solution to a linear wave equation. Relying on this property, the second-order solution describing such physical waves is obtained. The effects they produce on free particles are found to consist of nonlinear oscillations along the direction of propagation.

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arXiv2009

On the energy transported by exact plane gravitational-wave solutions

The energy and momentum transported by exact plane gravitational-wave solutions of Einstein equations are computed using the teleparallel equivalent formulation of Einstein's theory. It is shown that these waves transport neither energy nor momentum. A comparison with the usual linear plane gravitational-waves solution of the linearized Einstein equation is presented.

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arXiv2009

Regularizing role of teleparallelism

The properties of the gravitational energy-momentum 3-form and of the superpotential 2-form are discussed in the covariant teleparallel framework, where the Weitzenböck connection represents inertial effects related to the choice of the frame. Due to its odd asymptotic behavior, the contribution of the inertial effects often yields unphysical (divergent or trivial) results for the total energy of the system. However, in the covariant teleparallel approach, the energy is always finite and nontrivial. The teleparallel connection plays a role of a regularizing tool which subtracts the inertial effects without distorting the true gravitational contribution. As a crucial test of the covariant formalism, we reanalyze the computation of the total energy of the Schwarzschild and the Kerr solutions.

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arXiv2009

Inertia and gravitation in teleparallel gravity

Using the fact that teleparallel gravity allows a separation between gravitation and inertia, explicit expressions for the gravitational and the inertial energy-momentum densities are obtained. It is shown that, like all other fields of nature, gravitation alone has a tensorial energy-momentum density which in a general frame is conserved in the covariant sense. Together with the inertial energy-momentum density, they form a pseudotensor which is conserved in the ordinary sense. An analysis of the role played by the gravitational and the inertial densities in the computation of the total energy and momentum of gravity is presented.

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arXiv2009

Is Physics Asking for a New Kinematics?

It is discussed whether some of the consistency problems of present-day physics could be solved by replacing special relativity, whose underlying kinematics is ruled by the Poincare' group, by de Sitter relativity, with underlying kinematics ruled by the de Sitter group. In contrast to ordinary special relativity, which seems to fail at the Planck scale, this new relativity is "universal" in the sense that it holds at all energy scales.

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arXiv2008

De Sitter Special Relativity: Effects on Cosmology

The main consequences of de Sitter Special Relativity to the Standard Cosmological Model of Physical Cosmology are examined. The cosmological constant Lambda appears, in this theory, as a manifestation of the proper conformal current, which must be added to the usual energy-momentum density. As that conformal current itself vanishes in absence of sources, Lambda is ultimately dependent on the matter content, and can in principle be calculated. A present-day value very close to that given by the crossed supernova/BBR data is obtained through simple and reasonable approximations. Also a primeval inflation of polynomial type is found, and the usual notion of co-moving observer is slightly modified.

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arXiv2008

Hodge Dual for Soldered Bundles

In order to account for all possible contractions allowed by the presence of the solder form, a generalized Hodge dual is defined for the case of soldered bundles. Although for curvature the generalized dual coincides with the usual one, for torsion it gives a completely new dual definition. Starting from the standard form of a gauge lagrangian for the translation group, the generalized Hodge dual yields precisely the lagrangian of the teleparallel equivalent of general relativity, and consequently also the Einstein-Hilbert lagrangian of general relativity.

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arXiv2008

de Sitter Relativity: a New Road to Quantum Gravity?

The Poincare' group generalizes the Galilei group for high-velocity kinematics. The de Sitter group is assumed to go one step further, generalizing Poincare' as the group governing high-energy kinematics. In other words, ordinary special relativity is here replaced by de Sitter relativity. In this theory, the cosmological constant is no longer a free parameter, and can be determined in terms of other quantities. When applied to the whole universe, it is able to predict the value of the cosmological constant and to explain the cosmic coincidence. When applied to the propagation of ultra-high energy photons, it gives a good estimate of the time delay observed in extragalactic gamma-ray flares. It can, for this reason, be considered a new paradigm to approach the quantum gravity problem.

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arXiv2008

Gravitation: in search of the missing torsion

A linear Lorentz connection has always two fundamental derived characteristics: curvature and torsion. The latter is assumed to vanish in general relativity. Three gravitational models involving non-vanishing torsion are examined: teleparallel gravity, Einstein-Cartan, and new general relativity. Their dependability is critically examined. Although a final answer can only be given by experience, it is argued that teleparallel gravity provides the most consistent approach.

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arXiv2007

de Sitter Relativity and Quantum Physics

In the presence of a cosmological constant, interpreted as a purely geometric entity, absence of matter is represented by a de Sitter spacetime. As a consequence, ordinary Poincare' special relativity is no longer valid and must be replaced by a de Sitter special relativity. By considering the kinematics of a spinless particle in a de Sitter spacetime, we study the geodesics of this spacetime, the ensuing definitions of canonical momenta, and explore possible implications for quantum mechanics.

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arXiv2007

Spacetime: Arena or Reality?

For small values of the mass (in relation to the angular momentum and electric charge), the Kerr-Newman (KN) solution of Einstein equation reduces to a naked singularity of circular shape. By considering the Hawking and Ellis extended interpretation of the KN spacetime, as well as Wheeler's idea of "charge without charge", the non-trivial topological structure of the extended KN spatial section is found to represent gravitational states with half-integral angular momentum. As a consequence, it can be consistently interpreted as a model for the electron-positron system, in which the concepts of mass, charge and spin emerge from the spacetime geometry. According to this model, therefore, instead of a simple arena, spacetime must have a concrete existence, being responsible -- through its highly non-trivial topological structures -- for the building blocks of (at least some of) the existing matter in the universe.

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arXiv2007

Lorentz transformations in de Sitter relativity

The properties of Lorentz transformations in de Sitter relativity are studied. It is shown that, in addition to leaving invariant the velocity of light, they also leave invariant the length-scale related to the curvature of the de Sitter spacetime. The basic conclusion is that it is possible to have an invariant length parameter without breaking the Lorentz symmetry. This result may have important implications for the study of quantum kinematics, and in particular for quantum gravity.

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arXiv2007

The Nonlinear Essence of Gravitational Waves

A critical review of gravitational wave theory is made. It is pointed out that the usual linear approach to the gravitational wave theory is neither conceptually consistent nor mathematically justified. Relying upon that analysis it is then argued that -- analogously to a Yang-Mills propagating field, which must be nonlinear to carry its gauge charge -- a gravitational wave must necessarily be nonlinear to transport its own charge -- that is, energy-momentum.

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arXiv2007

In Search of the Spacetime Torsion

Whether torsion plays or not a role in the description of the gravitational interaction is a problem that can only be solved by experiment. This is, however, a difficult task: since there are different possible interpretations for torsion, there is no a model-independent way to look for it. In these notes, two different possibilities will be reviewed, their consistency analyzed, and the corresponding experimental outputs briefly discussed.

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arXiv2007

The quadratic spinor Lagrangian, axial torsion current, and generalizations

We show that the Einstein-Hilbert, the Einstein-Palatini, and the Holst actions can be derived from the Quadratic Spinor Lagrangian (QSL), when the three classes of Dirac spinor fields, under Lounesto spinor field classification, are considered. To each one of these classes, there corresponds a unique kind of action for a covariant gravity theory. In other words, it is shown to exist a one-to-one correspondence between the three classes of non-equivalent solutions of the Dirac equation, and Einstein-Hilbert, Einstein-Palatini, and Holst actions. Furthermore, it arises naturally, from Lounesto spinor field classification, that any other class of spinor field (Weyl, Majorana, flagpole, or flag-dipole spinor fields) yields a trivial (zero) QSL, up to a boundary term. To investigate this boundary term we do not impose any constraint on the Dirac spinor field, and consequently we obtain new terms in the boundary component of the QSL. In the particular case of a teleparallel connection, an axial torsion 1-form current density is obtained. New terms are also obtained in the corresponding Hamiltonian formalism. We then discuss how these new terms could shed new light on more general investigations.

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