arXiv subjects

Joel Saavedra

Publications and source records attributed to Joel Saavedra.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Cosmological Stealth fields and Non-Equilibrium thermodynamics

We investigate the connection between cosmological stealth scalar fields and non-equilibrium thermodynamics in a spatially flat Friedmann-Lemaître-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) background. We consider a non-minimally coupled scalar field whose energy-momentum tensor vanishes identically, allowing the field to evolve on a dissipative cosmological background without producing gravitational backreaction. We show that the stealth condition leads to a generalized Riccati equation for the scalar-field kinematics, where the dissipative pressure acts as a thermodynamic driving term. In terms of the variable $y=\dotϕ/(Hϕ)$, the system admits two thermodynamic branches: a stable attractor selected by entropy production and an unstable repeller. We also construct the corresponding phase-space structure in the $(y,ω_{\rm eff})$ plane and identify a near-critical regime associated with $ζ=1/4$. Finally, we reconstruct the stealth potential and present a bulk viscous realization in which irreversible entropy production drives the universe toward an asymptotic de Sitter state while the stealth field tracks the dissipative background. We further develop the linear scalar perturbations of the model and show that, although the stealth field is gravitationally invisible at the background level, its perturbation couples directly to the dissipative-pressure perturbation. This coupling provides a mechanism for distinguishing dissipative and non-dissipative sources that share the same background expansion history. Our results suggest that stealth fields can be interpreted as dynamically non-trivial thermodynamic trackers of non-equilibrium cosmological evolution.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2026

Does spatial curvature generate new thermodynamic criticality at the FLRW apparent horizon?

We generalize the apparent-horizon thermodynamic construction of [1] to a FLRW universe with non-zero spatial curvature, non-interacting cold dark matter and holographic-type dark energy. For nonzero curvature, the scale factor is an additional geometric variable in the horizon equation of state. The usual criticality conditions are thus not well defined until a closure prescription for the curvature sector is provided. We introduce a dimensionless curvature variable and restrict the thermodynamic variations to slices of constant value of this variable. For each such slice, a positive holographic coupling and nonlinear powers larger than one guaranty the existence of a unique positive critical point. The critical specific volume, temperature and pressure are shifted by the spatial curvature, while the critical ratio and the mean-field critical exponents remain unchanged. It thus rescales the critical quantities, without generating a new local universality class. We construct a Helmholtz potential out of the physical thermodynamic volume and the entropy conjugate to the rescaled horizon temperature. In the quadratic holographic model, the parametric coexistence curve which is equivalent to the Maxwell construction is derived from the equality of the Gibbs free energies of the competing branches. The associated latent heat disappears at the critical endpoint, resulting in a global first-order coexistence in the fixed-curvature ensemble. Whether a physical FLRW trajectory intersects the critical or coexistence locus is a separate dynamical question because the dimensionless curvature variable generally evolves during cosmological expansion.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2026

Redshift Spectroscopy as a Probe of Regular Black Holes, Black Bounces, and Scalar-Hair Compact Objects

Motivated by [Phys. Rev. D. 107, 064019 (2023)], we develop a unified and model-independent framework for the spectroscopy of photon frequency shifts in generic static, spherically symmetric spacetimes. Working with a line element characterized by three arbitrary radial metric functions, we derive exact expressions for the conserved quantities of massive and massless probes, the conditions for circular timelike geodesics, the local-emission-angle-dependent photon impact parameter, and the corresponding local redshift and blueshift branches measured by distant static observers. The formalism is further extended to include the line-of-sight peculiar motion of the source and the local propagation of photons in a nonmagnetized cold plasma, thereby identifying the gravitational, orbital, and dispersive factors entering the frequency-shift signal under the stated assumptions. We also show that, in vacuum, the same geometric structures governing orbital spectroscopy determine the photon sphere and the shadow impact parameter whenever an external null critical orbit is present. To make the framework suitable for deformed compact-object models, we construct a perturbative expansion around Schwarzschild geometry up to second order in a dimensionless deformation parameter, obtaining explicit corrections to the orbital energy, angular momentum, emitter four-velocity, photon impact parameter, and the vacuum and plasma frequency shifts. We apply the formalism to regular black holes from nonlinear electrodynamics, the Simpson--Visser black-bounce spacetime, and the Fisher--Janis--Newman--Winicour--Wyman geometry. These examples show that the same local spectroscopic language can be used across regular-black-hole, black-bounce, wormhole, and scalar-supported horizonless sectors.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2026

Thermodynamic Criticality in FLRW Cosmology with Non-extensive Loop Quantum Gravity Entropy

We investigate thermodynamic criticality in a spatially flat Friedmann-Lema\^ıtre-Robertson-Walker universe with a non-extensive Loop Quantum Gravity inspired entropy on its apparent horizon. Using the full Kodama-Hayward temperature and the unified first law, we derive the modified Friedmann dynamics and construct the corresponding horizon equation of state. We see that a finite physical critical point only appears in the non-extensive branch $q>1$, while in the Bekenstein-Hawking limit $q\to1$, the critical point is continuously pushed to $v_c\to\infty$ and $T_c\to0$. Along the same spinodal curve, both the constant-pressure heat capacity and the isothermal compressibility become unbounded, and the extremum of this curve is located at the critical point. Below the critical temperature, the Gibbs free energy develops several thermodynamic branches, and the phase coexistence for different horizon states is verified by the equality of temperature, pressure, and Gibbs free energy. The critical exponents are $(α_{cr},β_{cr},γ_{cr},δ_{cr}) =(0,1/2,1,3)$, indicating that the system belongs to the standard mean-field universality class despite the non-algebraic form of the equation of state. The normalized Ruppeiner curvature diverges precisely on the spinodal curve and shows critical scaling $R_N\sim-|v-v_c|^{-4}$ on the critical isotherm, and $R_N\sim-|t|^{-2}$ on the critical isochore. Finally, the critical expansion scale is given by $H_c^2=2(\sqrt{5}-2)|β|$, which implies that the thermodynamic critical point occurs when the entropy deformation is of order unity. These results establish a self-consistent critical structure for the effective thermodynamic state space of the cosmological apparent horizon and retain the mean-field critical universality.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2026

Thermodynamic behavior of cosmological models with fractional entropy

We investigate the thermodynamic and phenomenological implications of a cosmological model governed by fractional entropy applied to the apparent horizon of a flat Friedmann-Lemaître-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) universe. By utilizing the unified first law of thermodynamics alongside the Kodama-Hayward temperature, we derive a generalized set of Friedmann equations characterized by a fractional parameter $α\in (1,2]$. The thermodynamic analysis reveals that the specific heats $C_V$ and $C_p$ share the same sign and depend solely on the deceleration parameter, demonstrating that the fractional model is thermodynamically stable during the late-time accelerated expansion and does not exhibit phase transitions. To constrain the background dynamics, we confront the truncated fractional model with a joint sample of late-time observational data, including Cosmic Chronometers, Pantheon+SH0ES supernovae, and the latest DESI DR2 Baryon Acoustic Oscillations. Exploring the physically motivated range $1<α\le 2$, we find that the fit quality degrades monotonically as $α$ decreases from the General Relativity limit. Rather than limiting the model's physical value, this demonstrates its theoretical robustness: the fractional framework acts as a continuous deformation parameter that preserves macroscopic thermodynamic stability. The data favors $α$ close to 2 (yielding $H_0=69.50\pm 0.42$ km/s/Mpc and $Ω_{m0}=0.292\pm 0.008$), revealing that while the late-time background expansion strongly constrains deviations from the standard area law, the fractional model smoothly and stably accommodates these constraints without exhibiting thermodynamic pathologies.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2026

Two-scale magnetically charged regular black holes from nonlinear electrodynamics and a T-duality-inspired zero-point length

We construct a two-scale, static, spherically symmetric regular black hole in Einstein gravity sourced by magnetic nonlinear electrodynamics (NED). The zero-point length $\ell$ regularizes the mass and charge profiles, whereas $q$ is the asymptotic magnetic charge. The geometry approaches Reissner-Nordström at large radius, reduces to the neutral zero-point-length solution for $q=0$, and coincides geometrically with the Ayón-Beato-García solution for $\ell=|q|$. For $q\neq0$, inverse reconstruction gives a single-valued magnetic Lagrangian with Maxwell asymptotics and a finite strong-field limit. The center is regular and is de Sitter, locally Minkowski, or anti-de Sitter according to the sign of $2M\ell-q^2$; the weak energy condition holds globally if and only if $3M\ell\geq2q^2$. We derive the extremality curve, the exact heat capacity, and homogeneous horizon-variation and Smarr identities while retaining the Wald area entropy. We also prove that every charged black hole in this family has a nondegenerate extraordinary NED optical metric throughout the domain of outer communication. The associated capture shadow is selected by the global minimum of the optical impact-parameter function and generally differs from the background-geodesic shadow. Weak-field calculations yield the periapsis, bending, time-delay, and redshift corrections; in particular, $\ell$ first appears beyond the standard first-post-Newtonian parameters. Finally, for minimally coupled test radiation in a cold transparent plasma, we obtain exact parametric shadow relations for power-law density profiles and combine Hamiltonian ray tracing with a Novikov-Thorne disk model. A separate extraordinary NED-plasma continuation is displayed only as a phenomenological prescription because a material plasma breaks the conformal ambiguity of the vacuum characteristic metric.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2026

The generalized second law as a thermodynamic selection criterion for dynamical dark energy

The growing number of generalized horizon entropy proposals has led to a wide variety of modified cosmological models, yet there is currently no general physical principle capable of discriminating among them. We show that the generalized second law (GSL) of thermodynamics provides such a criterion. Considering a general modified Friedmann framework described by an arbitrary function $f(H)$ of the Hubble parameter, and allowing the apparent horizon and the cosmic fluid to evolve out of thermal equilibrium, we derive model-independent constraints on the asymptotic scaling of the horizon entropy, $S_A\propto A^k$. We find that phantom evolution requires $k\ge(3ω-1)/(2ω)$, with $ω$ the total fluid equation of state, whereas quintessence imposes the complementary upper bound. Additionally, in the exact thermal equilibrium limit, the dynamical coupling strictly enforces $k \le 2$, recovering the non-equilibrium quintessence bound. The two bounds converge to the unique value $k=2$ as the phantom divide is approached, indicating that a smooth crossing of the phantom divide is thermodynamically associated with a quadratic entropy-area scaling, where the effective theory degenerates into a logarithmic gravity framework. Applying this criterion to representative generalized entropy models shows that many commonly used proposals are constrained by the generalized second law, whereas multiparameter constructions are naturally compatible with the required asymptotic behavior. Finally, we demonstrate that the same thermodynamic selection principle extends to derivative-dependent cosmologies described by $f(H,\dot H)$, highlighting its robustness beyond entropy functionals that depend only on the horizon area.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2026

Scattering, Hawking Radiation and Neutrino Energy Deposition in Euler-Heisenberg Black Holes Surrounded by Perfect Fluid Dark Matter

We study the dynamical and scattering properties for the Euler-Heisenberg BH surrounded by perfect fluid dark matter. The geometry contains a compact non-linear electrodynamic correction governed by the EH coupling and a logarithmic dark-matter contribution governed by the surrounding PFDM halo. We study the scalar, electromagnetic and a particular effective axial spin-2 channel constructed on the fixed EH plus PFDM background, acting as a proxy for the gravitational-like perturbation problem and not for the fully coupled gravitational perturbation problem. We compute the quasinormal-mode spectrum employing a thirteenth-order WKB method supplemented with Padé resummation and compare it with the eikonal prediction calculated in terms of the angular frequency of the photon sphere and the Lyapunov exponent. Moreover, we study the near-extremal configurations and derive a purely imaginary branch of quasinormal frequencies in the near-horizon region, whose damping rate increases with the PFDM parameter and is nearly spin-independent. We then compute exact greybody factors by direct numerical integration of the radial wave equation and compare them to analytical lower bounds. We also analyze the absorption cross sections and the Hawking emission spectra. We also calculate the relativistic enhancement of the neutrino-antineutrino annihilation channel outside the EHPFDM black hole. We find that the PFDM parameter contracts the optical structure, increases the oscillation frequency, enhances the damping rate and suppresses transmission. On the other hand, the Euler-Heisenberg correction leads to a weaker near-horizon deformation whose effect becomes relevant for sufficiently large charge. These results provide a common scattering framework for comparing the impact of dark-matter environments and nonlinear electrodynamics

gr-qc↗

arXiv2026

Breaking Parameter Degeneracies in a Magnetically Charged Black Hole Embedded in a Hernquist Dark-Matter Halo: A Multi-Observable Analysis

We study the degeneracy of intrinsic and environmental parameters for BH observables in a static spacetime sourced by a nonlinear magnetic monopole immersed in a Hernquist dark-matter halo. We explore four complementary probes; the shadow radius $R_{sh}$, eikonal quasinormal-mode frequencies $Mω_R$, weak gravitational lensing $\hatθ_\infty$, and neutrino-antineutrino annihilation $\dot{Q}/\dot{Q}_{Newt}$, and map their degeneracy contours in the $(g/\mathcal{M},α/\mathcal{M})$ plane at fixed $β/\mathcal{M}$. Different parameter combinations yield signatures nearly indistinguishable from a Schwarzschild black hole single-observable diagnostics cannot uniquely constrain the magnetic charge and halo amplitude. The degeneracy contours are, however, mutually non-parallel: the slopes $dα/dg$ along constant-$R_{sh}$ and constant-$Mω_R$ contours differ by a factor $\sim 5$, so their combination breaks the remaining degeneracy and constrains both parameters simultaneously. We compute the QNMs spectra using a high-order WKB method with Padé resummation. The magnetic charge raises the real oscillation frequency while the halo lowers it; the cancellation is observable-dependent and does not persist across all four channels. An expansion around an asymptotically renormalized Schwarzschild background of mass $\mathcal{M}=M+α$ shows that at fixed $\mathcal{M}$ both sectors reduce $R_{sh}$ at first perturbative order. For weak lensing, $\mathcal{M}$ alone determines the leading deflection, first subleading correction depends on $\mathcal{Q}=g^2+4αβ$, separating total halo mass from halo concentration. For neutrino-pair annihilation, the magnetic charge suppresses the deposition rate by raising the lapse, while the halo enhances it through the reverse mechanism.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2026

Non-minimally coupled loop quantum inflation with inverse-volume corrections

We study slow-roll inflation driven by a scalar field non-minimally coupled to gravity within the effective framework of Loop Quantum Cosmology (LQC), including inverse-volume corrections. We consider two physically motivated classes of potentials, a Higgs-like quartic potential $V\proptoϕ^{4}$ and string-inspired fractional monomial potentials $V\proptoϕ^{p}$ with $p<1$. Working at first order in the slow-roll expansion, we derive analytic expressions for the inflationary observables, namely the scalar spectral index $n_s$, the tensor-to-scalar ratio $r$, and the running $α_s\equiv dn_s/d\ln k$, and then solve the corrected background dynamics numerically to obtain quantitative predictions. Confronting these results with current observational constraints from Planck 2018 and ACT DR6, we find that the model can lie within the allowed region of the $(n_s,r,α_s)$ parameter space, including a mild preference for slightly larger $n_s$, as suggested by recent ground-based measurements. We also compute the probability of achieving sufficient slow-roll inflation in this setting. Although effective LQC replaces the initial singularity with a nonsingular quantum bounce, the likelihood of a sufficiently long inflationary phase depends on the pre-inflationary dynamics and on the inflaton potential. Using the canonical Liouville measure on the effective phase space, we determine the fraction of post-bounce trajectories that yield sufficient inflation and find that the non-minimal coupling parameter $ξ$ substantially enlarges the phase-space volume of favorable initial conditions relative to the minimally coupled case, exhibiting an attractor-like enhancement that saturates at large $ξ$.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2026

Correspondence between a decaying dark matter sector scenario and scalar field model

We explore the theoretical viability of modeling a decaying dark matter sector through a unified scalar field approach. Using exact analytical solutions of the Friedmann constraints, we map the fluid phenomenology onto a scalar field potential. Our analysis reveals that physical viability, specifically the existence of a well-defined potential minimum; inevitably forces the dark energy equation of state into the phantom domain. To resolve the kinetic pathologies at late times, we propose reinterpreting the framework within a complex scenario, mapping the imaginary transition to the angular dynamics of a $U(1)$ phase. This mapping naturally yields an ultra-light mass scale of $m_ϕ\sim 10^{-33} \ \text{eV}$, classifying the model as a unified dark fluid. Finally, we employ a dynamical approach to study the effects of non-minimal coupling, proving that the phantom-dominated epoch acts as a stable, late-time cosmic attractor in this kind of cosmological scenario.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2026

The holographic origin of future singularities and the role of spatial curvature in cosmic expansion

We investigate the fundamental cosmological implications of holographic dark energy using the Granda-Oliveros (GO) infrared cutoff, spatial curvature, and generalized entropies. We demonstrate that the GO cutoff establishes a geometric origin for phantom acceleration, inevitably leading to a big rip singularity without requiring exotic matter. Incorporating spatial curvature reveals that topology acts as a quantitative catalyst; positive curvature accelerates the singularity in closed universes, but cannot alter its fundamental behavior. Furthermore, we show that Kaniadakis generalized entropy modifications are structurally insufficient to prevent this finite-time divergence. To successfully soften the big rip and yield an asymptotic little rip, it is necessary (as first alternative) to integrate irreversible thermodynamical mechanisms, such as non-equilibrium particle creation. These macroscopic processes are sufficient to neutralize the geometric divergence of the GO cutoff, as we discuss in the work.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2026

First-order phase transitions and cosmic evolution: thermodynamic approach to generalized holographic dark energy

Focusing on the description of cosmic evolution at late times, this study examines a generalized holographic dark energy (HDE) framework constructed via a polynomial expansion in the Hubble parameter, which includes contributions proportional to $H^{2}$, $H^{4}$, and $H^{6}$, introduced through a variable parameter within the standard holographic formula. The analysis is carried out in the context of a spatially flat Friedmann-Lemaître-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) Universe, consisting of non-interacting matter together with the HDE fluid. We obtain the full set of Friedmann equations to investigate cosmic evolution and then analyze the system to determine whether thermodynamic $P - v$ type phase transitions can occur.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2025

Revealing some cosmological aspects of Kaniadakis entropy

Adopting the modifications induced by the truncated version of the Kaniadakis entropy on the Friedmann equations, we explore some relevant aspects of this cosmological scenario at the background level. We analyze the constraint imposed on the parameter $K$ obtained from the accelerated cosmic expansion condition, and we also study the role of such a parameter as a cosmological constant.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2024

A new approach to $P-V$ phase transitions: Einstein gravity and holographic type dark energy

In the framework of Einstein's gravity, we study the thermodynamic equation state, $P=P(V,T)$, associated with a flat Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) universe. In this scenario, we consider the components of the dark sector as non-interacting fluids that dominate the universe's energy content at late times. Under these circumstances, the functional structure of the cosmological coincidence parameter plays a relevant role in admitting first-order $P-V$ phase transitions; specifically, the dark energy density and the coincidence parameter must be given in terms of the radius of the apparent horizon.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2024

Phase-space analysis of torsion-coupled dilatonic ghost condensate

We studied the cosmological dynamics of a dilatonic ghost condensate field as a source of dark energy, which is non-minimally coupled to gravity through torsion. We performed a detailed phase-space analysis by finding all the critical points and their stability conditions. Also, we compared our results with the latest $H(z)$ and Supernovae Ia observational data. In particular, we found the conditions for the existence of scaling regimes during the dark matter era. Furthermore, we obtained the conditions for a successful exit from the scaling regime, such that, at late times, the universe tends towards an attractor point describing the dark energy-dominated era. These intriguing features can allow us to alleviate the energy scale problem of dark energy since, during a scaling regime, the field energy density is not necessarily negligible at early times.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2023

Unified first law of thermodynamics in Gauss-Bonnet gravity on an FLRW background

Employing the thermodynamic unified first law through the thermodynamic-gravity conjecture, in this article, we derive for a FLRW universe the Friedmann equations in the framework of Gauss-Bonnet gravity theory. To do this, we project this generalized first law along the Kodama vector field and along the direction of an orthogonal vector to the Kodama vector. The second Friedmann equation is obtained by projecting on the Kodama vector, while the first is obtained by projecting along the flux on the Cauchy hypersurfaces. This result does not assume a priory temperature and an entropy, so the Clausius relation is not used here. Nevertheless, it is used to obtain the corresponding Gauss-Bonnet entropy. In this way, the validity of the generalized second law of thermodynamics is proved for the Gauss-Bonnet gravity theory.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2023

Discriminating interacting dark energy models using Statefinder diagnostic

In the present work, we perform a comparative study of different interacting dark energy (DE) models using the Statefinder diagnostics. In particular, 17 different forms of the energy transfer rate $Q$ between DE and dark matter (DM) were focused on, belonging to the following categories: i) linear models in energy densities of DE and DM, ii) non-linear models, iii) models with a change of direction of energy transfer between DE and DM, iv) models involving derivatives of the energy densities, v) parametrized interactions through a function of the coincidence parameter $\tilde{r}$, and finally we also consider vi) two kinds of models with a self-interaction between DM, without DE. These models have been already studied in the literature and constrained with observational data available at that time. In order to discriminate between them at background level, we use the Statefinder diagnostic, based on the computation and study of the so-called Statefinder parameters $r$, $s$ in addition to the deceleration parameter $q$. We plot the evolution trajectories for the several interacting models on the $r-q$, $r-s$ planes, and we find some distinctive features and departures from $Λ$CDM and other DE models, as Quintessence, Chaplygin Gas, running vacuum models (RVM) and Galileon.

gr-qc↗