arXiv subjects

Johannes Kirsch

Publications and source records attributed to Johannes Kirsch.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

On measuring the Quantum Universe

We present a theoretical analysis of the WDW approach to quantum cosmology extended to gravity theories with torsion. The dynamics of the FLRW universe is formulated as a classical Hamiltonian problem of point particle mechanics. Unlike in the WDW formalism, the Hamiltonian is not zero, though, and the 3rd quantization does not enforce the cosmic time to vanish. The wave function of the Universe appears as a superposition of eigenfunctions of the quantum Hamiltonian with the cosmic time being the conjugate to its eigenvalues, spatial curvatures. The notion of weak measurement is then introduced to avoid the collapse of the total universal wave function upon measurements of the parameter set describing matter and spacetime. The collapse postulate of the standard Copenhagen quantum theory is discussed and the de Broglie-Bohm interpretation of the effective wave function introduced. The question of the boundary conditions for both, the wave function and the Bohmian guidance equation, is addressed. The corresponding numerical calculations will be published in a separate paper.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2024

Dark energy and inflation invoked in CCGG by locally contorted space-time

The cosmological implications of the Covariant Canonical Gauge Theory of Gravity (CCGG) are investigated. We deduce that, in a metric compatible geometry, the requirement of covariant conservation of matter invokes torsion of space-time. In the Friedman model this leads to a scalar field built from contortion and the metric with the property of dark energy, which transforms the cosmological constant to a time-dependent function. Moreover, the quadratic, scale invariant Riemann-Cartan term in the CCGG Lagrangian endows space-time with kinetic energy, and in the field equations adds a geometrical curvature correction to Einstein gravity. Applying in the Friedman model the standard $Λ$CDM parameter set, those equations yield a cosmological field depending just on one additional, dimensionless ``deformation'' parameter of the theory that determines the strength of the quadratic term, viz. the deviation from the Einstein-Hilbert ansatz. Moreover, the apparent curvature of the universe differs from the actual curvature parameter of the metric. The numerical analysis in that parameter space yields three cosmology types: (I) A bounce universe starting off from a finite scale followed by a steady inflation, (II) a singular Big Bang universe undergoing a secondary inflation-deceleration phase, and (III) a solution similar to standard cosmology but with a different temporal profile. The common feature of all scenarios is the graceful exit to the current dark energy era. The value of the deformation parameter can be deduced by comparing theoretical calculations with observations, namely with the SNeIa Hubble diagram and the deceleration parameter. That comparison implies a considerable admixture of scale invariant quadratic gravity to Einstein gravity. This theory also sheds new light on the resolution of the cosmological constant problem and of the Hubble tension.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2024

Massive propagating modes of torsion

The dynamics of the torsion field is analyzed in the framework of the Covariant Canonical Gauge Theory of Gravity (CCGG), a De~Donder-Weyl Hamiltonian formulation of gauge gravity. The action is quadratic in both, the torsion and the Riemann-Cartan tensor. Since the latter adds the derivative of torsion to the equations of motion, torsion is no longer identical to spin density, as in the Einstein-Cartan theory, but an additional propagating degree of freedom. As torsion turns out to be totally anti-symmetric, it can be parametrised via a single axial vector. It is shown in this paper that, in the weak torsion limit, the axial vector obeys a wave equation with an effective mass term which is partially dependent on the scalar curvature. The source of torsion is thereby given by the fermion axial current which is the net fermionic spin density of the system. Possible measurable effects and approaches to experimental analysis are addressed. For example, neutron star mergers could act as a dipoles or quadrupoles for torsional radiation, and an analysis of radiation of pulsars could lead to a detection of torsion wave background radiation.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2023

Rigorous derivation of dark energy and inflation as geometry effects in Covariant Canonical Gauge Gravity

The cosmological implications of the Covariant Canonical Gauge Theory of Gravity (CCGG) are investigated. CCGG is a Palatini theory derived from first principles using the canonical transformation formalism in the covariant Hamiltonian formulation. The Einstein-Hilbert theory is thereby extended by a quadratic Riemann-Cartan term in the Lagrangian. Moreover, the requirement of covariant conservation of the stress-energy tensor leads to necessary presence of torsion. In the Friedman universe that promotes the cosmological constant to a time-dependent function, and gives rise to a geometrical correction with the EOS of dark radiation. The resulting cosmology, compatible with the $Λ$CDM parameter set, encompasses bounce and bang scenarios with graceful exits into the late dark energy era. Testing those scenarios against low-z observations shows that CCGG is a viable theory.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2023

Covariant Canonical Gauge Gravitation and Cosmology

The covariant canonical transformation theory applied to the relativistic Hamiltonian theory of classical matter fields in dynamical space-time yields a novel (first order) gauge field theory of gravitation. The emerging field equations necessarily embrace a quadratic Riemann term added to Einstein's linear equation. The quadratic term endows space-time with inertia generating a dynamic response of the space-time geometry to deformations relative to (Anti) de Sitter geometry. A "deformation parameter" is identified, the inverse dimensionless coupling constant governing the relative strength of the quadratic invariant in the Hamiltonian, and directly observable via the deceleration parameter $q_0$. The quadratic invariant makes the system inconsistent with Einstein's constant cosmological term, $Λ= \mathrm{const}$. In the Friedman model this inconsistency is resolved with the scaling ansatz of a "cosmological function", $Λ(a)$, where $a$ is the scale parameter of the FLRW metric. %Moreover, the strain generated by the quadratic term turns out to act as a geometrical stress. The cosmological function can be normalized such that with the $Λ$ CDM parameter set the present-day observables, the Hubble constant and the deceleration parameter, can be reproduced. %We analyze the asymptotics of the such normalized Friedman equations with respect to both, the fundamental parameters (coupling constants) and the scale $a$. With this parameter set we recover the dark energy scenario in the late epoch. The proof that inflation in the early phase is caused by the "geometrical fluid" representing the inertia of space-time is yet pending, though.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2023

Torsional dark energy in quadratic gauge gravity

The Covariant Canonical Gauge theory of Gravity (CCGG) is a gauge field formulation of gravity which a priori includes non-metricity and torsion. It extends the Lagrangian of Einstein's theory of general relativity by terms at least quadratic in the Riemann-Cartan tensor. This paper investigates the implications of metric compatible CCGG on cosmological scales. For a totally anti-symmetric torsion tensor we derive the resulting equations of motion in a Friedmann-Lemaître-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) Universe. In the limit of a vanishing quadratic Riemann-Cartan term, the arising modifications of the Friedmann equations are shown to be equivalent to spatial curvature. Furthermore, the modified Friedmann equations are investigated in detail in the early and late times of the Universe's history. It is demonstrated that in addition to the standard $Λ$CDM behaviour of the scale factor, there exist novel time dependencies, emerging due to the presence of torsion and the quadratic Riemann-Cartan term. Finally, at late times, we present how the accelerated expansion of the Universe can be understood as a geometric effect of spacetime through torsion, rendering the introduction of a cosmological constant redundant. In such a scenario it is possible to compute an expected value for the parameters of the postulated gravitational Hamiltonian/Lagrangian and to provide a lower bound on the vacuum energy of matter.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2023

Torsion driving cosmic expansion

We study a cosmological model based on the canonical Hamiltonian transformation theory. Using a linear-quadratic approach for the free gravitational De Donder-Weyl Hamiltonian $H_\mathrm{Gr}$, the model contains terms describing a deformation of an AdS spacetime and a fully anti-symmetric torsion in addition to Einstein's theory. The resulting extension of the Einstein-Cartan theory depends on two initially unknown constants, $Ω_\mathrm{g}$ and $Ω_\mathrm{s}$. Given an appropriate choice of these parameters resulting from the analysis of asymptotics, numerical calculations were performed with $Ω_\mathrmΛ = 0$. Values from the Planck Collaboration were used for all other required cosmological parameters. In this way, it is shown that torsion can explain phenomena commonly attributed to dark energy, and thus can replace Einstein's cosmological constant.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2022

Generic Theory of Geometrodynamics from Noether's theorem for the Diff(M) symmetry group

We work out the most general theory for the interaction of spacetime geometry and matter fields -- commonly referred to as geometrodynamics -- for spin-$0$ and spin-$1$ particles. The minimum set of postulates to be introduced is that (i) the action principle should apply and that(ii) the total action should by form-invariant under the (local) diffeomorphism group. The second postulate thus implements the Principle of General Relativity. According to Noether's theorem, this physical symmetry gives rise to a conserved Noether current, from which the complete set of theories compatible with both postulates can be deduced. This finally results in a new generic Einstein-type equation, which can be interpreted as an energy-momentum balance equation emerging from the Lagrangian $L_{R}$ for the source-free dynamics of gravitation and the energy-momentum tensor of the source system $L_{0}$. Provided that the system has no other symmetries -- such as SU$(N)$ -- the canonical energy-momentum tensor turns out to be the correct source term of gravitation. For the case of massive spin particles, this entails an increased weighting of the kinetic energy over the mass in their roles as the source of gravity as compared to the metric energy momentum tensor, which constitutes the source of gravity in Einstein's General Relativity. We furthermore confirm that a massive vector field necessarily acts as a source for torsion of spacetime. Thus, from the viewpoint of our generic Einstein-type equation, Einstein's General Relativity constitutes the particular case for spin-$0$ and massless spin particle fields, and the Hilbert Lagrangian $L_{R,H}$ as the model for the source-free dynamics of gravitation.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2021

Low-Redshift Constraints on Covariant Canonical Gauge Theory of Gravity

Constraints on the Covariant Canonical Gauge Gravity (CCGG) theory from low-redshift cosmology are studied. The formulation extends Einstein's theory of General Relativity (GR) by a quadratic Riemann-Cartan term in the Lagrangian, controlled by a "deformation" parameter. In the Friedman universe this leads to an additional geometrical stress energy and promotes, due to the necessary presence of torsion, the cosmological constant to a time-dependent function. The MCMC analysis of the combined data sets of Type Ia Supernovae, Cosmic Chronometers and Baryon Acoustic Oscillations yields a fit that is well comparable with the $Λ$CDM results. The modifications implied in the CCGG approach turn out to be subdominant in the low-redshift cosmology. However, a non-zero spatial curvature and deformation parameter are shown to be consistent with observations.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2016

Probing QED Vacuum with Heavy Ions

We recall how nearly half a century ago the proposal was made to explore the structure of the quantum vacuum using slow heavy-ion collisions. Pursuing this topic we review the foundational concept of spontaneous vacuum decay accompanied by observable positron emission in heavy-ion collisions and describe the related theoretical developments in strong fields QED.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2016

Gauge Theory by canonical Transformations

Electromagnetism, the strong and the weak interaction are commonly formulated as gauge theories in a Lagrangian description. In this paper we present an alternative formal derivation of U(1)-gauge theory in a manifestly covariant Hamilton formalism. We make use of canonical transformations as our guiding tool to formalize the gauging procedure. The introduction of the gauge field, its transformation behaviour and a dynamical gauge field Lagrangian/Hamiltonian are unavoidable consequences of this formalism, whereas the form of the free gauge Lagrangian/Hamiltonian depends on the selection of the gauge dependence of the canonically conjugate gauge fields.

hep-th↗