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Karim Noui

Publications and source records attributed to Karim Noui.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Minimally Modified Gravity fitting Planck data better than $Λ$CDM

We study the phenomenology of a class of minimally modified gravity theories called $f(\mathcal{H})$ theories, in which the usual general relativistic Hamiltonian constraint is replaced by a free function of it. After reviewing the construction of the theory and a consistent matter coupling, we analyze the dynamics of cosmology at the levels of both background and perturbations, and present a concrete example of the theory with a $3$-parameter family of the function $f$. Finally, we compare this example model to Planck data as well as some later-time probes, showing that such a realization of $f(\mathcal{H})$ theories fits the data significantly better than the standard $Λ$CDM model, in particular by modifying gravity at intermediate redshifts, $z\simeq743$.

astro-ph.CO↗

Late time cosmological evolution in DHOST models

We study the late cosmological evolution, from the nonrelativistic matter dominated era to the dark energy era, in modified gravity models described by Degenerate Higher-Order Scalar-Tensor (DHOST) theories. They represent the most general scalar-tensor theories propagating a single scalar degree of freedom and include Horndeski and Beyond Horndeski theories. We provide the homogeneous evolution equations for any quadratic DHOST theory, without restricting ourselves to theories where the speed of gravitational waves coincides with that of light since the present constraints apply to wavelengths much smaller than cosmological scales. To illustrate the potential richness of the cosmological background evolution in these theories, we consider a simple family of shift-symmetric models, characterized by three parameters and compute the evolution of dark energy and of its equation of state. We also identify the regions in parameter space where the models are perturbatively stable.

astro-ph.CO↗

Deformed General Relativity and Quantum Black Holes Interior

Effective models of black holes interior have led to several proposals for regular black holes. In the so-called polymer models, based on effective deformations of the phase space of spherically symmetric general relativity in vacuum, one considers a deformed Hamiltonian constraint while keeping a non-deformed vectorial constraint. In this article, we revisit and study further the question of covariance in these deformed gravity models. In particular, we propose a Lagrangian formulation for these deformed gravity models where polymer-like deformations are introduced at the level of the full theory prior to the symmetry reduction and prior to the Legendre transformation. This enables us to test whether the concept of deformed covariance found in spherically symmetric vacuum gravity can be extended to the full theory, and we show that, in the large class of models we are considering, the deformed covariance can not be realized beyond spherical symmetry in the sense that the only deformed theory which leads to a closed constraints algebra is general relativity. Hence, we focus on the spherically symmetric sector, where there exist non-trivial deformed but closed constraints algebras. We investigate the possibility to deform the vectorial constraint as well and we prove that non-trivial deformations of the vectorial constraint with the condition that the constraints algebra remains closed do not exist. Then, we compute the most general deformed Hamiltonian constraint which admits a closed constraints algebra and thus leads to a well-defined effective theory associated with a notion of deformed covariance. Finally, we study homogeneous solutions of these effective theories and, remarkably, we solve explicitly and in full generality the corresponding modified Einstein equations, even for the effective theories which do not satisfy the closeness condition.

gr-qc↗

Metric formulation of the simple theory of 3d massive gravity

We have recently introduced a new and very simple action for three-dimensional massive gravity. This action is written in a first order formulation where the triad and the connection play a manifestly symmetric role, but where internal Lorentz gauge symmetry is broken. The absence of Lorentz invariance, which in this model is the mechanism underlying the propagation of a massive graviton, does however prevent from writing a purely metric non-linear action for the theory. Nonetheless, in this letter, we explain how to disentangle, at the non-linear level, the metric and non-metric degrees of freedom in the equations of motion. Focusing on the metric part, we show that it satisfies modified Einstein equations with higher derivative terms. As a particular case, these equations reproduce a well-studied model known as minimal massive gravity. In the general case, we obtain new metric field equations for massive gravity in three dimensions starting from the simple first order action. These field equations are consistent through a mechanism known as "third way consistency", which our theory therefore provides a new example of.

gr-qc↗

Perturbations of a rotating black hole in DHOST theories

We study linear perturbations of a rotating black hole solution that has been recently discovered in degenerate higher-order scalar-tensor (DHOST) theories. We find a parametrization which permits the explicit resolution of the scalar perturbation while the tensor perturbation is obtained as a Teukolsky equation supplemented by an effective source term. The effective source term is related to the black hole hair and can be computed exactly for any value of the black hole spin. We discuss how the perturbations of the geometry and thus the emitted gravitational waves could be modified in comparison with general relativity.

gr-qc↗

Minimally Modified Gravity: a Hamiltonian Construction

Minimally modified gravity theories are modifications of general relativity with two local gravitational degrees of freedom in four dimensions. Their construction relies on the breaking of 4D diffeomorphism invariance keeping however the symmetry under 3D diffeomorphisms. Here, we construct these theories from a Hamiltonian point of view. We start with the phase space of general relativity in the ADM formalism. Then, we find the conditions that the Hamiltonian must satisfy for the theory to propagate (up to) two gravitational degrees of freedom with the assumptions that the lapse and the shift are not dynamical, and the theory remains invariant under 3D diffeomorphisms. This construction enables us to recover the well-known "cuscuton" class of scalar-tensor theories in the unitary gauge. We also exhibit a new class of interesting theories, that we dubb $f({\cal H})$ theories, where the usual Hamiltonian constraint $\cal H$ of general relativity is replaced by $f({\cal H})$ where $f$ is an arbitrary function.

gr-qc↗

Mimetic gravity as DHOST theories

We show that theories of mimetic gravity can be viewed as degenerate higher-order scalar-tensor (DHOST) theories that admit an extra local (gauge) symmetry in addition to the usual diffeomorphism invariance. We reformulate and classify mimetic theories in this perspective. Using the effective theory of dark energy, recently extended to include DHOST theories, we then investigate the linear perturbations about a homogeneous and isotropic background for all mimetic theories. We also include matter, in the form of a $k$-essence scalar field, and we derive the quadratic action for linear perturbations in this case.

gr-qc↗

Polymer Schwarzschild black hole: An effective metric

We consider the modified Einstein equations obtained in the framework of effective spherically symmetric polymer models inspired by Loop Quantum Gravity. When one takes into account the anomaly free point-wise holonomy quantum corrections, the modification of Einstein equations is parametrized by a function $f(x)$ of one phase space variable. We solve explicitly these equations for a static interior black hole geometry and find the effective metric describing the trapped region, inside the black hole, for any $f(x)$. This general resolution allows to take into account a standard ambiguity inherent to the polymer regularization: namely the choice of the spin $j$ labelling the SU$(2)$-representation of the holonomy corrections. When $j=1/2$, the function $f(x)$ is the usual sine function used in the polymer litterature. For this simple case, the effective exterior metric remains the classical Schwarzschild's one but acquires modifications inside the hole. The interior metric describes a regular trapped region and presents strong similarities with the Reissner-Nordström metric, with a new inner horizon generated by quantum effects. We discuss the gluing of our interior solution to the exterior Schwarzschild metric and the challenge to extend the solution outside the trapped region due to covariance requirement. By starting from the anomaly free polymer regularization for inhomogeneous spherically symmetric geometry, and then reducing to the homogeneous interior problem, we provide an alternative treatment to existing polymer interior black hole models which focus directly on the interior geometry, ignoring covariance issue when introducing the polymer regularization.

gr-qc↗

A remarkably simple theory of 3d massive gravity

We propose and study a new action for three-dimensional massive gravity. This action takes a very simple form when written in terms of connection and triad variables, but the connection can also be integrated out to obtain a triad formulation. The quadratic action for the perturbations around a Minkowski background reproduces the action of self-dual massive gravity, in agreement with the expectation that the theory propagates a massive graviton. We confirm this result at the non-linear level with a Hamiltonian analysis, and show that this new theory does indeed possess a single massive degree of freedom. The action depends on four coupling constants, and we identify the various massive and topological (or massless) limits in the space of parameters. This richness, along with the simplicity of the action, opens a very interesting new window onto massive gravity.

hep-th↗

Cosmological evolution in DHOST theories

In the context of Degenerate Higher-Order Scalar-Tensor (DHOST) theories, we study cosmological solutions and their stability properties. In particular, we explicitly illustrate the crucial role of degeneracy by showing how the higher order homogeneous equations in the physical frame (where matter is minimally coupled) can be recast in a system of equations that do not involve higher order derivatives. We study the fixed points of the dynamics, finding the conditions for having a de Sitter attractor at late times. Then we consider the coupling to matter field (described for convenience by a k-essence Lagrangian) and find the conditions to avoid gradient and ghost instabilities at linear order in cosmological perturbations, extending previous work. Finally, we apply these results to a simple subclass of DHOST theories, showing that de Sitter attractor conditions, no ghost and no gradient instabilities conditions (both in the self-accelerating era and in the matter dominated era) can be compatible.

hep-th↗

Scalar-tensor theories and modified gravity in the wake of GW170817

Theories of dark energy and modified gravity can be strongly constrained by astrophysical or cosmological observations, as illustrated by the recent observation of the gravitational wave event GW170817 and of its electromagnetic counterpart GRB 170817A, which shows that the speed of gravitational waves, $c_g$, is the same as the speed of light, within deviations of order $10^{-15}$. This observation implies very severe restrictions on scalar-tensor theories, in particular theories whose action depends on second derivatives of a scalar field. Working in the very general framework of Degenerate Higher-Order Scalar-Tensor (DHOST) theories, which encompass Horndeski and Beyond Horndeski theories, we present the DHOST theories that satisfy $c_g=c$. We then examine, for these theories, the screening mechanism that suppresses scalar interactions on small scales, namely the Vainshtein mechanism, and compute the corresponding gravitational laws for a non-relativistic spherical body. We show that it can lead to a deviation from standard gravity inside matter, parametrized by three coefficients which satisfy a consistency relation and can be constrained by present and future astrophysical observations.

gr-qc↗

Non-singular black holes and the Limiting Curvature Mechanism: A Hamiltonian perspective

We revisit the non-singular black hole solution in (extended) mimetic gravity with a limiting curvature from a Hamiltonian point of view. We introduce a parameterization of the phase space which allows us to describe fully the Hamiltonian structure of the theory. We write down the equations of motion that we solve in the regime deep inside the black hole, and we recover that the black hole has no singularity, due to the limiting curvature mechanism. Then, we study the relation between such black holes and effective polymer black holes which have been introduced in the context of loop quantum gravity. As expected, contrary to what happens in the cosmological sector, mimetic gravity with a limiting curvature fails to reproduce the usual effective dynamics of spherically symmetric loop quantum gravity which are generically not covariant. Nonetheless, we exhibit a theory in the class of extended mimetic gravity whose dynamics reproduces the general shape of the effective corrections of spherically symmetric polymer models, but in an undeformed covariant manner. These covariant effective corrections are found to be always metric dependent, i.e. within the $\barμ$-scheme, underlying the importance of this ingredient for inhomogeneous polymer models. In that respect, extended mimetic gravity can be viewed as an effective covariant theory which naturally implements a covariant notion of point wise holonomy-like corrections. The difference between the mimetic and polymer Hamiltonian formulations provides us with a guide to understand the deformation of covariance in inhomogeneous polymer models.

gr-qc↗

"Shadowy" modes in Higher-Order Scalar-Tensor theories

We consider Higher-Order Scalar-Tensor theories which appear degenerate when restricted to the unitary gauge but are not degenerate in an arbitrary gauge. We dub them U-degenerate theories. We provide a full classification of theories that are either DHOST or U-degenerate and that are quadratic in second derivatives of the scalar field, and discuss its extension to cubic and higher order theories. Working with a simple example of U-degenerate theory, we find that, for configurations in which the scalar field gradient is time-like, the apparent extra mode in such a theory can be understood as a generalized instantaneous, or "shadowy" mode, which does not propagate. Appropriate boundary conditions, required by the elliptic nature of part of the equations of motion, lead to the elimination of the apparent instability associated with this extra mode.

hep-th↗

Beyond Lovelock gravity: Higher derivative metric theories

We consider theories describing the dynamics of a four-dimensional metric, whose Lagrangian is diffeomorphism invariant and depends at most on second derivatives of the metric. Imposing degeneracy conditions we find a set of Lagrangians that, apart form the Einstein-Hilbert one, are either trivial or contain more than two degrees of freedom. Among the partially degenerate theories, we recover Chern-Simons gravity, endowed with constraints whose structure suggests the presence of instabilities. Then, we enlarge the class of parity violating theories of gravity by introducing new "chiral scalar-tensor theories". Although they all raise the same concern as Chern-Simons gravity, they can nevertheless make sense as low energy effective field theories or, by restricting them to the unitary gauge (where the scalar field is uniform), as Lorentz breaking theories with a parity violating sector.

hep-th↗

Effective loop quantum cosmology as a higher-derivative scalar-tensor theory

Recently, Chamseddine and Mukhanov introduced a higher-derivative scalar-tensor theory which leads to a modified Friedmann equation allowing for bouncing solutions. As we note in the present work, this Friedmann equation turns out to reproduce exactly the loop quantum cosmology effective dynamics for a flat isotropic and homogeneous space-time. We generalize this result to obtain a class of scalar-tensor theories, belonging to the family of mimetic gravity, which all reproduce the loop quantum cosmology effective dynamics for flat, closed and open isotropic and homogeneous space-times.

gr-qc↗

Effective Description of Higher-Order Scalar-Tensor Theories

Most existing theories of dark energy and/or modified gravity, involving a scalar degree of freedom, can be conveniently described within the framework of the Effective Theory of Dark Energy, based on the unitary gauge where the scalar field is uniform. We extend this effective approach by allowing the Lagrangian in unitary gauge to depend on the time derivative of the lapse function. Although this dependence generically signals the presence of an extra scalar degree of freedom, theories that contain only one propagating scalar degree of freedom, in addition to the usual tensor modes, can be constructed by requiring the initial Lagrangian to be degenerate. Starting from a general quadratic action, we derive the dispersion relations for the linear perturbations around Minkowski and a cosmological background. Our analysis directly applies to the recently introduced Degenerate Higher-Order Scalar-Tensor (DHOST) theories. For these theories, we find that one cannot recover a Poisson-like equation in the static linear regime except for the subclass that includes the Horndeski and so-called "beyond Horndeski" theories. We also discuss Lorentz-breaking models inspired by Horava gravity.

hep-th↗

Gravity as an SU(1,1) gauge theory in four dimensions

We start with the Hamiltonian formulation of the first order action of pure gravity with a full $\mathfrak{sl}(2,\mathbb C)$ internal gauge symmetry. We make a partial gauge-fixing which reduces $\mathfrak{sl}(2,\mathbb C)$ to its sub-algebra $\mathfrak{su}(1,1)$. This case corresponds to a splitting of the space-time ${\cal M}=Σ\times \mathbb R$ where $Σ$ inherits an arbitrary Lorentzian metric of signature $(-,+,+)$. Then, we find a parametrization of the phase space in terms of an $\mathfrak{su}(1,1)$ commutative connection and its associated conjugate electric field. Following the techniques of Loop Quantum Gravity, we start the quantization of the theory and we consider the kinematical Hilbert space on a given fixed graph $Γ$ whose edges are colored with unitary representations of $\mathfrak{su}(1,1)$. We compute the spectrum of area operators acting of the kinematical Hilbert space: we show that space-like areas have discrete spectra, in agreement with usual $\mathfrak{su}(2)$ Loop Quantum Gravity, whereas time-like areas have continuous spectra. We conclude on the possibility to make use of this formulation of gravity to construct a holographic description of black holes in the framework of Loop Quantum Gravity.

gr-qc↗

Degenerate higher order scalar-tensor theories beyond Horndeski up to cubic order

We present all scalar-tensor Lagrangians that are cubic in second derivatives of a scalar field, and that are degenerate, hence avoiding Ostrogradsky instabilities. Thanks to the existence of constraints, they propagate no more than three degrees of freedom, despite having higher order equations of motion. We also determine the viable combinations of previously identified quadratic degenerate Lagrangians and the newly established cubic ones. Finally, we study whether the new theories are connected to known scalar-tensor theories such as Horndeski and beyond Horndeski, through conformal or disformal transformations.

hep-th↗