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Minas Tsoukalas

Publications and source records attributed to Minas Tsoukalas.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
arXiv2017

Cosmological models in modified gravity theories with extended nonminimal derivative couplings

We construct gravitational modifications that go beyond Horndeski, namely theories with extended nonminimal derivative couplings, in which the coefficient functions depend not only on the scalar field but also on its kinetic energy. Such theories prove to be ghost-free in a cosmological background. We investigate the early-time cosmology and show that a de Sitter inflationary phase can be realized as a pure result of the novel gravitational couplings. Additionally, we study the late-time evolution, where we obtain an effective dark energy sector which arises from the scalar field and its extended couplings to gravity. We extract various cosmological observables and analyse their behavior at small redshifts for three choices of potentials, namely, for the exponential, the power-law, and the Higgs potential. We show that the Universe passes from deceleration to acceleration in the recent cosmological past, while the effective dark-energy equation-of-state parameter tends to the cosmological-constant value at present. Finally, the effective dark energy can be phantom-like, although the scalar field is canonical, which is an advantage of the model.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2017

Gravitational Collapse of a Homogeneous Scalar Field Coupled Kinematically to Einstein Tensor

We study the gravitational collapse of a homogeneous time-dependent scalar field that, besides its coupling to curvature, it is also kinematically coupled to the Einstein tensor. This coupling is a part of the Horndeski theory and we investigate its effect on the collapsing process. We find that the time required for the scalar field to collapse depends on the value of the derivative coupling and the singularity is protected by a horizon. Matching the internal solution with an external Schwarzschild- AdS metric we show that a black hole is formed, while the weak energy condition is satisfied during the collapsing process. The scalar field takes on a finite value at the singularity.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2016

On the action of the complete Brans-Dicke theory

Recently the most general completion of Brans-Dicke theory was appeared with energy exchanged between the scalar field and ordinary matter, given that the equation of motion for the scalar field keeps the simple wave form of Brans-Dicke. This class of theories contain undetermined functions, but there exist only three theories which are unambiguously determined from consistency. Here, for the first such theory, it is found the action of the vacuum theory which arises as the limit of the full matter theory. A symmetry transformation of this vacuum action in the Jordan frame is found which consists of a conformal transformation of the metric together with a redefinition of the scalar field. Since the general family of vacuum theories is parametrized by an arbitrary function of the scalar field, the action of this family is also found. As for the full matter theory it is only found the action of the system when the matter Lagrangian vanishes on-shell, as for example for pressureless dust. Due to the interaction, this matter Lagrangian is non-minimally coupled either in the Jordan or the Einstein frame.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2016

Cosmology in new gravitational scalar-tensor theories

We investigate the cosmological applications of new gravitational scalar-tensor theories, which are novel modifications of gravity possessing 2+2 propagating degrees of freedom, arising from a Lagrangian that includes the Ricci scalar and its first and second derivatives. Extracting the field equations we obtain an effective dark energy sector that consists of both extra scalar degrees of freedom, and we determine various observables. We analyze two specific models and we obtain a cosmological behavior in agreement with observations, i.e. transition from matter to dark energy era, with the onset of cosmic acceleration. Additionally, for a particular range of the model parameters, the equation-of-state parameter of the effective dark energy sector can exhibit the phantom-divide crossing. These features reveal the capabilities of these theories, since they arise solely from the novel, higher-derivative terms.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2016

Bi-scalar modified gravity and cosmology with conformal invariance

We investigate the cosmological applications of a bi-scalar modified gravity that exhibits partial conformal invariance, which could become full conformal invariance in the absence of the usual Einstein-Hilbert term and introducing additionally either the Weyl derivative or properly rescaled fields. Such a theory is constructed by considering the action of a non-minimally conformally-coupled scalar field, and adding a second scalar allowing for a nonminimal derivative coupling with the Einstein tensor and the energy-momentum tensor of the first field. At a cosmological framework we obtain an effective dark-energy sector constituted from both scalars. In the absence of an explicit matter sector we extract analytical solutions, which for some parameter regions correspond to an effective matter era and/or to an effective radiation era, thus the two scalars give rise to "mimetic dark matter" or to "dark radiation" respectively. In the case where an explicit matter sector is included we obtain a cosmological evolution in agreement with observations, that is a transition from matter to dark energy era, with the onset of cosmic acceleration. Furthermore, for particular parameter regions, the effective dark-energy equation of state can transit to the phantom regime at late times. These behaviours reveal the capabilities of the theory, since they arise purely from the novel, bi-scalar construction and the involved couplings between the two fields.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2015

On Lovelock galileons and black holes

We study a scalar-tensor version of Lovelock theory with a non trivial higher order galileon term involving the coupling of the Lovelock two tensor with derivatives of the scalar galileon field. For a static and spherically symmetric spacetime we extend the Boulware-Deser solution to the presence of a Galileon field. The hairy solution has a regular scalar field on the black hole event horizon and presents certain self tuning properties for the bulk cosmological constant and the Gauss-Bonnet coupling. The combined time and radial dependence of the galileon field permits its horizon regularity. Furthermore in order to investigate the effects of linear time dependence we find spherically symmetric solutions in 4 and 5 spacetime dimensions. They are shown to have singular horizons. Afar from the Schwarzschild radius and for weak higher dimensional couplings the solutions are perturbratively close to GR representing GR like star solutions for scalar tensor theories.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2015

Warped-AdS3 black holes with scalar halo

We construct a stretched (aka Warped) Anti-de Sitter black hole in 3 dimensions supported by a real scalar field configuration. The latter is regular everywhere outside and on the horizon. No hair theorems in 3 dimensions demand the matter to be coupled to the curvature in a non-minimal way; however, this coupling can still be of the Horndeski type, i.e. yielding second order field equations similar to those appearing in the context of Galileon theories. These Warped-Anti-de Sitter black holes exhibit interesting thermodynamical properties, such as finite Hawking temperature and entropy. We compute the black hole entropy in the gravity theory and speculate with the possibility of this to admit a microscopic description in terms of a dual (Warped) Conformal Field Theory. We also discuss the inner and outer black hole mechanics.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2014

Renormalized AdS action and Critical Gravity

It is shown that the renormalized action for AdS gravity in even spacetime dimensions is equivalent -on shell- to a polynomial of the Weyl tensor, whose first non-vanishing term is proportional to $Weyl^2$. Remarkably enough, the coupling of this last term coincides with the one that appears in Critical Gravity.

hep-th↗
arXiv2014

Black Holes in Bi-scalar Extensions of Horndeski Theories

We study certain bi-scalar-tensor theories emanating from conformal symmetry requirements of Horndeski's four-dimensional action. The former scalar is a Galileon with shift symmetry whereas the latter scalar is adjusted to have a higher order conformal coupling. Employing technics from local Weyl geometry certain Galileon higher order terms are thus constructed to be conformally invariant. The combined shift and partial conformal symmetry of the action, allow us to construct exact black hole solutions. The black holes initially found are of planar horizon geometry embedded in anti de Sitter space and can accommodate electric charge. The conformally coupled scalar comes with an additional independent charge and it is well-defined on the horizon whereas additional regularity of the Galileon field is achieved allowing for time dependence. Guided by our results in adS space-time we then consider a higher order version of the BBMB action and construct asymptotically flat, regular, hairy black holes. The addition of the Galileon field is seen to cure the BBMB scalar horizon singularity while allowing for the presence of primary scalar hair seen as an independent integration constant along-side the mass of the black hole.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2014

Generalised Scale Invariant Theories

We present the most general actions of a single scalar field and two scalar fields coupled to gravity, consistent with second order field equations in four dimensions, possessing local scale invariance. We apply two different methods to arrive at our results. One method, Ricci gauging, was known to the literature and we find this to produce the same result for the case of one scalar field as a more efficient method presented here. However, we also find our more efficient method to be much more general when we consider two scalar fields. Locally scale invariant actions are also presented for theories with more than two scalar fields coupled to gravity and we explain how one could construct the most general actions for any number of scalar fields. Our generalised scale invariant actions have obvious applications to early universe cosmology, and include, for example, the Bezrukov-Shaposhnikov action as a subset.

hep-th↗
arXiv2012

Massive Gravity with Anisotropic Scaling

We study a massive gravity theory which is Lorentz violating all the way from ultraviolet to infrared energy scales. At short distances the theory breaks diffeomorphism invariance and time and space scale differently. Dynamical metric fields are introduced which upon linearization over a Minkowski background correspond to Lorentz violating mass terms at large distances. We perform a scalar perturbation analysis and we show that with an appropriate choice of parameters the theory is healthy without ghosts, tachyons, strong coupling problems and instabilities

hep-th↗
arXiv2011

Anisotropic Extra Dimensions

We consider the scenario where in a five-dimensional theory, the extra spatial dimension has different scaling than the other four dimensions. We find background maximally symmetric solutions, when the bulk is filled with a cosmological constant and at the same time it has a three-brane embedded in it. These background solutions are reminiscent of Randall-Sundrum warped metrics, with bulk curvature depending on the parameters of the breaking of diffeomorphism invariance. Subsequently, we consider the scalar perturbation sector of the theory and show that it has certain pathologies and the striking feature that in the limit where the diffeomorphism invariance is restored, there remain ghost scalar mode(s) in the spectrum.

hep-th↗
arXiv2009

Codimension-2 black hole solutions on a thin 3-brane and their extension into the bulk

In this talk we discuss black hole solutions in six-dimensional gravity with a Gauss- Bonnet term in the bulk and an induced gravity term on a thin 3-brane of codimension-2. It is shown that these black holes can be localized on the 3-brane, and they can further be extended into the bulk by a warp function. These solutions have regular horizons and no other curvature singularities appear apart from the string-like ones. The projection of the Gauss-Bonnet term on the brane imposes a constraint relation which requires the presence of matter in the extra dimensions, in order to sustain our solutions.

hep-th↗
arXiv2008

Black Holes on Thin 3-branes of Codimension-2 and their Extension into the Bulk

We discuss black hole solutions in six-dimensional gravity with a Gauss-Bonnet term in the bulk and an induced gravity term on a thin 3-brane of codimension-2. We show that these black holes can be localized on the brane, and they can further be extended into the bulk by a warp function. These solutions have regular horizons and no other curvature singularities appear apart from the string-like ones. The projection of the Gauss-Bonnet term on the brane imposes a constraint relation which requires the presence of matter in the extra dimensions.

hep-th↗