arXiv subjects

Nelson Merino

Publications and source records attributed to Nelson Merino.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Non-Relativistic Chern-Simons Supergravity with Torsion

In this work, we construct a three-dimensional non-relativistic Chern--Simons supergravity theory with both curvature and torsion within the Mielke--Baekler framework. We show that a consistent non-relativistic supergravity formulation requires starting from a $\mathcal{N}=2$ supersymmetric extension of the Mielke--Baekler algebra and implementing a non-relativistic expansion via the semigroup expansion method, rather than a naive contraction. This procedure allows one to overcome the usual difficulties of non-relativistic supergravity constructions, ensuring closure of the superalgebra and the existence of a non-degenerate invariant bilinear form. The resulting model is characterized by two parameters $(p,q)$, which interpolate between different non-relativistic supergravity theories, including the extended Bargmann, Newton--Hooke, and torsional models. Our results provide a unified framework for non-relativistic supergravity with torsion and open new avenues for exploring supersymmetric extensions of Galilean and Carrollian gravity theories.

hep-th↗

arXiv2025

Inhomogeneous metrics on complex bundles in Lovelock gravity

We consider Lovelock gravity in arbitrary, even dimensions. We find a large class of new gravitational instantons by considering extended nontrivial circle bundles over K\"ahler manifolds. Concretely, we generalize the Page-Pope metric in the presence of higher-curvature corrections of the Lovelock class. A subset of these spaces admits analytic continuation into the Lorentzian sector, producing new stationary solutions in Lovelock gravity. The geometries are fully determined by a single algebraic equation. We also obtain necessary and sufficient conditions for Lovelock-constant K\"ahler manifolds to exist in Lovelock gravity. Finally, we find a wide class of Lovelock-Maxwell solutions beyond staticity, allowing us to obtain the electrovacuum extension of these instantons.

hep-th↗

arXiv2023

Non-relativistic limit of the Mielke-Baekler gravity theory

In this paper, we present the most general non-relativistic Chern-Simons gravity model in three spacetime dimensions. We first study the non-relativistic limit of the Mielke-Baekler gravity through a contraction process. The resulting non-relativistic theory contains a source for the spatial component of the torsion and the curvature measured in terms of two parameters, denoted by $p$ and $q$. We then extend our results by defining a Newtonian version of the Mielke-Baekler gravity theory, based on a Newtonian like algebra which is obtained from the non-relativistic limit of an enhanced and enlarged relativistic algebra. Remarkably, in both cases, different known non-relativistic and Newtonian gravity theories can be derived by fixing the $\left(p,q\right)$ parameters. In particular, torsionless models are recovered for $q=0$.

hep-th↗

arXiv2022

Conformal renormalization of scalar-tensor theories

We study a conformally coupled scalar-tensor theory with a quartic potential possessing local conformal symmetry up to a boundary term. We show that requiring the restoration of the full local conformal symmetry fixes the counterterms that render the on-shell action finite. The building block of the resulting action is a conformally covariant tensor which is constructed out of the metric and the scalar field and it has the same conformal weight as the Weyl tensor. This allows us to obtain the counterterms for the scalar-tensor sector in a closed form. The finiteness of the conformally complete version of the action is suggestive on the validity of the Conformal Renormalization prescription. We extend this theory by adding the Conformal Gravity action and also the Einstein-AdS action written in McDowell-Mansouri form. Even though the latter breaks the conformal symmetry, we find that the action is still renormalized provided a suitable falloff of the scalar field when considering asymptotically locally anti-de Sitter solutions. Black hole solutions in these theories are studied, for which the Hawking temperature and the partition function to first order in the saddle-point approximation are calculated, providing a concrete example of this renormalization scheme.

hep-th↗

arXiv2022

Thin shell dynamics in Lovelock gravity

We study matching conditions for a spherically symmetric thin shell in Lovelock gravity which can be read off from the variation of the corresponding first-order action. In point of fact, the addition of Myers' boundary terms to the gravitational action eliminates the dependence on the acceleration in this functional and such that the canonical momentum appears in the surface term in the variation of the total action. This procedure leads to junction conditions given by the discontinuity of the canonical momentum defined for an evolution normal to the boundary. In particular, we correct existing results in the literature for the thin shell collapse in generic Lovelock theories, which were mistakenly drawn from an inaccurate analysis of the total derivative terms in the system.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2020

Most general theory of 3d gravity: Covariant phase space, dual diffeomorphisms, and more

We show that the phase space of three-dimensional gravity contains two layers of dualities: between diffeomorphisms and a notion of "dual diffeomorphisms" on the one hand, and between first order curvature and torsion on the other hand. This is most elegantly revealed and understood when studying the most general Lorentz-invariant first order theory in connection and triad variables, described by the so-called Mielke-Baekler Lagrangian. By analyzing the quasi-local symmetries of this theory in the covariant phase space formalism, we show that in each sector of the torsion/curvature duality there exists a well-defined notion of dual diffeomorphism, which furthermore follows uniquely from the Sugawara construction. Together with the usual diffeomorphisms, these duals form at finite distance, without any boundary conditions, and for any sign of the cosmological constant, a centreless double Virasoro algebra which in the flat case reduces to the BMS$_3$ algebra. These algebras can then be centrally-extended via the twisted Sugawara construction. This shows that the celebrated results about asymptotic symmetry algebras are actually generic features of three-dimensional gravity at any finite distance. They are however only revealed when working in first order connection and triad variables, and a priori inaccessible from Chern-Simons theory. As a bonus, we study the second order equations of motion of the Mielke-Baekler model, as well as the on-shell Lagrangian. This reveals the duality between Riemannian metric and teleparallel gravity, and a new candidate theory for three-dimensional massive gravity which we call teleparallel topologically massive gravity.

hep-th↗

arXiv2020

First-order Lagrangian and Hamiltonian of Lovelock gravity

Based on the insight gained by many authors over the years on the structure of the Einstein-Hilbert, Gauss-Bonnet and Lovelock gravity Lagrangians, we show how to derive -- in an elementary fashion -- their first-order, generalized "ADM" Lagrangian and associated Hamiltonian. To do so, we start from the Lovelock Lagrangian supplemented with the Myers boundary term, which guarantees a Dirichlet variational principle with a surface term of the form $\pi^{ij}\delta h_{ij}$, where $\pi^{ij}$ is the canonical momentum conjugate to the boundary metric $h_{ij}$. Then, the first-order Lagrangian density is obtained either by integration of $\pi^{ij}$ over the metric derivative $\partial_wh_{ij}$ normal to the boundary, or by rewriting the Myers term as a bulk term.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2018

Semi-simple enlargement of the $\mathfrak{bms}_3$ algebra from a $\mathfrak{so}(2,2)\oplus\mathfrak{so}(2,1)$ Chern-Simons theory

In this work we present a BMS-like ansatz for a Chern-Simons theory based on the semi-simple enlargement of the Poincar\'e symmetry, also known as AdS-Lorentz algebra. We start by showing that this ansatz is general enough to contain all the relevant stationary solutions of this theory and provides with suitable boundary conditions for the corresponding gauge connection. We find an explicit realization of the asymptotic symmetry at null infinity, which defines a semi-simple enlargement of the $\mathfrak{bms}_3$ algebra and turns out to be isomorphic to three copies of the Virasoro algebra. The flat limit of the theory is discussed at the level of the action, field equations, solutions and asymptotic symmetry.

hep-th↗

arXiv2018

Asymptotic symmetries of three-dimensional Chern-Simons gravity for the Maxwell algebra

We study a three-dimensional Chern-Simons gravity theory based on the Maxwell algebra. We find that the boundary dynamics is described by an enlargement and deformation of the $\mathfrak{bms}_3$ algebra with three independent central charges. This symmetry arises from a gravity action invariant under the local Maxwell group and is characterized by presence of Abelian generators which modify the commutation relations of the super-translations in the standard $\mathfrak{bms}_3$ algebra. Our analysis is based on the charge algebra of the theory in the BMS gauge, which includes the known solutions of standard asymptotically flat case. The field content of the theory is different than the one of General Relativity, but it includes all its geometries as particular solutions. In this line, we also study the stationary solutions of the theory in ADM form and we show that the vacuum energy and the vacuum angular momentum of the stationary configuration are influenced by the presence of the gravitational Maxwell field.

hep-th↗

arXiv2018

Chern-Weil theorem, Lovelock Lagrangians in critical dimensions and boundary terms in gravity actions

In this paper we show how to translate into tensorial language the Chern-Weil theorem for the Lorentz symmetry, which equates the difference of the Euler densities of two manifolds to the exterior derivative of a transgression form. For doing so we need to introduce an auxiliary, hybrid, manifold whose geometry we construct explicitely. This allows us to find the vector density, constructed out of spacetime quantities only, whose divergence is the exterior derivative of the transgression form. As a consequence we can show how the Einstein-Hilbert, Gauss-Bonnet and, in general, the Euler scalar densities can be written as the divergences of genuine vector densities in the critical dimensions $D=2,4$, etc. As Lovelock gravity is a dimensional continuation of Euler densities, these results are of relevance for Gauss-Bonnet and, in general, Lovelock gravity. Indeed, these vectors which can be called generalized Katz vectors ensure, in particular, a well-posed Dirichlet variational principle.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2018

On the algorithm to find S-related Lie algebras

In this article we describe the Java library that we have recently constructed to automatize the S-expansion method, a powerful mathematical technique allowing to relate different Lie algebras. An important input in this procedure is the use of abelian semigroups and thus, we start with a brief review about the classification of non-isomorphic semigroups made in the literature during the last decades, and explain how the lists of non-isomorphic semigroups up to order 6 can be used as inputs in many of the methods of our library. After describing the main features of the classes that compose our library we present a new method called fillTemplate which tuns out to be very useful to answer whether two given algebras can be S-related.

physics.comp-ph↗

arXiv2018

On a Java library to perform S-expansions of Lie algebras

The S-expansion method is a generalization of the In\"{o}n\"{u}-Wigner (IW) contraction that allows to study new non-trivial relations between different Lie algebras. Basically, this method combines a Lie algebra $\mathcal{G}$ with a finite abelian semigroup $S$ in such a way that a new S-expanded algebra $\mathcal{G}_{S}$ can be defined. When the semigroup has a zero-element and/or a specific decomposition, which is said to be resonant with the subspace structure of the original algebra, then it is possible to extract smaller algebras from $\mathcal{G}_{S}$ which have interesting properties. Here we give a brief description of the S-expansion, its applications and the main motivations that lead us to elaborate a Java library, which automatizes this method and allows us to represent and to classify all possible S-expansions of a given Lie algebra.

math-ph↗

arXiv2017

Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet theory of gravity: The Gauss-Bonnet-Katz boundary term

We propose a boundary term to the Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet action for gravity, which is constructed as the dimensional continuation of the Chern-Weil theorem, and such that the extremization of the full action yields the equations of motion when Dirichlet boundary conditions are imposed. When translated into tensorial language, this boundary term is the generalization to this theory of the Katz boundary term and vector for general relativity. The construction allows to deal with a general background and includes the Gibbons-Hawking-Myers boundary term as a special case, when the background is taken to be a product manifold. As a first application we show that this Einstein Gauss-Bonnet Katz action yields, without any extra ingredients or regularization, the expected mass of the Boulware-Deser black hole.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2015

Dynamical structure of Pure Lovelock gravity

We study dynamical structure of Pure Lovelock gravity in spacetime dimensions higher than four using the Hamiltonian formalism. The action consists of cosmological constant and a single higher-order polynomial in the Riemann tensor. Similarly to Einstein-Hilbert action, it possesses a unique constant curvature vacuum and charged black hole solutions. We analyze physical degrees of freedom and local symmetries in this theory. In contrast to the Einstein-Hilbert case, a number of degrees of freedom depends on the background and can vary from zero to the maximal value carried by the Lovelock theory.

hep-th↗

arXiv2014

Black hole solutions in Chern-Simons AdS supergravity

We study charged AdS black hole solutions in five-dimensional Chern-Simons supergravity. The minimal supergroup containing such AdSxU(1) configurations is the superunitary group SU(2,2|N). For this model, we find analytic black hole solutions that asymptote to locally AdS spacetime at the boundary. A solution can carry U(1) charge provided the spacetime torsion is non-vanishing. Thus, we analyze the most general configuration consistent with the local AdS isometries in Riemann-Cartan space. The coupling of torsion in the action resembles that of the universal axion of string theory, and it is ultimately due to this field that the theory acquires propagating degrees of freedom. Through a careful analysis of the canonical structure the local degrees of freedom of the theory are identified in the static symmetric sector of phase space.

hep-th↗

arXiv2013

A generalized action for $\left( 2 + 1 \right)$-dimensional Chern--Simons gravity

We show that the so-called semi-simple extended Poincaré (SSEP) algebra in $D$ dimensions can be obtained from the anti-de~Sitter algebra $\mathfrak{so} \left( D-1,2 \right)$ by means of the $S$-expansion procedure with an appropriate semigroup $S$. A general prescription is given for computing Casimir operators for $S$-expanded algebras, and the method is exemplified for the SSEP algebra. The $S$-expansion method also allows us to extract the corresponding invariant tensor for the SSEP algebra, which is a key ingredient in the construction of a generalized action for Chern--Simons gravity in $2+1$ dimensions.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2013

General properties of the expansion methods of Lie algebras

The study of the relation between Lie algebras and groups, and especially the derivation of new algebras from them, is a problem of great interest in mathematics and physics, because finding a new Lie group from an already known one also means that a new physical theory can be obtained from a known one. One of the procedures that allow to do so is called expansion of Lie algebras, and has been recently used in different physical applications - particularly in gauge theories of gravity. Here we report on further developments of this method, required to understand in a deeper way their consequences in physical theories. We have found theorems related to the preservation of some properties of the algebras under expansions that can be used as criteria and, more specifically, as necessary conditions to know if two arbitrary Lie algebras can be related by the some expansion mechanism. Formal aspects, such as the Cartan decomposition of the expanded algebras, are also discussed. Finally, an instructive example that allows to check explicitly all our theoretical results is also provided.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2011

Bianchi spaces and their 3-dimensional isometries as S-expansions of 2-dimensional isometries

In this paper we show that some 3-dimensional isometry algebras, specifically those of type I, II, III and V (according Bianchi's classification), can be obtained as expansions of the isometries in 2 dimensions. It is shown that in general more than one semigroup will lead to the same result. It is impossible to obtain the algebras of type IV, VI-IX as an expansion from the isometry algebras in 2 dimensions. This means that the first set of algebras has properties that can be obtained from isometries in 2 dimensions while the second set has properties that are in some sense intrinsic in 3 dimensions. All the results are checked with computer programs. This procedure can be generalized to higher dimensions, which could be useful for diverse physical applications.

math-ph↗