arXiv subjects

Paulo Vargas Moniz

Publications and source records attributed to Paulo Vargas Moniz.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Dynamic Quantum Wormholes: Path-Integral State Selection and the Quantum Throat Trajectory in an Exactly Solvable Thin-Shell Model

We construct a minisuperspace quantization of a dynamic, spherically symmetric thin-shell wormhole in the spirit of pilot-wave quantum cosmology, treating the throat radius $a(τ)$ as the single degree of freedom of the Israel junction-condition constraint. For a pressureless shell of mass $M$ the Wheeler--DeWitt equation reduces exactly to Whittaker's equation, and to the modified Bessel equation as $M\to0$. When the exterior is asymptotically flat, boundedness of the wave function as $a\to\infty$ selects a unique state that can always be chosen real. Since any real solution has a vanishing Bohmian current, the throat is frozen for any linear equation of state and any operator ordering, independently of the choice between Euclidean and Lorentzian boundary conditions. This state is the exact $ε\to0^+$ limit of the regularized Lorentzian path integral, as shown by resolvent analyticity and by an exact Picard--Lefschetz thimble calculation that agrees with the closed-form solution to $48$ digits. The near-throat self-adjointness ambiguity is resolved in closed form through the Whittaker connection formula. Replacing the exterior by Schwarzschild--de~Sitter removes the obstruction: the potential tends to $-\infty$ at large $a$, and the equation admits a genuinely dynamic, purely outgoing state. Propagated exactly through the classically forbidden barrier, it carries a conserved, nonzero Bohmian current everywhere, including the inner pocket. It describes a long-lived metastable wormhole that tunnels into unbounded expansion at a rate consistent with the WKB estimate. Airy connection formulas leave a residual prefactor constant $κ_\infty=0.814\pm0.004$ for sub-critical coupling, which we do not trace to its analytic origin, and the physical results do not depend on it.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2026

Tunnelling in Quantum Cosmology: WKB vs SWKB

This study analyses WKB and Supersymmetric WKB (SWKB) methods in a closed Friedmann-Robertson-Walker (FRW) minisuperspace model to determine whether they yield different results in modelling tunnelling phenomena in quantum cosmology. The transition from a dust-dominated to a dark-energy-dominated epoch driven by a generalised Chaplygin gas is examined. Incorporating supersymmetric quantum mechanics requires modifying the initial potential, influencing late-time evolution: after the dust-dominated phase, the universe enters a dark-energy regime that decays back into a dust-dominated period. Analytic approximations for the superpotential (power series and Picard approximation) yield closed-form SWKB tunnelling expressions, facilitating the calculation of transmission probabilities as functions of the Chaplygin parameters $A$, $B$, and $α$. Both SWKB and WKB methods apply for a concrete range of the scale factor $a$ and Chaplygin parameters, but quantitatively yield different tunnelling probabilities. They diverge for suppressed barriers: standard WKB underestimates tunnelling, while SWKB avoids turning-point singularities but overcompensates due to broken shape-invariance. A backward numerical integration method confirms that true transmission probabilities lie strictly between both semiclassical approximations ($T_{\mathrm{WKB}} < T_{\mathrm{num}} < T_{\mathrm{SWKB}}$). Crucially, by confirming that actual tunnelling probabilities exceed standard WKB estimates, these results demonstrate that quantum transitions into cosmological models with transient late-time acceleration are probabilistically more viable. Therefore, SWKB provides a valuable complementary approach for barrier transmission in quantum cosmology. Deriving a functional form for the decaying dark energy density will enable testing the SQM modified potential against current observational data.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2023

Modified Gravity and Cosmology: An Update by the CANTATA Network

General Relativity and the $Λ$CDM framework are currently the standard lore and constitute the concordance paradigm. Nevertheless, long-standing open theoretical issues, as well as possible new observational ones arising from the explosive development of cosmology the last two decades, offer the motivation and lead a large amount of research to be devoted in constructing various extensions and modifications. All extended theories and scenarios are first examined under the light of theoretical consistency, and then are applied to various geometrical backgrounds, such as the cosmological and the spherical symmetric ones. Their predictions at both the background and perturbation levels, and concerning cosmology at early, intermediate and late times, are then confronted with the huge amount of observational data that astrophysics and cosmology are able to offer recently. Theories, scenarios and models that successfully and efficiently pass the above steps are classified as viable and are candidates for the description of Nature. This work is a Review of the recent developments in the fields of gravity and cosmology, presenting the state of the art, high-lighting the open problems, and outlining the directions of future research. Its realization was performed in the framework of the COST European Action ``Cosmology and Astrophysics Network for Theoretical Advances and Training Actions''.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2022

Geodesic deviation in Saez--Ballester theory

We study the geodesic deviation (GD) equation in a generalized version of the Sáez--Ballester (SB) theory in arbitrary dimensions. We first establish a general formalism and then restrict to particular cases, where (i) the matter-energy distribution is that of a perfect fluid, and (ii) the spacetime geometry is described by a vanishing Weyl tensor. Furthermore, we consider the spatially flat FLRW universe as the background geometry. Based on this setup, we compute the GD equation as well as the convergence condition associated with fundamental observers and past directed null vector fields. Moreover, we extend that framework and extract the corresponding geodesic deviation in the \emph{modified} Sáez--Ballester theory (MSBT), where the energy-momentum tensor and potential emerge strictly from the geometry of the extra dimensions. In order to examine our herein GD equations, we consider two novel cosmological models within the SB framework. Moreover, we discuss a few quintessential models and a suitable phantom dark energy scenario within the mentioned SB and MSBT frameworks. Noticing that our herein cosmological models can suitably include the present time of our Universe, we solve the GD equations analytically and/or numerically. By employing the correct energy conditions plus recent observational data, we consistently depict the behavior of the deviation vector $η(z)$ and the observer area distance $r_0(z)$ for our models. Concerning the Hubble constant problem, we specifically focus on the observational data reported by the Planck collaboration and the SH0ES collaboration to depict $η(z)$ and $r_0(z)$ for our herein phantom model. Subsequently, we contrast our results with those associated with the $Λ$CDM model.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2022

Role of Gauss-Bonnet corrections in a DGP brane gravitational collapse

An Oppenheimer-Snyder (OS)-type collapse is considered for a Dvali-Gabadadze-Porrati (DGP) brane, whereas a Gauss-Bonnet (GB) term is provided for the bulk. We study the combined effect of the DGP induced gravity plus the GB curvature, regarding any modification of the general relativistic OS dynamics. Our paper has a twofold objective. On the one hand, we investigate the nature of singularities that may arise at the collapse end state. It is shown that all dynamical scenarios for the contracting brane would end in one of the following cases, depending on conditions imposed: either a central shell-focusing singularity or what we designate as a "sudden collapse singularity." On the other hand, we also study the deviations of the exterior spacetime from the standard Schwarzschild geometry, which emerges in our modified OS scenario. Our purpose is to investigate whether a black hole always forms regarding this brane world model. We find situations where a naked singularity emerges instead.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2022

A model of polymer gravitational waves: theory and some possible observational consequences

We propose a polymer quantization scheme to derive the effective propagation of gravitational waves on a classical Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) spacetime. These waves, which may originate from a high energy source, are a consequence of the dynamics of the gravitational field in a linearized low-energy regime. A novel method of deriving the effective Hamiltonian of the system is applied to overcome the challenge of polymer quantizing a time-dependent Hamiltonian. Using such a Hamiltonian, we derive the effective equations of motion and show that (i) the form of the waves is modified, (ii) the speed of the waves depends on their frequencies, and (iii) quantum effects become more apparent as waves traverse longer distances.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2021

Propagation of quantum gravity-modified gravitational waves on a classical FLRW spacetime

The linearized Einstein field equations provide a low-energy wave equation for the propagation of gravitational fields which may originate from a high energy source. Motivated by loop quantum gravity, we propose the polymer quantization scheme to derive the effective propagation of such waves on a classical Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) spacetime. To overcome the challenge of polymer quantizing a time-dependent Hamiltonian, we rewrite such a Hamiltonian in a time-independent manner in the extended phase space, polymerize it, and then transform it back to the usual phase space. In this way we obtain a time-dependent polymer Hamiltonian for the gravitational waves. We then derive the effective equations of motion and show that (i) the form of the waves is modified, (ii) the speed of the waves depends on their frequencies, and (iii) quantum effects become more apparent as waves traverse longer distances.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2021

Exploring the cosmic censorship conjecture with a Gauss-Bonnet sector

The Dvali-Gabadadze-Porrati (DGP) braneworld model is employed to study the gravitational collapse of dust, with a Gauss-Bonnet (GB) term present in the five-dimensional bulk. We find that, within the normal (nonself-accelerating) DGP branch and due to the curvature effects from the GB component on the brane, the black hole singularity acquires modified features. More precisely, during collapse and for a finite comoving time, before a singularity would emerge at the zero physical radius, the first time derivative of the Hubble rate diverges, whereas the brane energy density and the Hubble rate remain finite. This is a peculiar behavior which displays similar properties to the sudden singularity occurring in particular late-time cosmological frameworks. Furthermore, the question of whether this altered singularity can be viewed by an external observer or will be hidden by a black hole horizon is addressed. We establish that, depending on the given induced-gravity parameter and the GB coupling constant, there exists a {\em threshold mass} for the collapsing dust, below which no trapped surfaces evolve as the collapse proceeds toward the singularity. In other words, a {\em naked sudden singularity} may form.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2019

Conformal GUT inflation, proton lifetime and non-thermal leptogenesis

In this paper, we generalize Coleman-Weinberg (CW) inflation in grand unified theories (GUTs) such as $\text{SU}(5)$ and $\text{SO}(10)$ by means of considering two complex singlet fields with conformal invariance. In this framework, inflation emerges from a spontaneously broken conformal symmetry. The GUT symmetry implies a potential with a CW form, as a consequence of radiative corrections. The conformal symmetry flattens the above VEV branch of the CW potential to a Starobinsky plateau. As a result, we obtain $n_{s}\sim 1-\frac{2}{N}$ and $r\sim \frac{12}{N^2}$ for $N\sim 50-60$ e-foldings. Furthermore, this framework allow us to estimate the proton lifetime as $τ_{p}\lesssim 10^{40}$ years, whose decay is mediated by the superheavy gauge bosons. Moreover, we implement a type I seesaw mechanism by weakly coupling the complex singlet, which carries two units of lepton number, to the three generations of singlet right handed neutrinos (RHNs). The spontaneous symmetry breaking of global lepton number amounts to the generation of neutrino masses. We also consider non-thermal leptogenesis in which the inflaton dominantly decays into heavy RHNs that sources the observed baryon asymmetry. We constrain the couplings of the inflaton field to the RHNs, which gives the reheating temperature as $10^{6}\text{ GeV}\lesssim T_{R}<10^{9}$ GeV.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2019

Extended anisotropic models in noncompact Kaluza-Klein theory

In this paper, new exact solutions for locally rotational symmetric (LRS) space-times are obtained within the modified Brans-Dicke theory (MBDT) (Rasouli et al 2014 Class. Quantum Grav. 31 115002). Specifically, extended five-dimensional (5D) versions of Kantowski-Sachs, LRS Bianchi type I and Bianchi type III are investigated in the context of the standard Brans-Dicke theory. We subsequently extract their corresponding dynamics on a 4D hypersurface. Our results are discussed regarding others obtained in the standard Brans-Dicke theory, induced-matter theory and general relativity. Moreover, we comment on the evolution of the scale factor of the extra spatial dimension, which is of interest in Kaluza-Klein frameworks.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2018

Modified Saez-Ballester scalar-tensor theory from 5D space-time

In this paper, we bring together the five-dimensional Saez-Ballester~(SB) scalar-tensor theory [1] and the induced-matter-theory~(IMT) setting [2], to obtain a modified SB theory (MSBT) in four dimensions. Specifically, by using an intrinsic dimensional reduction procedure into the SB field equations in five-dimensions, a MSBT is obtained onto a hypersurface orthogonal to the extra dimension. This four-dimensional MSBT is shown to bear distinctive new features in contrast to the usual corresponding SB theory as well as to IMT and the Modified Brans-Dicke Theory (MBDT)~\cite{RFM14}. It should be emphasized that the herein appealing solutions can emerge solely from the geometrical reductional process, from presence also of extra dimension(s) and not from any ad-hoc matter either in the bulk or on the hypersurface. Subsequently, we apply the herein MSBT to cosmology and consider an extended spatially flat FLRW geometry in a five-dimensional vacuum space-time. After obtaining the exact solutions in the bulk, we proceed to construct, by means of the MSBT setting, the corresponding dynamic, on the four-dimensional hypersurface. More precisely, we obtain the (SB) components of the induced matter, including the induced scalar potential terms. We retrieve two different classes of solutions. Concerning the first class, we show that the MSBT yields a barotropic equation of state for the induced perfect fluid. We then investigate vacuum, dust, radiation, stiff fluid and false vacuum cosmologies for this scenario and contrast the results with those obtained in the standard SB theory, IMT and BD theory. Regarding the second class solutions, we show that the scale factor behaves similar to a de Sitter (DeS) model. However, in our MSBT setting, this behavior is assisted by non-vanishing induced matter instead, without any a priori cosmological constant.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2017

Effective models of inflation from a non-local framework

The dilaton is a possible inflaton candidate following recent CMB data allowing a non-minimal coupling to the Ricci curvature scalar in the early Universe. In this paper, we introduce an approach that has seldom been used in the literature, namely dilaton inflation with non-local features. More concretely, employing non-local features expressed in J. High Energy Phys. 04 (2007) 029, we study quadratic variations around a de Sitter geometry of an effective action with a non-local dilaton. The non-locality refers to an infinite derivative kinetic term involving the operator $\mathcal{F}\left(\Box\right)$. Algebraic roots of the characteristic equation $\mathcal{F}(z)=0$ play a crucial role in determining the properties of the theory. We subsequently study the cases when $\mathcal{F}\left(\Box\right)$ has one real root and one complex root, from which we retrieve two concrete effective models of inflation. In the first case we retrieve a class of single field inflations with universal prediction of $n_{s}\sim0.967$ with any value of the tensor to scalar ratio $r<0.1$ intrinsically controlled by the root of the characteristic equation. The second case involves a new class of two field conformally invariant models with a peculiar quadratic cross-product of scalar fields. In this latter case, we obtain Starobinsky like inflation through a spontaneously broken conformal invariance. Furthermore, an uplifted minimum of the potential, which accounts for the vacuum energy after inflation is produced naturally through this mechanism intrinsically within our approach.

hep-th↗

arXiv2016

Non-Gaussianity in multiple three-form field inflation

In this work, we present a method for implementing the $δN$ formalism to study the primordial non-Gaussianity produced in multiple three-form field inflation. Using a dual description relating three-form fields to noncanonical scalar fields, and employing existing results, we produce expressions for the bispectrum of the curvature perturbation in terms of three-form quantities. We study the bispectrum generated in a two three-form field inflationary scenario for a particular potential that for suitable values of the parameters was found in earlier work to give values of the spectral index and ratio of tensor to scalar perturbations compatible with current bounds. We calculate the reduced bispectrum for this model, finding an amplitude in equilateral and orthogonal configurations of ${\cal O}(1)$ and in the squeezed limit of ${\cal O}(10^{-3})$. We confirm, therefore, that this three-form inflationary scenario is compatible with present observational constraints.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2016

Gravity-Driven Acceleration and Kinetic Inflation in Noncommutative Brans-Dicke Setting

By assuming the spatially flat~FLRW line-element and employing the Hamiltonian formalism, a noncommutative (NC) setting of the Brans-Dicke (BD) theory is introduced. We investigate gravity-driven acceleration and kinetic inflation in this NC BD cosmology. Despite to the commutative case, in which both the scale factor and BD scalar field are obtained in power-law forms (in terms of the cosmic time), in our herein NC model, we see that the power-law scalar factor is multiplied by a dynamical exponential warp factor. This warp factor depends on not only the NC parameter but also the momentum conjugate associated to the BD scalar field. For very small values of this parameter, we obtain an appropriate inflationary solution, which can overcome the problems within the standard BD cosmology in a more efficient manner. Moreover, we see that a graceful exit from an early acceleration epoch towards a decelerating radiation epoch is provided. For late times, due to the presence of the NC parameter, we obtain a zero acceleration epoch, which can be interpreted as the coarse-grained explanation.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2016

Classical and quantum cosmology of the little rip abrupt event

We analyze from a classical and quantum point of view the behavior of the universe close to a little rip, which can be interpreted as a big rip sent towards the infinite future. Like a big rip singularity, a little rip implies the destruction of all bounded structure in the Universe and is thus an event where quantum effects could be important. We present here a new phantom scalar field model for the little rip. The quantum analysis is performed in quantum geometrodynamics, with the Wheeler-DeWitt equation as its central equation. We find that the little rip can be avoided in the sense of the DeWitt criterion, that is, by having a vanishing wave function at the place of the little rip. Therefore our analysis completes the answer to the question: can quantum cosmology smoothen or avoid the divergent behavior genuinely caused by phantom matter? We show that this can indeed happen for the little rip, similar to the avoidance of a big rip and a little sibling of the big rip.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2016

Exact Cosmological Solutions in Modified Brans-Dicke Theory

In this paper, we obtain exact cosmological vacuum solutions for an extended FLRW homogenous and isotropic Brans-Dicke (BD) universe in five dimensions for all values of the curvature index. Then, by employing the equations associated to a modified Brans-Dicke theory (MBDT) [1], we construct the physics on a four-dimensional hypersurface. We show that the induced matter obeys the equation of state of a fluid of a barotropic type. We discuss the properties of such an induced matter for some values of the equation of state parameter and analyze in detail their corresponding solutions. To illustrate the cosmological behaviors of the solutions, we contrast our solutions with those present the standard Brans-Dicke theory. We retrieve that, in MBDT scenario, it is impossible to find a physically acceptable solution associated to the negative curvature for both the dust-dominated and radiation-dominated universes. However, for a spatially flat and closed universes, we argue that our obtained solutions are more general than those associated to the standard BD theory and, moreover, they contain a few classes of solutions which have no analog in the BD cosmology. For those particular cases, we further compare the results with those extracted in the context of the induced matter theory (IMT) and general relativity (GR). Furthermore, we discuss in detail the time behaviors of the cosmological quantities and compare them with recent observational data. We find a favorable range for the deceleration parameter associated to a matter-dominated spatially flat universe (for the late times) which is compatible with recent corresponding observational results.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2016

Non-slow-roll dynamics in $α-$attractors

In this paper we consider the $α-$attractor model and study inflation under a non-slow-roll dynamics. More precisely, we follow the approach recently proposed by Gong and Sasaki \cite{Gong:2015ypa} by means of assuming $N=N\left(ϕ\right)$. Within this framework we obtain a family of functions describing the local shape of the potential during inflation. We study a specific model and find an inflationary scenario predicting an attractor at $n_{s}\approx0.967$ and $r\approx5.5\times10^{-4}$. We further show that considering a non-slow-roll dynamics, the $α-$attractor model can be broaden to a wider class of models that remain compatible with value of $r<0.1$. We further explore the model parameter space with respect to large and small field inflation and conclude that the inflaton dynamics is connected to the $ α- $ parameter, which is also related to the Kähler manifold curvature in the supergravity (SUGRA) embedding of this model. We also comment on the stabilization of the inflaton's trajectory.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2016

DBI Galileon inflation in the light of Planck 2015

In this work we consider a DBI Galileon (DBIG) inflationary model and constrain its parameter space with the Planck 2015 and BICEP2/Keck array and Planck (BKP) joint analysis data by means of a potential independent analysis. We focus our attention on inflationary solutions characterized by a constant or varying sound speed as well as warp factor. We impose bounds on stringy aspects of the model, such as the warp factor $\left(f\right)$ and the induced gravity parameter $\left(\tilde{m}\right)$. We study the parameter space of the model and find that the tensor-to-scalar ratio can be as low as $r\simeq6\times10^{-4}$ and inflation happens to be at GUT scale. In addition, we obtain the tilt of the tensor power spectrum and test the standard inflationary consistency relation $\left(r=-8n_{t}\right)$ against the latest bounds from the combined results of BKP+Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Waves Observatory (LIGO), and find that DBIG inflation predicts a red spectral index for the tensor power spectrum.

astro-ph.CO↗