arXiv subjects

S. X. Tian

Publications and source records attributed to S. X. Tian.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Gravitational caloric theory: From early dark energy to a wide variety of gravitational phenomena

We propose gravitational caloric theory (GCT) --- an extension of general relativity that features a vector field $S_μ$ sourced by and non-minimally coupled to the fluid sector while preserving covariant conservation of the standard fluid energy-momentum tensor. Our initial motivation is to trigger early dark energy (EDE) using the total fluid equation of state that encodes the cosmic radiation-matter transition. This mechanism provides a natural resolution of the EDE coincidence problem. The cosmological background dynamics are analyzed in detail by casting the evolution equations into dynamical-system form and, in relevant reduced cases, using Poincaré compactification to uncover the corresponding global phase-space structure. Beyond EDE, GCT admits two novel cosmological applications associated with critical points at infinity. Both arise from a class of energy-cancelling solutions in which conventional energy components preferentially excite $S_μ$ rather than source spacetime curvature. One is a $Λ$-cancelling solution that realizes the self-tuning mechanism for the old cosmological constant problem. Yet it remains incomplete. The other is a fluid-cancelling solution that serves as the basis for our proposed \textit{early static hot Universe}. In this scenario, $S_μ$ offsets the gravitational effect of ordinary hot gas, yielding quasi-static expansion with a decreasing comoving Hubble radius that can address the horizon problem. This offers an alternative to inflation. Furthermore, its \textit{hot} ingredient distinguishes this scenario from other quasi-static early Universe models and may leave observable signatures in primordial fluctuations. To probe the viability of GCT beyond cosmology, we further analyze linear perturbations about Minkowski spacetime and investigate static spherically symmetric (strong-field) systems. (Abstract abridged to meet arXiv limits.)

gr-qc↗

arXiv2023

Gravitation with modified fluid Lagrangian: Variational principle and an early dark energy model

Variational principle is the main approach to obtain complete and self-consistent field equations in gravitational theories. This method works well in pure field cases such as $f(R)$ and Horndeski gravities. However, debates exist in the literature over the modification of perfect fluid. This paper aims to clarify this issue. For a wide class of modified fluid Lagrangian, we show that the variational principle is unable to give complete field equations. One additional equation is required for completeness. Adopting the local energy conservation equation gives the modified fluid a good thermodynamic interpretation. Our result is the first modified fluid theory that can incorporate energy conservation. As an application of this framework, we propose a specific modified fluid model to realize early dark energy triggered by cosmic radiation-matter transition. This model naturally explains why early dark energy occurs around matter-radiation equality and is useful in erasing the Hubble tension.

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arXiv2023

Cosmological consequences of a scalar field with oscillating equation of state. IV. Primordial nucleosynthesis and the deuterium problem

We study the primordial nucleosynthesis (BBN) in the stepwise scalar field model proposed by Tián [arXiv:1912.13208, Phys. Rev. D 101, 063531 (2020)], which provides a multiaccelerating Universe solution to the cosmological coincidence problem and predicts that the scalar field may be non-negligible even in the early Universe. The observed abundances of the light elements can be used to constrain the energy density of the scalar field during the BBN era. We present a public \texttt{Matlab} code to implement the BBN calculation in the stepwise scalar field model. We show that the model can survive the BBN constraints. In particular, this model incorporates a new solution to the possible deuterium problem: very early dark energy that appears at the end of BBN. In addition, the BBN constraints, along with constraints from the cosmic late-time acceleration, suggest that the Universe in the radiation era evolves in a chaotic accelerating manner, rather than an oscillating scaling manner.

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arXiv2021

Cosmological consequences of a scalar field with oscillating equation of state. III. Unifying inflation with dark energy and small tensor-to-scalar ratio

We investigate the inflationary consequences of the oscillating dark energy model proposed by Tián [\href{https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.101.063531}{Phys. Rev. D {\bf 101}, 063531 (2020)}], which aims to solve the cosmological coincidence problem with multi-accelerating Universe (MAU). We point out that the inflationary dynamics belong to slow-roll inflation. The spectral index of scalar perturbations and the tensor-to-scalar ratio $r$ are shown to be consistent with current \textit{Planck} measurements. Especially, this model predicts $r\sim10^{-7}$, which is far below the observation limits. This result motivates us to explore the smallness of $r$ in the general MAU. We propose a quintessential generalization of the original model and prove $r<0.01$ in general. The null detection to date of primordial gravitational waves provides a circumstantial evidence for the MAU. After the end of inflation, the scalar field rolls toward infinity instead of a local minimum, and meanwhile its equation of state is oscillating with an average value larger than $1/3$. In this framework, we show that gravitational particle creation at the end of inflation is capable of reheating the Universe.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2021

Early dark energy in $k$-essence

Early dark energy (EDE) that becomes subdominant around the epoch of matter-radiation equality can be used to ease the Hubble tension. However, there is a theoretical problem that why the energy scale of EDE is in coincidence with that of matter-radiation equality when their physics are completely unrelated. Sakstein and Trodden [Phys. Rev. Lett. 124, 161301 (2020)] proposed a mechanism to solve this coincidence problem with $\mathcal{O}({\rm eV})$-mass neutrino. In this paper, in order to solve the coincidence problem, we propose a new scenario for EDE, in which the onset and ending of EDE are triggered by the radiation-matter transition. The specific example we study is a $k$-essence model. The cosmic evolution equations can be recast into a two-dimensional dynamical system and its main properties are analyzed. Our results suggest that $k$-essence seems unable to realize the new scenario for EDE. However, an EDE model with different scenario is realized in $k$-essence. In this model, the ending of EDE can be triggered by the radiation-matter transition while the onset depends on the initial conditions of the scalar field. Therefore, the obtained model can only be used to solve half of the coincidence problem. The full resolution in the framework of our initial proposed scenario is worthy of more research.

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arXiv2020

Cosmological consequences of a scalar field with oscillating equation of state. II. Oscillating scaling and chaotic accelerating solutions

Multiacceleration scenario can be used to solve the cosmological coincidence problem. In this paper, after considering the early radiation era, we revisit the cosmological dynamics of the oscillating dark energy model proposed in [https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.101.063531, Phys. Rev. D {\bf 101}, 063531 (2020)]. We find this model allows the Universe evolves as oscillating scaling solution (OSS) in the radiation era and as chaotic accelerating solution (CAS) in the matter era. Mathematically, the transition from OSS to CAS is a route of period-doubling bifurcation to chaos. Physically, there are two reasons convince us that this scenario can be a nice picture to describe the real Universe. One is the global cosmological parameter constraints are practicable if the Universe evolves as OSS in the radiation era. The other is the late-time Universe described by CAS can successfully explain the observed cosmic acceleration at low redshifts.

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arXiv2020

Non-full equivalence of the four-dimensional Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet gravity and Horndeksi gravity for Bianchi type I metric

The four-dimensional Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet (4DEGB) gravity is proposed as a singular limit of the higher-dimensional EGB gravity with a rescaled coupling constant. Follow-up work indicates that the 4DEGB gravity may be equivalent to a special Horndeski gravity. However, the full equivalence of the two theories has not been proven. In this paper, we test the possible equivalence for Bianchi type I metric. We consider two symmetry choices of the extra dimensions in the 4DEGB gravity and obtain the explicit cosmological evolution equations of the theories. Our result shows that, for one symmetry choice, there is a correspondence between the 4DEGB gravity and the special Horndeski gravity. However, for the other symmetry choice, there is no correspondence between the two theories. Therefore, the 4DEGB gravity is not equivalent to the special Horndeski gravity for the general case.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2020

Revisiting scalar and tensor perturbations in a nonlocal gravity

Nonlocal RT gravity is a successful modified gravity theory, which not only explains the late-time cosmic acceleration but also behaves well in the solar system. Previous analysis generally assumes the auxiliary field $S_i$ vanishes at the cosmic background. However, we find the background $S_i$ is proportional to $a^2$ with the expansion of the universe. Then we discuss the influence of the nonzero background $S_i$ on the cosmic background evolution, the scalar and tensor perturbations. We find the cosmic background evolution is independent of $S_i$, and the influence of the nonzero background $S_i$ on the weak field limit at solar system scales is negligible. For the tensor perturbation, we find the only possible observable effect is the influence of nonzero background $S_i$ on the LIGO gravitational wave amplitude and also luminosity distance. Future high redshift gravitational wave observations could be used to constrain the background value of $S_i$.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2019

Quantization of the nonstandard propagating gravitational waves in the cosmological background

Detections of gravitational wave (GW) stimulate the discussion of how GWs propagate in the expanding Universe. General relativity predicts that GWs are massless and propagate at the speed of light with no extra friction term, which relates to the attenuation of GWs, while some modified gravities may predict a different behavior. The mass and speed terms can be tightly constrained by the GW150914-like and GW170817/GRB 170817A events, respectively. However, the friction term remaining unconstrained. In this paper, we quantize the nonstandard propagating gravitational waves with nonzero friction term in the cosmological background, and study the influence of the friction term on the GW luminosity distance in quantum level, and the initial conditions of perturbations given by inflation. We find the quantum nature of the difference between GW and electromagnetic luminosity distance is graviton particle number non-conservation. For the initial conditions, we obtain an analytical expression of the power spectrum with nonzero friction term for the de Sitter background. In observations, both the GW luminosity distance and primordial GWs can be used to constrain the friction term.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2019

Testing the Schwarzschild metric in a strong field region with the Event Horizon Telescope

Testing gravity theory in the strong field region becomes a reality due to the observations of gravitational waves and black hole shadows. In this paper, we discuss how to constrain the possible deviations of the classical general relativity with the image of M87* observed by the Event Horizon Telescope. More precisely, we want to know where is the event horizon for a non-rotating black hole. General relativity predicts the horizon is located at the Schwarzschild radius $r_\textrm{s}$, while other gravity theories may give different predictions. We propose a parameterized Schwarzschild metric (PSM) in which the horizon is located at $r=nr_\textrm{s}$, where $n$ is a real free parameter, and prove general relativity with nonlinear electrodynamics allows $n\neq1$. In the weak field region, the PSM is equivalent to the Schwarzschild metric regardless of the value of $n$. In the strong field region, the difference between the PSM and Schwarzschild metric would leave an imprint on the shadow image. We present detailed calculations and discussions on the black hole shadows with large background light source and accretion disk in the PSM framework. More importantly, we point out that $n\approx2$ can be used to explain why the black hole mass measured by the shadow is a factor of about two larger than the previous gas dynamics measurements. If this explanation is confirmed to be right, then this phenomenon, together with the late-time cosmological acceleration, will be very important to test gravity theories.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2019

Newtonian approximation and possible time-varying $G$ in nonlocal gravities

The Newtonian approximation with a nonvanishing nonlocal background field is analyzed for the scalar-tensor nonlocal gravity and nonlocal Gauss-Bonnet gravity. For these two theories, our calculations show that the Newtonian gravitational constant $G$ is time-varying and $|\dot{G}/G|=\mathcal{O}(H_0)$ for the general case of cosmological background evolution, which is similar to the results of the Deser-Woodard and Maggiore-Mancarella theories. Therefore, observations about the orbit period of binary star (or star-planet) systems could rule out these theories. One thing worth mentioning is that the nonlocal Gauss-Bonnet gravity gives $Ψ=Φ$ and a constant $G$ in the de Sitter phase. Our results also highlight the uniqueness of the RT model [M. Maggiore, \href{http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.89.043008}{Phys. Rev. D {\bf 89}, 043008 (2014)}], which is the only nonlocal gravity theory that can successfully describe the gravitational phenomena from solar system to cosmological scales for now.

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