arXiv subjects

Spiros Cotsakis

Publications and source records attributed to Spiros Cotsakis.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2021

Regular braneworlds with bulk fluids

We review studies on the singularity structure and asymptotic analysis of a 3-brane (flat or curved) embedded in a five-dimensional bulk filled with a `perfect fluid' with an equation of state with the `pressure' and the `density' of the fluid depending on the fifth space coordinate. Regular solutions satisfying positive energy conditions in the bulk exist only in the cases of a flat brane with an EoS parameter equal to -1, or of AdS branes for EoS parameter values in suitable intervals. More cases can be found by gluing two regular branches of solutions at the position of the brane. However, only the case of a flat brane with an EoS parameter equal to -1 leads to finite Planck mass on the brane and thus localises gravity. In a more recent work, we showed that a way to rectify the previous findings and obtain a solution for a flat brane in a finite range of the EoS parameter, which is both free from finite-distance singularities and compatible with the physical conditions of energy and finiteness of four-dimensional Planck mass, is by introducing a bulk fluid component that satisfies a nonlinear equation of state.

hep-th↗

arXiv2021

Primordial synchronization of Mixmaster spatial points

We review recent work on the possibility of primordial synchronization of different Mixmaster regions in generic inhomogeneous spacetime. It is shown that inhomogeneous domains undergoing chaotic oscillations may synchronize themselves exponentially fast and proceed in perfect symphony asymptotically in the past direction. Implications of this result for the structure and evolution of an early phase of the universe are briefly discussed.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2021

Regular braneworlds with nonlinear bulk-fluids

We construct a regular five-dimensional brane-world with localised gravity on a flat 3-brane. The matter content in the bulk is parametrised by an analog of a non-linear fluid with equation of state $p=γρ^λ$ between the `pressure' $p$ and the `density' $ρ$ dependent on the 5th dimension. For $γ$ negative and $λ>1$, the null energy condition is satisfied, and the geometry is free of singularities within finite distance from the brane, while the induced four-dimensional Planck mass is finite.

hep-th↗

arXiv2021

Onset of synchronization in coupled Mixmaster oscillators

We consider the problem of asymptotic synchronization of different spatial points coupled to each other in inhomogeneous spacetime and undergoing chaotic Mixmaster oscillations towards the singularity. We demonstrate that for couplings larger than some threshold value, two Mixmaster spatial points $A,B$, with $A$ in the past of $B$, synchronize and thereby proceed in perfect unison towards the initial singularity. We further show that there is a Lyapunov function for the synchronization dynamics that makes different spatial points able to synchronize exponentially fast in the past direction. We provide an elementary proof of how an arbitrary spatial point responds to the mean field created by the oscillators, leading to their direct interaction through spontaneous synchronization. These results ascribe a clear physical meaning of early-time synchronization leading to a resetting effect for the two BKL maps corresponding to two distinct oscillating spatial points, as the two maps converge to each other to become indistinguishable at the end of synchronization. Our results imply that the universe generically organizes itself through simpler, synchronized, states as it approaches the initial singularity. A discussion of further implications of early-time inhomogeneous Mixmaster synchronization is also provided.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2021

The radiation instability in modified gravity

We study the problem of the instability of inhomogeneous radiation universes in quadratic lagrangian theories of gravity written as a system of evolution equations with constraints. We construct formal series expansions and show that the resulting solutions have a smaller number of arbitrary functions than that required in a general solution. These results continue to hold for more general polynomial extensions of general relativity.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2021

Geodesic incompleteness and partially covariant gravity

We study the issue of length renormalization in the context of fully covariant gravity theories as well as non-relativistic ones such as Hořava-Lifshitz gravity. The difference of their symmetry groups implies a relation between the lengths of paths in spacetime in the two types of theory. Provided that certain asymptotic conditions hold, this relation allows us to transfer analytic criteria for the standard spacetime length to be finite to the Perelman length to be likewise finite, and therefore formulate conditions for geodesic incompleteness in partially covariant theories. We also discuss implications of this result for the issue of singularities in the context of such theories.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2020

The Generic Sudden Singularity in Brans-Dicke Theory

We construct a formal asymptotic series expansion for a general solution of the Brans-Dicke equations with a fluid source near a sudden singularity. This solution contains eleven independent arbitrary functions of the spatial coordinates as required by the Cauchy problem of the theory. We show that the solution is geodesically complete and has the character of a shock wave in the sudden asymptotic region. This solution is weak in the senses of Tipler and Krolak as in the corresponding case of general relativity.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2020

Inflation Without a Trace of Lambda

We generalise Einstein's formulation of the traceless Einstein equations to $f(R)$ gravity theories. In the case of the vacuum traceless Einstein equations, we show that a non-constant Weyl tensor leads via a conformal transformation to a dimensionally homogeneous (`no-scale') theory in the conformal frame with a scalar field source that has an exponential potential. We then formulate the traceless version of $f(R)$ gravity, and we find that a conformal transformation leads to a no-scale theory conformally equivalent to general relativity and a scalar field $ϕ$ with a potential given by the scale-invariant form: $V(ϕ)=\frac{D-2}{4D}Re^{-ϕ}$, where $ϕ=[2/(D-2)]\ln f^{\prime }(R)$. In this theory, the cosmological constant is a mere integration constant, statistically distributed in a multiverse of independent causal domains, the vacuum energy is another unrelated arbitrary constant, and the same is true of the height of the inflationary plateau present in a huge variety of potentials. Unlike in the conformal equivalent of full general relativity, flat potentials are found to be possible in all spacetime dimensions for polynomial lagrangians of all orders. Hence, we are led to a novel interpretation of the cosmological constant vacuum energy problem and have accelerated inflationary expansion in the very early universe with a very small cosmological constant at late times for a wide range of no-scale theories. Fine-tunings required in traceless general relativity or standard non-traceless $f(R)$ theories of gravity are avoided. We show that the predictions of the scale-invariant conformal potential are completely consistent with microwave background observational data concerning the primordial tilt and the tensor-to-scalar ratio.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2019

Cosmological wave maps

We consider theories of gravity that include many coupled scalar fields with arbitrary couplings, in the geometric framework of wave maps. We examine the possibility of obtaining acceptable cosmological solutions without the inclusion of a potential term to the scalar fields. To illustrate the theory, we study two simple models and compare their solutions to those in General Relativity. We also address the issue of the conditions that must be satisfied by the wave maps for an accelerated phase of the Universe.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2017

The singularity problem in brane cosmology

We review results about the development and asymptotic nature of singularities in `brane-bulk' systems. These arise for warped metrics obeying the 5-dimensional Einstein equations with fluid-like sources, and including a brane 4-metric that is either Minkowski or de Sitter or Anti-de Sitter. We characterize all singular Minkowski brane solutions, and look for regular solutions with nonzero curvature. We briefly comment on matching solutions, energy conditions and finite Planck mass criteria for admissibility, and we briefly discuss the connection of these results to ambient theory.

hep-th↗

arXiv2016

Infinity in string cosmology: A review through open problems

We review recent developments in the field of string cosmology with particular emphasis on open problems having to do mainly with geometric asymptotics and singularities. We discuss outstanding issues in a variety of currently popular themes, such as tree-level string cosmology asymptotics, higher-order string correction effects, M-theory cosmology, braneworlds, and finally ambient cosmology.

hep-th↗

arXiv2016

The large-scale structure of the ambient boundary

This article gives a review of a recent construction, the ambient cosmological metric, and its implications for the global geometry of the universe. According to this proposal, the universe is a bounding hypersurface carrying a conformal structure and lying at the (conformal) infinity of a new, 5-geometry which satisfies the Einstein equations with fluid sources. We discuss our main results about the implied topological nature of the conformal infinity of the ambient metric, the non-existence of spacetime singularities on the boundary, as well as the validity of cosmic censorship as a direct consequence of a new principle on the boundary.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2016

The regular state in higher-order gravity

We consider the higher-order gravity theory derived from the quadratic lagrangian $R+εR^2$ in vacuum as a first-order (ADM-type) system with constraints, and build time developments of solutions of an initial value formulation of the theory. We show that all such solutions, if analytic, contain the right number of free functions to qualify as general solutions of the theory. We further show that any regular analytic solution which satisfies the constraints and the evolution equations can be given in the form of an asymptotic formal power series expansion.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2016

Curved branes with regular support

We study spacetime singularities in a general five-dimensional braneworld with curved branes satisfying four-dimensional maximal symmetry. The bulk is supported by an analog of perfect fluid with the time replaced by the extra coordinate. We show that contrary to the existence of finite distance singularities from the brane location in any solution with flat (Minkowski) branes, in the case of curved branes there are singularity-free solutions for a range of equations of state compatible with the null energy condition.

hep-th↗

arXiv2016

The causal order on the ambient boundary

We analyse the causal structure of the ambient boundary, the conformal infinity of the ambient (Poincaré) metric. Using topological tools we show that the only causal relation compatible with the global topology of the boundary spacetime is the horismos order. This has important consequences for the notion of time in the conformal geometry of the ambient boundary.

hep-th↗

arXiv2016

Asymptotic vacua with higher derivatives

We study limits of vacuum, isotropic universes in the full, effective, four-dimensional theory with higher derivatives. We show that all flat vacua as well as general curved ones are globally attracted by the standard, square root scaling solution at early times. Open vacua asymptote to horizon-free, Milne states in both directions while closed universes exhibit more complex logarithmic singularities, starting from initial data sets of a possibly smaller dimension. We also discuss the relation of our results to the asymptotic stability of the passage through the singularity in ekpyrotic and cyclic cosmologies.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2015

Topology of the ambient boundary and the convergence of causal curves

We discuss the topological nature of the boundary spacetime, the conformal infinity of the ambient cosmological metric. Due to the existence of a homothetic group, the bounding spacetime must be equipped not with the usual Euclidean metric topology but with the Zeeman fine topology. This then places severe constraints to the convergence of a sequence of causal curves and the extraction of a limit curve, and also to our ability to formulate conditions for singularity formation.

hep-th↗

arXiv2015

Ambient cosmology and spacetime singularities

We present a new approach to the issues of spacetime singularities and cosmic censorship in general relativity. This is based on the idea that standard 4-dimensional spacetime is the conformal infinity of an ambient metric for the 5-dimensional Einstein equations with fluid sources. We then find that the existence of spacetime singularities in four dimensions is constrained by asymptotic properties of the ambient 5-metric, while the non-degeneracy of the latter crucially depends on cosmic censorship holding on the boundary.

hep-th↗