arXiv subjects
Publications and source records attributed to T. Vargas.
We revisit the cyclic Universe scenario in scalar field FRW cosmology and check its applicability for a nonminimally coupled scalar field. We show that for the most popular case of a quartic potential and the standard nonminimal coupling this scenario does work. On the other hand, we identify certain cases where cyclic model fails to work and present corresponding reasons for this.
An energy for the homogeneous cosmological models is presented. More specifically, using an appropriate natural prescription, we find the energy within any region with any gravitational source for a large class of gravity theories--namely those with a tetrad description--for all 9 Bianchi types. Our energy is given by the value of the Hamiltonian with homogeneous boundary conditions; this value vanishes for all regions in all Bianchi class A models, and it does not vanish for any class B model. This is so not only for Einstein's general relativity but, moreover, for the whole 3-parameter class of tetrad-teleparallel theories. For the physically favored one parameter subclass, which includes the teleparallel equivalent of Einstein's theory as an important special case, the energy for all class B models is, contrary to expectation, negative.
For certain models, the energy of the universe which includes the energy of both the matter and the gravitational fields is obtained by using the quasilocal energy-momentum in teleparallel gravity. It is shown that in the case of the Bianchi type I and II universes, not only the total energy but also the quasilocal energy-momentum for any region vanishes independently of the three dimensionless coupling constants of teleparallel gravity.
The stationary cosmological model without closed timelike curves of Gödel type is obtained for the ideal dust matter source within the framework of the teleparallel gravity. For a specific choice of the teleparallel gravity parameters, this solution reproduces the causality violating stationary Gödel solution in general relativity, in accordance with the teleparallel equivalent of general relativity. The relation between the axial-vector torsion and the cosmic vorticity is clarified.
In the context of the teleparallel equivalent of general relativity, the Weitzenbock manifold is considered as the limit of a suitable sequence of discrete lattices composed of an increasing number of smaller an smaller simplices, where the interior of each simplex (Delaunay lattice) is assumed to be flat. The link lengths between any pair of vertices serve as independent variables, so that torsion turns out to be localized in the two dimensional hypersurfaces (dislocation triangle, or hinge) of the lattice. Assuming that a vector undergoes a dislocation in relation to its initial position as it is parallel transported along the perimeter of the dual lattice (Voronoi polygon), we obtain the discrete analogue of the teleparallel action, as well as the corresponding simplicial vacuum field equations.
In the context of the teleparallel equivalent of general relativity, we obtain the tetrad and the torsion fields of the stationary axisymmetric Kerr spacetime. It is shown that, in the slow rotation and weak field approximations, the axial-vector torsion plays the role of the gravitomagnetic component of the gravitational field, and is thus the responsible for the Lense-Thirring effect.