arXiv subjects

Teodor Borislavov Vasilev

Publications and source records attributed to Teodor Borislavov Vasilev.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Finite time pseudo-rip singularity in cosmology

By studying first a new decelerating sudden future singularity (SFS) universe we report finding a novel type of cosmological singularity which we dub a finite time pseudo-rip (FTPR) because unlike for a pseudo-rip, it happens in the finite future of the universe. In contrast to the new SFS model, where the expansion is decelerating before reaching the pressure singularity, the FTPR scenario is preceded by a super-accelerated phantom phase. Our claim is based on the thorough study of the energy conditions showing the violations of all of them for a FTPR, and only the dominant energy one for an SFS. Application of the so-called Raychaudhuri averaging shows that, alike within the requirement of geodesic completeness, these singularities are weak in the sense of this definition. We study the properties of the models including the behaviour of the cosmological horizons presented in the appropriate Penrose diagrams. Finally, we introduce a FTPR model containing standard radiation and dust fluids that can mimic the past expansion history of $Λ$CDM though facing a future pressure singularity.

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arXiv2026

K-nonizing

We unveil the dynamical equivalence of field theories with non-canonical kinetic terms and canonical theories with a volume element invariant under transverse diffeomorphisms. The proof of the equivalence also reveals a subtle connection between the standard Legendre transformation and the so-called Clairaut equation. Explicit examples of canonizable theories include classes of $k$-essence, non-linear electrodynamics, or $f(R)$ theories. The equivalence can also be extended to the class of mimetic theories.

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arXiv2024

Dark energy with a shift-symmetric scalar field: obstacles, loophole hunting and dead ends

We discuss the possibility of a scalar field being the fundamental description of dark energy. We focus on shift-symmetric scalar-tensor theories since this symmetry potentially avoids some fine-tuning problems. We also restrict attention to theories satisfying that the propagation speed of gravitational waves is equal to the speed of light. These considerations lead us to investigate shift-symmetric Kinetic Gravity Braiding theories. Analysing the stability of scalar linear perturbations, we discuss the conditions that seems to be necessary to describe (super) accelerated cosmic expansion without introducing instabilities. However, it has been previously established that the linearised analysis does not guarantee the stability of this non-canonical scalar theory, as potentially dangerous interactions between dark energy fluctuations and tensor perturbations (essentially gravitational waves) appear at a higher order in perturbation theory. Indeed, although we shall point out that the standard proof of absence of dark energy stable braiding models due to this interaction has a possible way-out, we find general arguments suggesting that there are no dark energy stable solutions that can exploit this loophole. Thus, we discuss future research directions for finding viable fundamental descriptions of dark energy. We also provide a dictionary between the covariant version of the scalar field theory and that of the Effective Field Theory approach, explicitly computing the parameters in the latter formalism in terms of the functions appearing in the covariant version, and its derivatives. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time these expressions are explicitly obtained up-to arbitrary order in perturbation theory.

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arXiv2023

Phantom attractors in Kinetic Gravity Braiding theories: a dynamical system approach

We revise the expansion history of the scalar field theories known as Kinetic Gravity Braiding. These theories are well-known for the possibility of driving the expansion of the cosmos towards a future self-tuning de Sitter state when the corresponding Lagrangian is invariant under constant shifts in the scalar field. Nevertheless, this is not the only possible future fate of these shift-symmetric models. Using a dynamical system formulation we show that future cosmological singularities can also appear in this framework. Moreover, we present explicit examples where the future attractor in the configuration space of the theory corresponds to a big rip singularity.

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arXiv2023

Big rip in shift-symmetric Kinetic Gravity Braiding theories

We revise the future fate of a group of scalar-tensor theories known as kinetic gravity braiding models. As it is well-known, these theories can safely drive the expansion of the universe towards a future de Sitter state if the corresponding Lagrangian is invariant under constant shifts in the scalar field. However, this is not the only possible future state of these shift-symmetric models as we show in this letter. In fact, future cosmic singularities characterized by a divergence of the energy density can also appear in this framework. We present an explicit example where a big rip singularity is the only possible future fate of the cosmos.

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arXiv2022

Stability in quadratic torsion theories

We revisit the definition and some of the characteristics of quadratic theories of gravity with torsion. We start from the most general Lagrangian density quadratic in the curvature and torsion tensors. By assuming that General Relativity should be recovered when torsion vanishes and investigating the behaviour of the vector and pseudovector torsion fields in the weak-gravity regime, we present a set of necessary conditions for the stability of these theories. Moreover, we explicitly obtain the gravitational field equations using the Palatini variational principle with the metricity condition implemented via a Lagrange multiplier.

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arXiv2021

Classical and quantum $f(R)$ cosmology: The big rip, the little rip and the little sibling of the big rip

The big rip, the little rip and the little sibling of the big rip are cosmological doomsdays predicted by some phantom dark energy models that could describe the future evolution of our Universe. When the universe evolves towards either of these future cosmic events all bounded structures and, ultimately, space-time itself are ripped apart. Nevertheless, it is commonly belief that quantum gravity effects may smooth or even avoid these classically predicted singularities. In this review, we discuss the classical and quantum occurrence of these riplike events in the scheme of metric $f(R)$ theories of gravity. The quantum analysis is performed in the framework of $f(R)$ quantum geometrodynamics. In this context, we analyse the fulfilment of the DeWitt criterion for the avoidance of these singular fates.

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arXiv2021

The little rip in classical and quantum $f(R)$ cosmology

The little rip is a cosmological abrupt event predicted by some phantom dark energy models that could describe the future evolution of our Universe. This event can be interpreted as a big rip singularity delayed indefinitely, although in those models bounded structures will be destroyed in a finite cosmic time in the future. In this work, we analyse the little rip cosmology from a classical and quantum point of view within the scheme of alternative metric $f(R)$ theories of gravity. The quantum analysis is performed in the framework of $f(R)$ quantum geometrodynamics by means of the modified Wheeler-DeWitt equation. In this context, we show that the DeWitt criterion can be satisfied. Similar to what happens in general relativity, this result points towards the avoidance of the little rip in $f(R)$ quantum cosmology.

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arXiv2019

The classical and quantum fate of the Little Sibling of the Big Rip in $f(R)$ cosmology

The Little Sibling of the Big Rip is a cosmological abrupt event predicted by some phantom cosmological models that could describe our Universe. When this event is approached the observable Universe and its expansion rate grow infinitely, but its cosmic derivative remains finite. In this work we have obtained the group of metric $f(R)$ theories of gravity that reproduce this classical cosmological background evolution. Furthermore, we have considered the quantization of some of the resulting models in the framework of quantum geometrodynamics, showing that the DeWitt criterion can be satisfied. Therefore, as it also happens in General Relativity, this event may be avoided in $f(R)$ quantum cosmology.

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