arXiv subjects

Xian Gao

Publications and source records attributed to Xian Gao.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2016

Doubly coupled matter fields in massive bigravity

In the context of massive (bi-)gravity non-minimal matter couplings have been proposed. These couplings are special in the sense that they are free of the Boulware-Deser ghost below the strong coupling scale and can be used consistently as an effective field theory. Furthermore, they enrich the phenomenology of massive gravity. We consider these couplings in the framework of bimetric gravity and study the cosmological implications for background and linear tensor, vector, and scalar perturbations. Previous works have investigated special branch of solutions. Here we perform a complete perturbation analysis for the general background equations of motion completing previous analysis.

hep-th↗

arXiv2016

Derivative couplings in massive bigravity

In this work we study the cosmological perturbations in massive bigravity in the presence of non-minimal derivative couplings. For this purpose we consider a specific subclass of Horndeski scalar-tensor interactions that live on the unique composite effective metric. For the viability of the model both metrics have to be dynamical. Nevertheless, the number of allowed kinetic terms is crucial. We adapt to the restriction of having one single kinetic term. After deriving the full set of equations of motion for flat Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker background, we study linear perturbations on top of it. We show explicitly that only four tensor, two vector and two scalar degrees of freedom propagate, one of which being the Horndeski scalar, while the Boulware-Deser ghost can be integrated out.

hep-th↗

arXiv2016

Spatially covariant theories of gravity: disformal transformation, cosmological perturbations and the Einstein frame

We investigate the cosmological background evolution and perturbations in a general class of spatially covariant theories of gravity, which propagates two tensor modes and one scalar mode. We show that the structure of the theory is preserved under the disformal transformation. We also evaluate the primordial spectra for both the gravitational waves and the curvature perturbation, which are invariant under the disformal transformation. Due to the existence of higher spatial derivatives, the quadratic Lagrangian for the tensor modes itself cannot be transformed to the form in the Einstein frame. Nevertheless, there exists a one-parameter family of frames in which the spectrum of the gravitational waves takes the standard form in the Einstein frame.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2015

Coupling between Galileon and massive gravity with composite metrics

We investigate the coupling between a Galileon scalar field and massive gravity through composite metrics. We derive the full set of equations of motion for a flat Friedmann-Robertson-Walker background, and study linear perturbations around it. Generally, the nonminimal coupling with the composite metric will excite all 6 degrees of freedom of the spatial metric perturbations, one of which may correspond to the Boulware-Deser ghost.

hep-th↗

arXiv2015

Towards general patterns of features in multi-field inflation

We investigate the consequences of general curved trajectories in multi-field inflation. After setting up a completely general formalism using the mass basis, which naturally accommodates the notion of light and heavy modes, we study in detail the simple case of two successive turns in two-field system. We find the power spectrum of the curvature perturbation receives corrections that exhibit oscillatory features sinusoidal in the logarithm of the comoving wavenumber without slow-roll suppression. We show that this is because of the resonance of the heavy modes inside and outside the mass horizon.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2015

On covariant expansion of the gravitational Stückelberg trick

A new approach to expanding the "Stückelbergized" fiducial metric in a covariant manner is developed. The idea is to consider the curved 4-dimensional space as a codimension-one hypersurface embedded in a 5-dimensional Minkowski bulk, in which the 5-dimensional Goldstone modes can be defined as usual. After solving one constraint among the five 5-dimensional Goldstone modes and projecting onto the 4-dimensional hypersurface, we are able to express the "Stückelbergized" fiducial metric in terms of the 4-dimensional Goldstone modes as well as 4-dimensional curvature quantities. We also compared the results with expressions got using the Riemann Normal Coordinates (RNC) in Gao et al [Phys. Rev. D90, 124073 (2014)] and find that, after a simple field redefinition, results got in two approaches exactly coincide.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2015

Covariant Stückelberg analysis of de Rham-Gabadadze-Tolley massive gravity with a general fiducial metric

The Stückelberg analysis of nonlinear massive gravity in the presence of a general fiducial metric is investigated. We develop a "covariant" formalism for the Stückelberg expansion by working with a local inertial frame, through which helicity modes can be characterized correctly. Within this covariant approach, an extended $Λ_3$ decoupling limit analysis can be consistently performed, which keeps $\bar{R}_{μνρσ}/m^2$ fixed with $\bar{R}_{μνρσ}$ the Riemann tensor of the fiducial metric. In this extended decoupling limit, the scalar mode $π$ acquires self-interactions due to the presence of the curvature of the fiducial metric. However, the equation of motion for $π$ remains of second order in derivatives, which extends the understanding of the absence of the Boulware Deser ghost in the case of a flat fiducial metric.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2015

Non-Gaussianity excess problem in classical bouncing cosmologies

The simplest possible classical model leading to a cosmological bounce is examined in the light of the non-Gaussianities it can generate. Concentrating solely on the transition between contraction and expansion, and assuming initially purely Gaussian perturbations at the end of the contracting phase, we find that the bounce acts as a source such that the resulting value for the post-bounce $f_{\mathrm{NL}}$ may largely exceed all current limits, to the point of potentially casting doubts on the validity of the perturbative expansion. We conjecture that if one can assume that the non-Gaussianity production depends only on the bouncing behavior of the scale factor and not on the specifics of the model examined, then many realistic models in which a nonsingular classical bounce takes place could exhibit a generic non-Gaussianity excess problem that would need to be addressed for each case.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2014

Hamiltonian analysis of spatially covariant gravity

We perform the Hamiltonian constraint analysis for a wide class of gravity theories that are invariant under spatial diffeomorphism. With very general setup, we show that different from the general relativity, the primary and secondary constraints associated with the lapse function $N$ become second class, as long as the lapse function $N$ enters the Hamiltonian nonlinearly. This fact implies that there are three degrees of freedom are propagating, of which two correspond to the usual tensor type transverse and traceless gravitons, and one is the scalar type graviton. By restoring the full spacetime diffeomorphism using the Stückelberg trick, this type of spatially covariant gravity theories corresponds to a large class of single field scalar-tensor theories that possess higher order derivatives in the equations of motion, and thus is beyond the scope of the Horndeski theory.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2014

Unifying framework for scalar-tensor theories of gravity

A general framework for effective theories propagating two tensor and one scalar degrees of freedom is investigated. Geometrically, it describes dynamical foliation of spacelike hypersurfaces coupled to a general background, in which the scalar mode encodes the fluctuation of the hypersurfaces. Within this framework, various models in the literature---including $k$-essence, Horndeski theory, the effective field theory of inflation, ghost condensate as well as the Hořava gravity---get unified. Our framework generalizes the Horndeski theory in the sense that, it propagates the correct number of degrees of freedom, although the equations of motion are generally higher order. We also identify new operators beyond the Horndeski theory, which yield second order equations of motion for linear perturbations around an a Friedmann-Robertson-Walker background.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2014

Derivative interactions for a spin-2 field at cubic order

Lorentz invariant derivative interactions for a single spin-2 field are investigated, up to the cubic order. We start from the most general Lorentz invariant terms involving two spacetime derivatives, which are polynomials in the spin-2 field as well as its first derivatives. Using a perturbative Arnowitt-Deser-Misner analysis, we determined the parameters such that the corresponding Hamiltonian possesses a Lagrange multiplier, which would signify there are at most 5 degrees of freedom that are propagating. The resulting derivative terms are linear combinations of terms coming from the expansion of the Einstein-Hilbert Lagrangian around a Minkowski background, as well as the cubic "pseudolinear derivative term" identified in Hinterbichler [J. High Energy Phys. 10 (\textbf{2013}) 102]. We also derived the compatible potential terms, which are linear combinations of the expansions of the first two de Rham-Gabadadze-Tolley mass terms in unitary gauge.

hep-th↗

arXiv2014

Production of non-gaussianities in a bouncing phase

We compute the level of non-gaussianities produced by a cosmological bouncing phase in the minimal non-singular setup that lies within the context of General Relativity when the matter content consists of a simple scalar field with a standard kinetic term. Such a bouncing phase is obtained by requiring that the spatial sections of the background spacetime be positively curved. We restrict attention to the close vicinity of the bounce by Taylor expanding the scale factor, the scalar field and its potential in powers of the conformal time around the bounce. We find that possibly large non-gaussianities are generically produced at the bounce itself and also discuss which shapes of non-gaussianities are mostly likely to be produced.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2013

Towards Anisotropy-Free and Non-Singular Bounce Cosmology with Scale-invariant Perturbations

We investigate non-singular bounce realizations in the framework of ghost-free generalized Galileon cosmology, which furthermore can be free of the anisotropy problem. Considering an Ekpyrotic-like potential we can obtain a total Equation-of-State (EoS) larger than one in the contracting phase, which is necessary for the evolution to be stable against small anisotropic fluctuations. Since such a large EoS forbids the Galileon field to generate the desired form of perturbations, we additionally introduce the curvaton field which can in general produce the observed nearly scale-invariant spectrum. In particular, we provide approximate analytical and exact semi-analytical expressions under which the bouncing scenario is consistent with observations. Finally, the combined Galileon-curvaton system is free of the Big-Rip after the bounce.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2013

Influence of heavy modes on perturbations in multiple field inflation

We investigate linear cosmological perturbations in multiple field inflationary models where some of the directions are light while others are heavy (with respect to the Hubble parameter). By integrating out the massive degrees of freedom, we determine the multi-dimensional effective theory for the light degrees of freedom and give explicitly the propagation matrix that replaces the effective sound speed of the one-dimensional case. We then examine in detail the consequences of a sudden turn along the inflationary trajectory, in particular the possible breakdown of the low energy effective theory in case the heavy modes are excited. Resorting to a new basis in field space, instead of the usual adiabatic/entropic basis, we study the evolution of the perturbations during the turn. In particular, we compute the power spectrum and compare with the result obtained from the low energy effective theory.

hep-th↗

arXiv2013

Coupling structure of multi-field primordial perturbations

We investigate the coupling relations among perturbations in general multi-field models. We derived the equations of motion for both background and perturbations in a general basis. Within this formalism, we revisit the construction of kinematic orthogonal normal vectors using the successive time derivatives of the background field velocity. We show that the coupling relations among modes in this kinematic basis can be reduced, by employing the background equations of motion for the scalar fields and their high order time derivatives. There are two typical features in the field space: inflationary trajectory and geometry of the potential. Correspondingly, the couplings among modes fall into two categories: one is controlled only by the kinematic quantities, the other involves high order derivatives of the potential. Remarkably, the couplings of the first category, i.e. controlled by the kinematic quantities only, show a "chain" structure. That is, each mode is only coupled to its two neighbour modes.

hep-th↗

arXiv2013

Oscillatory features in the curvature power spectrum after a sudden turn of the inflationary trajectory

In the context of two-field inflation characterized by a light direction and a heavy direction, we revisit the question of the impact of the massive modes on the power spectrum produced after a turn in the inflationary trajectory. We consider in particular the resonant effect due to the background oscillations following a sharp turn. Working in the mass basis, i.e. in the basis spanned by the eigenvectors of the effective mass matrix for the perturbations, we provide an analytical estimate of the resonant effect, using the in-in formalism. In comparison with earlier estimates, we find the same the spectral dependence but a smaller amplitude. We also compute, again via the in-in formalism, the effect of the direct coupling between the light and heavy modes at the instant of the turn and confirm our previous results obtained via a different method.

hep-th↗

arXiv2013

Full bispectra from primordial scalar and tensor perturbations in the most general single-field inflation model

We compute the full bispectra, namely both auto- and cross- bispectra, of primordial curvature and tensor perturbations in the most general single-field inflation model whose scalar and gravitational equations of motion are of second order. The formulae in the limits of k-inflation and potential-driven inflation are also given. These expressions are useful for estimating the full bispectra of temperature and polarization anisotropies of the cosmic microwave background radiation.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2012

IR Divergences in Inflation and Entropy Perturbations

We study leading order perturbative corrections to the two point correlation function of the scalar field describing the curvature perturbation in a slow-roll inflationary background, paying particular attention to the contribution of entropy mode loops. We find that the infrared divergences are worse than in pure de Sitter space: they are power law rather than logarithmic. The validity of perturbation theory and thus of the effective field theory of cosmological perturbations leads to stringent constraints on the coupling constants describing the interactions, in our model the quartic self-interaction coupling constant of the entropy field. If the self coupling constant is larger than some critical value which depends in particular on the duration of the inflationary phase, then perturbation theory breaks down. Our analysis may have implications for the stability of de Sitter space: the quantum effects which lead to an instability of de Sitter space will be larger in magnitude in the presence of entropy fluctuations.

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