Related papers: Ghosts in classes of non-local gravity
In the recently proposed non-local theory of quantum gravity one can avoid massive tensor ghosts at the tree level by a special choice of the non-local form factor between the two Ricci tensors. We show that at the quantum level this theory…
We use a description based on differential forms to systematically explore the space of scalar-tensor theories of gravity. Within this formalism, we propose a basis for the scalar sector at the lowest order in derivatives of the field and…
We construct a Hamiltonian for the nonlocal F(R) theory in the present work. By this construction, we demonstrate the nature of the ghost degrees of freedom. Finally, we find conditions that give rise to ghost-free theories
We show that in theories of generalised teleparallel gravity, whose Lagrangians are algebraic functions of the usual teleparallel Lagrangian, the action and the field equations are not invariant under local Lorentz transformations. We also…
We propose a framework for Lorentz-invariant Lagrangian field theories where Ostrogradsky's scalar ghosts could be absent. A key ingredient is the generalized Kronecker delta. The general Lagrangians are reformulated in the language of…
We study the gravitational field sourced by localized scalar fields (lumps) in higher-derivative theories of gravity. By working in a static and spherically symmetric configuration, we find the linearized spacetime metrics generated by…
We introduce a novel theory of gravity based on the inverse of the Ricci tensor, that we call the anticurvature tensor. We derive the general equations of motion for any Lagrangian function of the curvature and anticurvature scalars. We…
Under carefully chosen assumptions a single general relativistic scalar field is able to induce MOND-like dynamics in the weak field approximation of the Einstein frame (gauge) and to modify the light cone structure accordingly. This is…
We discuss a possible mechanism to screen a cosmological constant in non-local gravity. We find that in a simple model of of non-local gravity with the Lagrangian of the form, $R+f(\Box^{-1}R)-2\Lambda$ where $f(X)$ is a quadratic function…
I consider theories of gravity built not just from the metric and affine connection, but also other (possibly higher rank) symmetric tensor(s). The Lagrangian densities are scalars built from them, and the volume forms are related to…
A general class of f(R) gravity models with minimally coupling a nonlocal scalar field is considered. The Ostrogradski representation for nonlocal gravitational models with a quadratic potential and the way of its localization are proposed.…
As the first step to extend our understanding of higher-derivative theories, within the framework of analytic mechanics of point particles, we construct a ghost-free theory involving third-order time derivatives in Lagrangian. While…
We investigate Einstein theories of gravity, coupled to a scalar field \vphi and point-like matter, which are characterized by a scalar field-dependent matter coupling function e^{H(\vphi)}. We show that under mild constraints on the form…
In the first order formalism of gravitational theories, the spacetime connection is considered as an independent variable to vary together with the metric. However, the metric still generates its Levi-Civita connection that turns out to…
We show that the strong self-interaction of the scalar polarization of a massive graviton can be understood in terms of the propagation of an extra ghost-like degree of freedom, thus relating strong coupling to the sixth degree of freedom…
We present a framework for discussing the cosmology of dark energy and dark matter based on two scalar degrees of freedom. An effective field theory of cosmological perturbations is employed. A unitary gauge choice renders the dark energy…
We consider scalar-tensor theories of gravity in an accelerating universe. The equations for the background evolution and the perturbations are given in full generality for any parametrization of the Lagrangian, and we stress that apparent…
To describe a massive graviton in 4D Minkowski space-time one introduces a quadratic term in the Lagrangian. This term, however, can lead to a readjustment or instability of the background instead of describing a massive graviton on flat…
We construct a Lagrangian of Weyl spinors and gauge fields, which is invariant under the action of equivalent local transformations on the spinor algebra representations. A model of vacuum with a nontrivial gauge strength-tensor setting a…
We generalize the known equivalence between higher order gravity theories and scalar tensor theories to a new class of theories. Specifically, in the context of a first order or Palatini variational principle where the metric and connection…