Related papers: Conformal Dilatonic Cosmology
We consider the theory of a light conformally coupled scalar field, i.e., one that is coupled directly to the Ricci scalar of the gravitational sector. This theory can be written equivalently as one of a light scalar that is coupled to the…
We find the conditions under which scale-invariant Einstein-Cartan gravity with scalar matter fields leads to an approximate conformal invariance of the flat space particle theory up to energies of the order of the Planck mass. In the…
The principal goal of the physics of the fundamental interactions is to provide a consistent description of the nature of the subnuclear forces, which manifest in our universe, together with the gravitational force, in a unified framework.…
We discuss some of the issues which we encounter when we try to invoke the scalar-tensor theories of gravitation as a theoretical basis of quintessence. One of the advantages of appealing to these theories is that they allow us to implement…
A theory of gravitation is constructed in which all homogeneous and isotropic solutions are nonsingular, and in which all curvature invariants are bounded. All solutions for which curvature invariants approach their limiting values approach…
We study the qualitative properties of cosmological models in scalar-tensor theories of gravity by exploiting the formal equivalence of these theories with general relativity minimally coupled to a scalar field under a conformal…
We remark on the existence of non-linearly realized conformal symmetries for scalar adiabatic perturbations in cosmology. These conformal symmetries are present for any cosmological background, beyond any slow-roll or quasi-de Sitter…
Motivated by conventional gauge theories, we consider a theory of gravity in which the Einstein-Hilbert action is replaced by a term that is quadratic in the Riemann tensor. We focus on cosmological solutions to the field equations in flat,…
A dynamical resolution to the cosmological constant fine-tuning problem has been previously put forward, based on a scalar-tensor gravitational theory possessing de Sitter attractor solutions characterized by a small Hubble expansion rate,…
We consider the Brans-Dicke theory in non-metricity gravity, which belongs to the family of symmetric teleparallel scalar-tensor theories. Our focus lies in exploring the implications of the conformal transformation, as we derive the…
We consider a minimal scale-invariant extension of the Standard Model of particle physics combined with Unimodular Gravity formulated in \cite{Shaposhnikov:2008xb}. This theory is able to describe not only an inflationary stage, related to…
We study an analytical solution to the Einstein's equations in 2+1-dimensions. The space-time is dynamical and has a line symmetry. The matter content is a minimally coupled, massless, scalar field. Depending on the value of certain…
We present a scale-invariant theory, conformal gravity, which closely resembles the geometrodynamical formulation of general relativity (GR). While previous attempts to create scale-invariant theories of gravity have been based on Weyl's…
Scalar fields describe interesting phenomena such as Higgs bosons, dark matter and dark energy, and are found to be quite common in physical theories. These fields are susceptible to gravitational forces so that being massless is not enough…
The work shows that the associated Einstein like gravity for the Klein-Gordon field shows the spontaneous emergence of the cosmological pressure tensor density (CPTD) that in the classical limit leads to the cosmological constant (CC). Even…
Recently we have presented a new formulation of the theory of gravity based on an implementation of the Einstein Equivalence Principle distinct from General Relativity. The kinetic part of the theory - that describes how matter is affected…
The role that the auxiliary scalar field $\phi$ played in Brans-Dicke cosmology is discussed. If a constant vacuum energy is assumed to be the origin of dark energy, then the corresponding density parameter would be a quantity varying with…
The recently introduced relativistic Lagrangian darkon fluid model (EPJ C (2015) 75:9) is generalized to a self-gravitating, irrotational, pressure-less and stress free geodesic fluid, whose energy-momentum tensor is dust-like with…
From higher dimensional theories, e.g. string theory, one expects the presence of non-minimally coupled scalar fields. We review the notion of conformal frames in cosmology and emphasize their physical equivalence, which holds at least at a…
We argue that, when a theory of gravity and matter is endowed with (classical) conformal symmetry, the fine tuning required to obtain the cosmological constant at its observed value can be significantly reduced. Once tuned, the cosmological…