Cosmological term and fundamental physics

A nonvanishing cosmological term in Einstein's equations implies a nonvanishing spacetime curvature even in the absence of any kind of matter. It would, in consequence, affect many of the underlying kinematic tenets of physical theory. The usual commutative spacetime translations of the Poincare group would be replaced by the mixed conformal translations of the de Sitter group, leading to obvious alterations in elementary concepts such as time, energy and momentum. Although negligible at small scales, such modifications may come to have important consequences both in the large and for the inflationary picture of the early Universe. A qualitative discussion is presented, which suggests deep changes in Hamiltonian, Quantum and Statistical Mechanics. In the primeval universe as described by the standard cosmological model, in particular, the equations of state of the matter sources could be quite different from those usually introduced.

Non-relativistic spacetimes with cosmological constant

Recent data on supernovae favour high values of the cosmological constant. Spacetimes with a cosmological constant have non-relativistic kinematics quite different from Galilean kinematics. de Sitter spacetimes, vacuum solutions of Einstein's equations with a cosmological constant, reduce in the non-relativistic limit to Newton-Hooke spacetimes, which are non-metric homogeneous spacetimes with non-vanishing curvature. The whole non-relativistic kinematics would then be modified, with possible consequences to cosmology, and in particular to the missing-mass problem.

Casimir energy density in closed hyperbolic universes

The original Casimir effect results from the difference in the vacuum energies of the electromagnetic field, between that in a region of space with boundary conditions and that in the same region without boundary conditions. In this paper we develop the theory of a similar situation, involving a scalar field in spacetimes with closed spatial sections of negative curvature.

Bicomplexes and conservation laws in non-Abelian Toda models

A bicomplex structure is associated with the Leznov-Saveliev equation of integrable models. The linear problem associated with the zero-curvature condition is derived in terms of the bicomplex linear equation. The explicit example of a non-Abelian conformal affine Toda model is discussed in detail and its conservation laws are derived from the zero-curvature representation of its equation of motion.

Gravity and duality between coordinates and matter fields

We use the duality between the local Cartezian coordinates and the solutions of the Klein-Gordon equation to parametrize locally the spacetime in terms of wave functions and prepotentials. The components of metric, metric connection, curvature as well as the Einstein equation are given in this parametrization. We also discuss the local duality between coordinates and quantum fields and the metric in this later reparametrization. (C) 2000 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

A new approach to integrable theories in any dimension

The zero curvature representation for two-dimensional integrable models is generalized to spacetimes of dimension d + 1 by the introduction of a d-form connection. The new generalized zero curvature conditions can be used to represent the equations of motion of some relativistic invariant field theories of physical interest in 2 + 1 dimensions (BF theories, Chern-Simons, 2 + 1 gravity and the CP1 model) and 3 + 1 dimensions (self-dual Yang-Mills theory and the Bogomolny equations). Our approach leads to new methods of constructing conserved currents and solutions. In a submodel of the 2 + 1-dimensional CP1 model, we explicitly construct an infinite number of previously unknown non-trivial conserved currents. For each positive integer spin representation of sl(2) we construct 2j + 1 conserved currents leading to 2j + 1 Lorentz scalar charges. (C) 1998 Elsevier B.V. B.V.

Torsion and the gravitational interaction

By using a nonholonomous-frame formulation of the general covariance principle, seen as an active version of the strong equivalence principle, an analysis of the gravitational coupling prescription in the presence of curvature and torsion is made. The Coupling prescription implied by this principle is found to be always equivalent to that of general relativity, a result that reinforces the completeness of this theory, as well as the teleparallel point of view according to which torsion does not represent additional degrees of freedom for gravity, but simply an alternative way of representing the gravitational field.

T-duality of axial and vector dyonic integrable models

A general construction of affine nonabelian (NA)-Toda models in terms of the axial and vector gauged two loop WZNW model is discussed. They represent integrable perturbations of the conformal sigma -models (with tachyons included) describing (charged) black hole type string backgrounds. We study the off-critical T-duality between certain families of axial and vector type integrable models for the case of affine NA-Toda theories with one global U(1) symmetry. In particular we find the Lie algebraic condition defining a subclass of T-selfdual torsionless NA-Toda models and their zero curvature representation. (C) 2001 Academic Press.

On the birth of a closed hyperbolic universe

We clarify and develop the results of a previous paper on the birth of a closed universe of negative spatial curvature and multiply connected topology. In particular we discuss the initial instanton and the second topology change in more detail, This is followed by a short discussion of the results.

Noncommutative integrable field theories in 2d

We study the noncommutative generalization of (Euclidean) integrable models in two dimensions, specifically the sine- and sinh-Gordon and the U(N) principal chiral models. By looking at tree-level amplitudes for the sinh-Gordon model we show that its naive noncommutative generalization is not integrable. on the other hand, the addition of extra constraints, obtained through the generalization of the zero-curvature method, renders the model integrable. We construct explicit nonlocal nontrivial conserved charges for the U(N) principal chiral model using the Brezin-Itzykson-Zinn-Justin-Zuber method. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Torsion gravity: A reappraisal

The role played by torsion in gravitation is critically reviewed. After a description of the problems and controversies involving the physics of torsion, a comprehensive presentation of the teleparallel equivalent of general relativity is made. According to this theory, curvature and torsion are alternative ways of describing the gravitational field, and consequently related to the same degrees of freedom of gravity. However, more general gravity theories, like for example Einstein-Cartan and gauge theories for the Poincare and the affine groups, consider curvature and torsion as representing independent degrees of freedom. By using an active version of the strong equivalence principle, a possible solution to this conceptual question is reviewed. This solution ultimately favors the teleparallel point of view, and consequently the completeness of general relativity. A discussion of the consequences for gravitation is presented.

Conformal invariance of massless Duffin-Kemmer-Petiau theory in Riemannian spacetimes

We investigate the conformal invariance of massless Duffin-Kemmer-Petiau theory coupled to Riemannian spacetimes. We show that, as usual, in the minimal coupling procedure only the spin I sector of the theory - which corresponds to the electromagnetic field - is conformally invariant. We also show that the conformal invariance of the spin 0 sector can be naturally achieved by introducing a compensating term in the Lagrangian. Such a procedure - besides not modifying the spin I sector - leads to the well-known conformal coupling between the scalar curvature and the massless Klein-Gordon-Fock field. Going beyond the Riemannian spacetimes, we briefly discuss the effects of a nonvanishing torsion in the scalar case.

Nonautonomous mixed mKdV-sinh-Gordon hierarchy

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Realistic equations of state for the primeval universe

Equations of state for the early universe including realistic interactions between constituents are formulated. Under certain hypotheses, these equations are able to generate an inflationary regime prior to the period of the nucleosynthesis. The resulting accelerated expansion is intense enough to solve the flatness and horizon problems. In the cases of a curvature parameter. equal to 0 or + 1, the model is able to avoid the initial singularity and offers a natural explanation for why the universe is in expansion. All the results are valid only for a matter-antimatter symmetric universe.

A class of mixed integrable models

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)