Makarenko, A. N., Odintsov, S., & Olmo, G. J. (2014). Born-Infeld f(R) gravity. Phys. Rev. D, 90(2), 024066–15pp.
Abstract: Motivated by the properties of matter quantum fields in curved space-times, we work out a gravity theory that combines the Born-Infeld gravity Lagrangian with an f(R) piece. To avoid ghostlike instabilities, the theory is formulated within the Palatini approach. This construction provides more freedom to address a number of important questions, such as the dynamics of the early Universe and the cosmic accelerated expansion, among others. In particular, we consider the effect that adding an f(R) = aR(2) term has on the early-time cosmology. We find that bouncing solutions are robust against these modifications of the Lagrangian whereas the solutions with loitering behavior of the original Born-Infeld theory are very sensitive to the R-2 term. In fact, these solutions are modified in such a way that a plateau in the H-2 function may arise, yielding a period of (approximately) de Sitter inflationary expansion. This inflationary behavior may be found even in a radiation-dominated universe.
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Lobo, F. S. N., Martinez-Asencio, J., Olmo, G. J., & Rubiera-Garcia, D. (2014). Dynamical generation of wormholes with charged fluids in quadratic Palatini gravity. Phys. Rev. D, 90(2), 024033–15pp.
Abstract: The dynamical generation of wormholes within an extension of General Relativity (GR) containing (Planck's scale-suppressed) Ricci-squared terms is considered. The theory is formulated assuming the metric and connection to be independent (Palatini formalism) and is probed using a charged null fluid as a matter source. This has the following effect: starting from Minkowski space, when the flux is active the metric becomes a charged Vaidya-type one, and once the flux is switched off the metric settles down into a static configuration such that far from the Planck scale the geometry is virtually indistinguishable from that of the standard Reissner-Nordstrom solution of GR. However, the innermost region undergoes significant changes, as the GR singularity is generically replaced by a wormhole structure. Such a structure becomes completely regular for a certain charge-to-mass ratio. Moreover, the nontrivial topology of the wormhole allows us to define a charge in terms of lines of force trapped in the topology such that the density of lines flowing across the wormhole throat becomes a universal constant. In light of our results, we comment on the physical significance of curvature divergences in this theory and the topology change issue, which support the view that space-time could have a foamlike microstructure pervaded by wormholes generated by quantum gravitational effects.
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Bambi, C., Olmo, G. J., & Rubiera-Garcia, D. (2015). Melvin universe in Born-Infeld gravity. Phys. Rev. D, 91(10), 104010–6pp.
Abstract: We consider a magnetic flux pointing in the z direction of an axially symmetric space-time (Melvin universe) in a Born-Infeld-type extension of general relativity (GR) formulated in the Palatini approach. Large magnetic fields could have been produced in the early Universe, and given rise to interesting phenomenology regarding wormholes and black hole remnants. We find a formal analytic solution to this problem that recovers the GR result in the appropriate limits. Our results set the basis for further extensions that could allow the embedding of pairs of black hole remnants in geometries with intense magnetic fields.
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Bazeia, D., Lobao, A. S., Losano, L., Menezes, R., & Olmo, G. J. (2015). Braneworld solutions for modified theories of gravity with nonconstant curvature. Phys. Rev. D, 91(12), 124006–11pp.
Abstract: We study braneworld models in the presence of scalar field in a five-dimensional geometry with a single extra dimension of infinite extent, with gravity modified to include a function of the Ricci scalar. We develop a procedure that allows us to obtain an analytical solution for the braneworld configuration in a diversity of models, in the much harder case where the Ricci scalar is a nonconstant quantity.
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Lobo, F. S. N., Olmo, G. J., & Rubiera-Garcia, D. (2015). Crystal clear lessons on the microstructure of spacetime and modified gravity. Phys. Rev. D, 91(12), 124001–7pp.
Abstract: We argue that a microscopic structure for spacetime such as that expected in a quantum foam scenario, in which microscopic wormholes and other topological structures should play a relevant role, might lead to an effective metric-affine geometry at larger scales. This idea is supported by the role that microscopic defects play in crystalline structures. With an explicit model, we show that wormhole formation is possible in a metric-affine scenario, where the wormhole and the matter fields play a role analogous to that of defects in crystals. Such wormholes also arise in Born-Infeld gravity, which is favored by an analogy with the estimated mass of a point defect in condensed matter systems. We also point out that in metric-affine geometries, Einstein's equations with an effective cosmological constant appear as an attractor in the vacuum limit for a vast family of theories of gravity. This illustrates how lessons from solid state physics can be useful in unveiling the properties of the microcosmos and defining new avenues for modified theories of gravity.
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