General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology (gr-qc)

Abstract: We investigate the relation between quantum nonlocality and gravity at the astrophysical scale, both in the classical and quantum regimes. Considering particle pairs orbiting in the strong gravitational field of ultra-compact objects, we find that the violation of Bell inequality acquires an angular modulation factor that strongly depends on the nature of the gravitational source. We show how such gravitationally-induced modulation of quantum nonlocality readily discriminates between black holes (both classical and inclusive of quantum corrections) and string fuzzballs, i.e., the true quantum description of ultra-compact objects according to string theory. These findings promote Bell nonlocality as a potentially key tool in comparing different models of classical and quantum gravity and putting them to the test.

Abstract: Symmetries play an important role in fundamental physics. In gravity and field theories, particular attention has been paid to Weyl (or conformal) symmetry. However, once the theory contains a scalar field, conformal transformations of the metric can be considered a subclass of a more general type of transformation, so-called disformal transformation. Here, we investigate the implications of pure disformal symmetry in the Universe. We derive the form of general disformal invariant tensors from which we build the most general disformal invariant action. We argue that, in cosmology, disformal symmetry amounts to require that the lapse function is fully replaced by a (time-like) scalar field at the level of the action. We then show that disformal symmetry is in general an exactly equivalent formulation of general mimetic gravity. Lastly, we go beyond mimetic gravity and find that a particular class of invariance leads to seemingly Ostrogradski-like (with higher derivatives) Lagrangians, which are nevertheless absent of Ostrogradski ghosts in a cosmological background, despite having an additional degree of freedom. We also propose an application of our formalism to find new invertible disformal transformations, where the coefficient involves higher derivatives and curvature, further expanding the theory space of scalar-tensor theories.

Abstract: We investigate a cosmological model in which dark energy, represented by a quintessential scalar field, is coupled to a dark-matter perfect fluid in the spatially flat Friedmann-Robertson-Walker Universe. This allows an energy exchange in the dark sector which could happen both at early times before recombination era or at late times. We use the coupling function $Q=\gamma\rho_{dm}\dot{\varphi}$ which is induced by conformal transforming scalar-tensor and $f(R)$ gravity theories to Einstein frame. It is argued that there is a connection between this coupling function and $Q\propto \rho_{dm}H$. A dynamical analysis is used to show that there are early- and late-time attracting solutions for which the system evolves for a wide range of initial conditions. These attractors generalize the scaling solutions which have been already found in the non-interacting case.

Abstract: This study presents new three-dimensional traversable wormhole solutions sourced by the Casimir density and pressure related to the quantum vacuum fluctuations in Yang-Mills theory. First, we analyze the noninteracting Casimir effect with an arbitrary state parameter $\omega$ and determine a simple constant wormhole shape function. We introduce a new methodology for deforming the state parameter and find well-behaved redshift functions. The wormhole can be interpreted as a legitimate Casimir wormhole with an expected average state parameter of $\omega=2$. Then, we investigate the curvature properties, energy conditions, and stability of the wormholes, finding that they are stable only if the radius exceeds a specific value near the throat. Furthermore, we discover a new family of traversable wormhole solutions sourced by the quantum vacuum fluctuations of interacting (confined) Yang-Mills fields with a more complex shape function. Deforming the effective state parameter similarly, we obtain well-behaved redshift functions and wormhole solutions that depend on relevant parameters of the system. Notably, higher string tension results in a larger throat radius, potentially driven by an attempt to deconfine gluons and stretch the wormhole.