Multiscalar-Metric Gravity: Cosmological Constant Screening and Emergence of Massive-Graviton Dark Components of the Universe

Abstract

In the multiscalar-metric frameworks, the issues of the vacuum energy/cosmological constant (CC) screening due to Weyl-scale enhancement of the Diff gauge symmetry, along with emergence of the massive dark gravity components through the gravitational Higgs mechanism are considered. A generic dark gravity model is developed, with two extreme versions of the model of particular interest based on general relativity (GR) and its classically equivalent Weyl transverse alternative, being compared and argued to be, generally, inequivalent. The so constructed spontaneously broken Weyl Transverse Relativity (WTR) is proposed as a viable beyond-GR effective field theory of gravity, with screening of the Lagrangian CC, superseded by the induced one, and emergence of the massive tensor and scalar gravitons as dark gravity components. A basic concept with the spontaneously broken Diff gauge symmetry/relativity—in particular, WTR vs. GR—as a principle source of the emergent dark gravity components of the Universe is put forward.