General Covariance Research Articles

On local geometric properties of a tokamak equilibrium

To separate the complexities in plasma physics and geometric effects, compact formulas for local geometric properties of a tokamak equilibrium are presented in this paper. They are written in a form similar to the Frenet formulas. All of the geometric quantities are expressed in terms of curvature and torsion of the three spatial curves for the moving local frame of reference, i.e., local orthogonal vector basis. In this representation, the local magnetic shear and the normalized parallel current are just the differences between two torsions of the vector basis. All of the geometric properties are coordinate invariants and form a prime set of quantities for describing tokamak plasma equilibrium. This prime set can be evaluated in both flux coordinates with closed flux surfaces and cylindrical coordinates including areas with open field lines, which may allow the extension of some analysis on the open field lines outside the last closed surface. Fundamental differential operators for stability and transport studies can be expressed explicitly in terms of these geometric properties. It can also be used to simplify analytic studies.

The dynamics of vacuum, gravity and matter: Implications on the fundamental constants

The possibility that the vacuum energy density (VED) [Formula: see text] could be time dependent in the expanding Universe is intuitively more reasonable than just a rigid cosmological constant for the entire cosmic history. The dynamics of [Formula: see text] as a function of the Hubble rate, [Formula: see text], most likely contributes to alleviate cosmological problems and tensions, having also implications on the so-called fundamental ‘constants’ of Nature, which should be slowly drifting with the cosmic expansion owing to the fluctuations of the quantum vacuum. This includes the gravitational ‘constant’ G, but also the gauge and Yukawa couplings as well as the particle masses themselves (both of dark matter and baryonic matter). The subtle exchange of energy involved is the basis for the “micro and macro connection”. Herein, I discuss not only this connection as a possibility but also show that it is in fact a generic prediction of QFT in cosmological spacetime which is fully compatible with general covariance. This fact has not been pointed out until recently when an appropriate renormalization framework for the VED has been found which is free from the usual conundrums associated with the cosmological constant problem.

On n-Dimensional Maxwell and Dirac Equations in Curved Space-Time and Its Applications in SO(P,Q) Group Theoretic Image Processing

Maxwell equations in p time and q spatial dimensions are formulated. Properties of the Green’s function for the associated (p,q)-wave operator are derived based on contour integration. The notions of electric and magnetic fields in (p,q)-dimensions is explored by analogy with four dimensional physics and the problem of far field computation of the radiation field generated by charges and currents in \((1,n-1)\) space-time is analyzed. SO(p,q) invariance properties of the Maxwell equations are deduced and used to formulate SO(p,q)-group theoretic image processing problems in (p,q)-dimensions. Dirac’s equation in (p,q)-dimensional space-time is derived using the Clifford algebra of the Dirac gamma matrices. SO(p,q)-invariance of the Dirac equation based on the spinor representation of \(SO(p,q)\) is mentioned. The Maxwell’s equations in (p,q)-dimensional curved space-time is analyzed using perturbation theory in the context of maximally symmetric spaces which play a fundamental role in \((p,q)\)-dimensional cosmological models for homogeneous and isotropic spaces. The Einstein-Maxwell equations for (p,q)-dimensional gravity and electromagnetism is studied and used to derive the equations of motion of point charges carrying mass moving under mutual gravitational and electromagnetic interactions in general relativity. Finally, Dirac’s equation in (p,q)-dimensional curved space-time interacting with the (p,q)-dimensional electromagnetic field is looked at. \(U(1)\)-Gauge, local SO(p,q) Lorentz and diffeomorphism invariance of this equation is analyzed. Local \(SO(p,q)\) invariance of the curved space-time Dirac equation is deduced based on transformation properties of the Dirac matrices under the spinor representation. The appendix presents some applications of group representation theoretic statistical image processing on a manifold to the situation when the image field is described by the six component electromagnetic field tensor on which the Lorentz group acts.

A New 2D Formulation of Modified General Relativity

AbstractIt is well known that the Einstein–Hilbert action in two dimensions is topological and yields an identically vanishing Einstein tensor. Consequently one is faced with difficulties when formulating a non‐trivial gravity model. The authors present a new, intrinsically two‐dimensional, approach to this problem based on the Einstein action. This yields a well defined variational approach which results in new field equations that break diffeomorphism invariance. This proposed approach does not require the introduction of additional scalar fields, nor the use of conformal transformations. However, how including conformal counter terms leads to equivalent results is shown. In doing so, an explanation for why previous approaches worked can be provided. Solutions to the field equations are briefly discussed.

Emergent modified gravity

A complete canonical formulation of general covariance makes it possible to construct new modified theories of gravity that are not of higher-curvature form, as shown here in a spherically symmetric setting. The usual uniqueness theorems are evaded by using a crucial and novel ingredient, allowing for fundamental fields of gravity distinct from an emergent space-time metric that provides a geometrical structure to all solutions. As specific examples, there are new expansion-shear couplings in cosmological models, a form of modified Newtonian dynamics can appear in a space-time covariant theory without introducing extra fields, and related effects help to make effective models of canonical quantum gravity fully consistent with general covariance.

Dirac–Bergmann analysis and degrees of freedom of coincident f(Q)-gravity

We investigate the propagating degrees of freedom of f(Q)-gravity in a 4-dimensional space-time under the imposition of the coincident gauge by performing the Dirac–Bergmann analysis. In this work, we start with a top-down reconstruction of the metric-affine gauge theory of gravity based only on the concept of a vector bundle. Then, the so-called geometrical trinity of gravity is introduced and the role of the coincident GR is clarified. After that, we reveal relationships between the boundary terms in the variational principle and the symplectic structure of the theory in order to confirm the validity of the analysis for our studied theories. Then, as examples, we revisit the analysis of GR and its f(R∘)\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$f({\\mathop {R}\\limits ^{\\circ }})$$\\end{document}-extensions. Finally, after reviewing the Dirac–Bergmann analysis of the coincident GR and that of f(T)-gravity, we perform the analysis of coincident f(Q)-gravity. Under the imposition of appropriate spatial boundary conditions, we find that, as a generic case, the theory has five primary, three secondary, and two tertiary constraint densities and all these constraint densities are classified into second-class constraint density; the number six is the propagating degrees of freedom of the theory and there are no longer any remaining gauge degrees of freedom. We also discuss the condition of providing seven pDoF as a generic case. The violation of diffeomorphism invariance of coincident f(Q)-gravity make it possible to emerge such several sectors.

Tensor gauge fields and dark matter in general relativity with fermions

The action of general relativity with fermions has two independent symmetries: general coordinate invariance and local Lorentz invariance. General coordinate transformations act on coordinates and tensor indices, while local Lorentz transformations act on Dirac and Lorentz indices, much like a noncompact internal symmetry.The internal-symmetry character of local Lorentz invariance suggests that it might be implemented by tensor gauge fields with their own Yang–Mills action rather than by the spin connection as in standard formulations. But because the Lorentz group is noncompact, their Yang–Mills action must be modified by a neutral vector field whose average value at low temperatures is timelike. This vector field and the tensor gauge fields are neutral and interact gravitationally, so they contribute to hot and cold dark matter.The two independent symmetries of the action are reduced to a single symmetry of the vacuum, local Lorentz invariance, by the nonzero average values of the tetrads cka . The local Lorentz invariance of general relativity with fermions can be extended to local U(2, 2) invariance.If the contracted squares of the covariant derivatives of the tetrads multiplied by the square of a mass M are added to the action, then in the limit M 2 → ∞ , the equation of motion of the tensor gauge fields is the vanishing of the covariant derivatives of the tetrads, which is Cartan’s first equation of structure. In the same limit, the tensor gauge fields approach the spin connection.

TIME-VARYING PARAMETER REGRESSIONS WITH STATIONARY PERSISTENT DATA

We consider local level and local linear estimators for estimation and inference in time-varying parameter (TVP) regressions with general stationary covariates. The latter estimator also yields estimates for parameter derivatives that are utilized for the development of time invariance tests for the regression coefficients. Our theoretical framework is general enough to allow for a wide range of stationary regressors, including stationary long memory. We demonstrate that neglecting time variation in the regression parameters has a range of adverse effects in inference, in particular, when regressors exhibit long-range dependence. For instance, parametric tests diverge under the null hypothesis when the memory order is strictly positive. The finite sample performance of the methods developed is investigated with the aid of a simulation experiment. The proposed methods are employed for exploring the predictability of SP500 returns by realized variance. We find evidence of time variability in the intercept as well as episodic predictability when realized variance is utilized as a predictor in TVP specifications.

General covariance and dynamics with a Gauss law

General covariance and dynamics with a Gauss law

Perturbative RG flows in AdS. An étude

We discuss general properties of perturbative RG flows in AdS with a focus on the treatment of boundary conditions and infrared divergences. In contrast with flat-space boundary QFT, general covariance in AdS implies the absence of independent boundary flows. We illustrate how boundary correlation functions remain conformally covariant even if the bulk QFT has a scale. We apply our general discussion to the RG flow between consecutive unitary diagonal minimal models which is triggered by the ϕ(1,3) operator. For these theories we conjecture a flow diagram whose form is significantly simpler than that in flat-space boundary QFT. In several stand-alone appendices we discuss two-dimensional BCFTs in general and the minimal model BCFTs in particular. These include both an extensive review as well as the computation of several new BCFT correlation functions.

Quantization of Weyl invariant unimodular gravity with antisymmetric ghost fields

The enforcement of the unimodularity condition in a gravity theory by means of a Lagrange multiplier leads, in general, to inconsistencies upon quantization. This is so, in particular, when the classic linear splitting of the metric between the background and quantum fields is used. To avoid the need of introducing such a Lagrange multiplier while using the classic linear splitting, we carry out the quantization of unimodular gravity with extra Weyl symmetry by using Becchi–Rouet–Stora–Tyutin (BRST) techniques. Here, two gauge symmetries are to be gauge-fixed: transverse diffeomorphisms and Weyl transformations. We perform the gauge-fixing of the transverse diffeomorphism invariance by using BRST transformations that involve antisymmetric ghost fields. We show that these BRST transformations are compatible with the BRST transformations needed to gauge-fix the Weyl symmetry, so that they can be combined in a set of transformations generated by a single BRST operator. Newton’s law of gravitation is derived within the BRST formalism we put forward as well as the Slavnov–Taylor equation.

On the Hole Argument and the Physical Interpretation of General Relativity

Einstein presented the Hole Argument against General Covariance, understood as invariance with respect to a change in coordinates, as a consequence of his initial failure to obtain covariant equations that, in the weak static limit, contain Newton’s law. Fortunately, about two years later, Einstein returned to General Covariance, and found these famous equations of gravity. However, the rejection of his Hole Argument carries a totally different vision of space-time. Its substantivalism notion, which is an essential ingredient in Newtonian theory and also in his special theory of relativity, has to be replaced, following Descartes and Leibniz’s relationalism, by a set of “point-coincidences”.

Diffeomorphism Covariance and the Quantum Schwarzschild Interior

We introduce a notion of residual diffeomorphism covariance in quantum Kantowski–Sachs (KS) describing the interior of a Schwarzschild black hole. We solve for the family of Hamiltonian constraint operators satisfying the associated covariance condition, as well as parity invariance, preservation of the Bohr Hilbert space of the Loop Quantum KS and a correct (naïve) classical limit. We further explore the imposition of minimality for the number of terms and compare the solution with those of other Hamiltonian constraints proposed for the Loop Quantum KS in the literature. In particular, we discuss a lapse that was recently commonly chosen due to the resulting decoupling of the evolution of the two degrees of freedom and the exact solubility of the model. We show that such a choice of lapse can indeed be quantized as an operator that is densely defined on the Bohr Hilbert space and that any such operator must include an infinite number of shift operators.

Scattering amplitudes of massive spin-2 Kaluza-Klein states with matter

We perform a comprehensive analysis of the scattering of matter and gravitational Kaluza-Klein (KK) modes in five-dimensional gravity theories. We consider matter localized on a brane as well as in the bulk of the extra dimension for scalars, fermions and vectors respectively, and consider an arbitrary warped background. While naive power counting suggests that there are amplitudes which grow as fast as O(s3) [where s is the center-of-mass scattering energy squared], we demonstrate that cancellations between the various contributions result in a total amplitude which grows no faster than O(s). Extending previous work on the self-interactions of the gravitational KK modes, we show that these cancellations occur due to sum-rule relations between the couplings and the masses of the modes that can be proven from the properties of the mode equations describing the gravity and matter wave functions. We demonstrate that these properties are tied to the underlying diffeomorphism invariance of the five-dimensional theory. We discuss how our results generalize when the size of the extra dimension is stabilized via the Goldberger-Wise mechanism. Our conclusions are of particular relevance for freeze-out and freeze-in relic abundance calculations for dark matter models including a spin-2 portal arising from an underlying five-dimensional theory. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

A longitudinal exploration of self-reported TV behaviours as a surrogate for sedentary behaviour in older adults with an intellectual disability from the intellectual disability supplement to the Irish longitudinal study on aging (IDS-TILDA) study.

This study presents the findings of an investigation into the self-reported TV habits of adults with an intellectual disability, where time watching TV was used as a proxy for sedentary behaviour (SB). Risk factors identified for the general and intellectual disability populations and standard covariates of age, sex, level of intellectual disability, living circumstances and BMI were explored to determine their viability as contributors to increased TV viewing and SB. Missing data was imputed using Multiple Imputation Chained Equation (MICE). Multinomial logistic regression and Chi-squared Automatic Interaction Detector Analysis (CHAID) analyses of risk factors for increased TV viewing were explored and compared. The Systems of Sedentary Behaviour (SOS) framework was used to structure results. Novel risk factors for increased TV viewing were identified.

Charged Lifshitz black holes from general covariance breaking

In this work we use a general covariance breaking mechanism to obtain a class of charged black holes whose background geometry asymptotically approaches Lifshitz spacetimes. We discuss how this method affects Einstein’s equations and explore the thermodynamics and critical behavior of the solution found.

Discrepancy of coordinate system selection in backscattering Mueller matrix polarimetry: exploring photon coordinate system transformation invariants.

In biomedical studies, Mueller matrix polarimetry is gaining increasing attention because it can comprehensively characterize polarization-related vectorial properties of the sample, which are crucial for microstructural identification and evaluation. For backscattering Mueller matrix polarimetry, there are two photon coordinate selection conventions, which can affect the following Mueller matrix parameters calculation and information acquisition quantitatively. In this study, we systematically analyze the influence of photon coordinate system selection on the backscattering Mueller matrix polarimetry. We compare the Mueller matrix elements in the right-handed-nonunitary and non-right-handed-unitary coordinate systems, and specifically deduce the changes of Mueller matrix polar decomposition, Mueller matrix Cloude decomposition and Mueller matrix transformation parameters widely used in backscattering Mueller matrix imaging as the photon coordinate system varied. Based on the theoretical analysis and phantom experiments, we provide a group of photon coordinate system transformation invariants for backscattering Mueller matrix polarimetry. The findings presented in this study give a crucial criterion of parameters selection for backscattering Mueller matrix imaging under different photon coordinate systems.

Diffeomorphism invariance and quantum mechanical paradoxes

Paradoxes in gravitational physics, such as grandfather paradoxes with closed timelike curves or the AMPS paradox, are often constructed in a weak gravity regime but upon further examination engender strong gravitational responses such as unstable Cauchy horizons or firewalls. In contrast, some proposed paradoxes in nonrelativistic quantum mechanics ignore gravity completely. Such nonrelativistic proposed paradoxes are often not gauge invariant — they use local operators which should be forbidden by diffeomorphism-invariant quantum gravity. Ignoring this complication is reasonable if there is a consistent weak gravity regime where the paradox can be formulated with gauge invariant observables up to some order in Newton’s constant. We show that this approach remains inconsistent due to a lack of analyticity of the necessary solutions. As a consequence, there is no consistent weak gravity, diffeomorphism invariant embedding of such paradoxes—just as in other gravitational paradoxes they generate a strong gravitational response and are in principle sensitive to quantum gravity.

Asymptotic covariances for functionals of weakly stationary random fields

Let (Ax)x∈Rd be a measurable, weakly stationary random field, i.e. E[Ax]=E[Ay], Cov(Ax,Ay)=K(x−y), ∀x,y∈Rd, with covariance function K:Rd→R.Assuming only that the integral covariance functionwt≔∫{|z|≤t}K(z)dz is regularly varying (which encompasses the classical assumptions found in the literature), we compute limt→∞Cov∫tDAxdxtd/2wt1/2,∫tLAydytd/2wt1/2 for D,L⊆Rd belonging to a certain class of compact sets.As an application, we combine this result with existing limit theorems to obtain multi-dimensional limit theorems for non-linear functionals of stationary Gaussian fields, in particular proving new results for the Berry’s random wave model. At the end of the paper, we also show how the problem for A with a general continuous covariance function K can be reduced to the same problem for a radial, continuous covariance function Kiso.The novel ideas of this work are mainly based on regularity conditions for (cross) covariograms of Euclidean sets and standard properties of regularly varying functions.

Universality of loop corrected soft theorems in 4d

In [1], logarithmic correction to subleading soft photon and soft graviton theorems have been derived in four spacetime dimensions from the ratio of IR-finite S-matrices. This has been achieved after factoring out IR-divergent components from the traditional electromagnetic and gravitational S-matrices using Grammer-Yennie prescription. Although the loop corrected subleading soft theorems are derived from one-loop scattering amplitudes involving scalar particles in a minimally coupled theory with scalar contact interaction, it has been conjectured that the soft factors are universal (theory independent) and one-loop exact (don’t receive corrections from higher loops).This paper extends the analysis conducted in [1] to encompass general spinning particle scattering with non-minimal couplings permitted by gauge invariance and general coordinate invariance. By re-deriving the ln ω soft factors in this generic setup, we establish their universal nature. Furthermore, we summarize the results of loop corrected soft photon and graviton theorems up to sub-subleading order, which follows from the analysis of one and two loop QED and quantum gravity S-matrices. While the classical versions of these soft factors have already been derived in the literature, we put forth conjectures regarding the quantum soft factors and outline potential strategies for their derivation.