The cosmology of quadratic torsionful gravity

We study the cosmology of a quadratic metric-compatible torsionful gravity theory in the presence of a perfect hyperfluid. The gravitational action is an extension of the Einstein–Cartan theory given by the usual Einstein–Hilbert contribution plus all the admitted quadratic parity even torsion scalars and the matter action also exhibits a dependence on the connection. The equations of motion are obtained by regarding the metric and the metric-compatible torsionful connection as independent variables. We then consider a Friedmann–Lemaître–Robertson–Walker background, analyze the conservation laws, and derive the torsion modified Friedmann equations for our theory. Remarkably, we are able to provide exact analytic solutions for the torsionful cosmology.

Gauge-field-induced torsion and cosmic inflation

In this paper, inflation in the framework of Einstein–Cartan theory is revisited. Einstein–Cartan theory is a natural extension of the General Relativity with nonvanishing torsion. The connection on Riemann–Cartan space–time is only compatible with the cosmological principal for a particular form of torsion. We also show this form to be compatible with gauge invariance principle for non-Abelian and Abelian gauge fields under a certain deviced coupling procedure. We adopt an Abelian gauge field in the form of “cosmic triad”. The dynamical field equations are obtained and shown to sustain cosmic inflation with a large number of e-folds. We emphasize that at the end of inflation, torsion vanishes and the theory of Einstein–Cartan reduces to the General Relativity with the usual FRW geometry.

The Mixed Scalar Curvature of Almost-Product Metric-Affine Manifolds, II

We continue our study of the mixed Einstein–Hilbert action as a functional of a pseudo-Riemannian metric and a linear connection. Its geometrical part is the total mixed scalar curvature on a smooth manifold endowed with a distribution or a foliation. We develop variational formulas for quantities of extrinsic geometry of a distribution on a metric-affine space and use them to derive Euler–Lagrange equations (which in the case of space-time are analogous to those in Einstein–Cartan theory) and to characterize critical points of this action on vacuum space-time. Together with arbitrary variations of metric and connection, we consider also variations that partially preserve the metric, e.g., along the distribution, and also variations among distinguished classes of connections (e.g., statistical and metric compatible, and this is expressed in terms of restrictions on contorsion tensor). One of Euler–Lagrange equations of the mixed Einstein–Hilbert action is an analog of the Cartan spin connection equation, and the other can be presented in the form similar to the Einstein equation, with Ricci curvature replaced by the new Ricci type tensor. This tensor generally has a complicated form, but is given in the paper explicitly for variations among semi-symmetric connections.

General Relativity and the AKSZ Construction

In this note the AKSZ construction is applied to the BFV description of the reduced phase space of the Einstein–Hilbert and of the Palatini–Cartan theories in every space-time dimension greater than two. In the former case one obtains a BV theory for the first-order formulation of Einstein–Hilbert theory, in the latter a BV theory for Palatini–Cartan theory with a partial implementation of the torsion-free condition already on the space of fields. All theories described here are BV versions of the same classical system on cylinders. The AKSZ implementations we present have the advantage of yielding a compatible BV–BFV description, which is the required starting point for a quantization in presence of a boundary.

Spin tensor and pseudo-gauges: from nuclear collisions to gravitational physics

The relativistic treatment of spin is a fundamental subject which has an old history. In various physical contexts it is necessary to separate the relativistic total angular momentum into an orbital and spin contribution. However, such decomposition is affected by ambiguities since one can always redefine the orbital and spin part through the so-called pseudo-gauge transformations. We analyze this problem in detail by discussing the most common choices of energy-momentum and spin tensors with an emphasis on their physical implications, and study the spin vector which is a pseudo-gauge invariant operator. We review the angular momentum decomposition as a crucial ingredient for the formulation of relativistic spin hydrodynamics and quantum kinetic theory with a focus on relativistic nuclear collisions, where spin physics has recently attracted significant attention. Furthermore, we point out the connection between pseudo-gauge transformations and the different definitions of the relativistic center of inertia. Finally, we consider the Einstein–Cartan theory, an extension of conventional general relativity, which allows for a natural definition of the spin tensor.

Weyssenhoff Fluid Sphere Models in Einstein-Cartan Theory

We obtain three models for Geodesic flows and three models for Non-Geodesic flows of Weyssenhoff fluid considering it as the source of gravitation and spin in the Einstein-Cartan field equations. Influence of spin on the pressure, density, equation of state and the kinematical parameters is observed in both geodesic and non-geodesic models.