Georgios Kofinas

Dynamical behavior in f (T, TG) cosmology

The class of gravitational modification, based on the quadratic torsion scalar T as well as on the new quartic torsion scalar TG, which is the teleparallel equivalent of the Gauss–Bonnet term, is a novel theory, different from both f (T) and ones. We perform a detailed dynamical analysis of a spatially flat universe governed by the simplest non-trivial model of gravity which does not introduce a new mass scale. We find that the universe can result in dark-energy dominated, quintessence-like, cosmological-constant-like, or phantom-like solutions, according to the parameter choices. Additionally, it may result in a dark energy–dark matter scaling solution; thus it can alleviate the coincidence problem. Finally, the analysis at infinity reveals that the universe may exhibit future, past, or intermediate singularities, depending on the parameters.

Conformal mass in AdS gravity

We show that the Ashtekar-Magnon-Das mass and other conserved quantities are equivalent to the Kounterterm charges in the asymptotically anti-de Sitter space-times that satisfy the Einstein equations, if we assume the same asymptotic falloff behavior of the Weyl tensor as considered by Ashtekar, Magnon, and Das. This, therefore, implies that, in all dimensions, the conformal mass can be directly derived from the bulk action and the boundary terms, which are written in terms of the extrinsic curvature.

Modified Brans–Dicke cosmology with matter-scalar field interaction

We discuss the cosmological implications of an extended Brans-Dicke theory presented recently, in which there is an energy exchange between the scalar field and ordinary matter, determined by the theory. A new mass scale is generated in the theory which modifies the Friedmann equations with field-dependent corrected kinetic terms. In a radiation universe the general solutions are found and there are branches with complete removal of the initial singularity, while at the same time a transient accelerating period can occur within deceleration. Entropy production is also possible in the early universe. In the dust era, late-times acceleration has been found numerically in agreement with the correct behaviour of the density parameters and the dark energy equation of state, while the gravitational constant has only a slight variation over a large redshift interval in agreement with observational bounds.

Efficient electroweak baryogenesis by black holes

A novel cosmological scenario, capable to generate the observed baryon number at the electroweak scale for very small CP violating angles, is presented. The proposed mechanism can be applied in conventional FRW cosmology, but becomes extremely efficient due to accretion in the context of early cosmic expansion with high energy modifications. Assuming that our universe is a Randall-Sundrum brane, baryon asymmetry can easily be produced by Hawking radiation of very small primordial black holes. The Hawking radiation reheats a spherical region around every black hole to a high temperature and the electroweak symmetry is restored there. A domain wall is formed separating the region with the symmetric vacuum from the asymmetric region where electroweak baryogenesis takes place. First order phase transition is not needed. The black holess lifetime is prolonged due to accretion, resulting to strong efficiency of the baryon producing mechanism. The allowed by the mechanism black hole mass range includes masses that are energetically favoured to be produced from interactions around the higher dimensional Planck scale.

Asymptotically safe gravity and nonsingular inflationary big bang with vacuum birth

General nonsingular accelerating cosmological solutions for an initial cosmic period of pure vacuum birth era are derived. This vacuum era is described by a varying cosmological ``constant suggested by the renormalization group flow of asymptotic safety scenario near the ultraviolet fixed point. In this scenario, a natural exit from inflation to the standard decelerating cosmology occurs when the energy scale lowers and the cosmological constant becomes insignificant. In the following period where matter is also present, cosmological solutions with characteristics similar to the vacuum case are generated. Remarkably the set of equations allows for particle production and entropy generation. Alternatively, in the case of nonzero bulk viscosity, entropy production and reheating is found. As for the equations of motion, they modify Einstein equations by adding covariant kinetic terms of the cosmological constant which respect the Bianchi identities. An advance of the proposed framework is that it ensures a consistent description of both a quantum vacuum birth of the universe and a subsequent cosmic era in the presence of matter.

On the action of the complete Brans–Dicke theory

Recently the most general completion of Brans–Dicke theory has appeared with energy exchanged between the scalar field and ordinary matter, given that the equation of motion for the scalar field keeps the simple wave form of Brans–Dicke. This class of theories contain undetermined functions, but there exist only three theories which are unambiguously determined from consistency. Here, for the first such theory, the action of the vacuum theory is found, which arises as the limit of the full matter theory. A symmetry transformation of this vacuum action in the Jordan frame is found which consists of a conformal transformation of the metric together with a redefinition of the scalar field. Since the general family of vacuum theories is parametrized by an arbitrary function of the scalar field, the action of this family is also found. As for the full theory with matter the action of the system is only found when the matter Lagrangian vanishes on-shell, as for example for pressureless dust. Due to the interaction, the matter Lagrangian is non-minimally coupled either in the Jordan or the Einstein frame.

Avoidance of singularities in asymptotically safe Quantum Einstein Gravity

New general spherically symmetric solutions have been derived with a cosmological constant Lambda as a source. This Lambda field is not constant but it satisfies the properties of the asymptotically safe gravity at the ultraviolet fixed point. The importance of these solutions comes from the fact that they describe the near to the centre region of black hole spacetimes as this is modified by the Renormalization Group scaling behaviour of the fields. The consistent set of field equations which respect the Bianchi identities is derived and solved. One of the solutions (with conventional sign of temporal-radial metric components) is timelike geodesically complete, and although there is still a curvature divergent origin, this is never approachable by an infalling massive particle which is reflected at a finite distance due to the repulsive origin. Another family of solutions (of both signatures) range from a finite radius outwards, they cannot be extended to the centre of spherical symmetry, and the curvature invariants are finite at the minimum radius.

5-dimensional braneworld with gravitating Nambu-Goto matching conditions

Abstract We continue the investigation of a recent proposal on alternative matching conditions for self-gravitating defects which generalize the standard matching conditions. The reasoning for this study is the need for consistency of the various codimension defects and the existence of a meaningful equation of motion at the probe limit, things that seem to lack from the standard approach. These matching conditions arise by varying the brane–bulk action with respect to the brane embedding fields (and not with respect to the bulk metric at the brane position) in a way that takes into account the gravitational back-reaction of the brane to the bulk. They always possess a Nambu–Goto probe limit and any codimension defect is seemingly consistent for any second order bulk gravity theory. Here, we consider in detail the case of a codimension-1 brane in five-dimensional Einstein gravity, derive the generic alternative junction conditions and find the Z 2 -symmetric braneworld cosmology, as well as its bulk extension. Compared to the standard braneworld cosmology, the new one has an extra integration constant which accounts for the today matter and dark energy contents, therefore, there is more freedom for accommodating the observed cosmic features. One branch of the solution possesses the asymptotic linearized LFRW regime. We have constrained the parameters so that to have a recent passage from a long deceleration era to a small today acceleration epoch and we have computed the age of the universe, consistent with current data, and the time-varying dark energy equation of state. For a range of the parameters it is possible for the presented cosmology to provide a large acceleration in the high energy regime.

Singularities and Phenomenological aspects of Asymptotic Safe Gravity

Asymptotic Safety (AS) Program for quantum gravity keeps the same fields and symmetries with General Relativity and studies the associated gravitational action as a fundamental part of the complete theory at the nonperturbative level with the help of functional renormalization group (RG) techniques. An important phenomenological task that can test the new point of view of AS approach is the discovery of RG improved cosmologies and black holes. In this work, we analyze the properties of recently found non-singular spherically symmetric and non-singular cosmological solutions. Furthermore, we derive a novel consistent set of modified Einstein field equations, in the spirit of AS, which respects the Bianchi identities. This new set of equations extend previously published modified Einstein equations which arise by adding appropriate covariant kinetic terms to the action.