Cosmology in Scalar-Tensor Gravity / Edition 1

by Valerio Faraoni

Overview

Cosmology in Scalar-Tensor Gravity covers all aspects of cosmology in scalar-tensor theories of gravity. Considerable progress has been made in this exciting area of physics and this book is the first to provide a critical overview of the research. Among the topics treated are:

-Scalar-tensor gravity and its limit to general relativity,

-Effective energy-momentum tensors and conformal frames,

-Gravitational waves in scalar-tensor cosmology,

-Specific scalar-tensor theories,

-Exact cosmological solutions and cosmological perturbations,

-Scalar-tensor scenarios of the early universe and inflation,

-Scalar-tensor models of quintessence in the present universe and their far-reaching consequences for the ultimate fate of the cosmos.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781402019883
Publisher:	Springer Netherlands
Publication date:	03/31/2004
Series:	Fundamental Theories of Physics , #139
Edition description:	2004
Pages:	274
Product dimensions:	6.40(w) x 9.50(h) x 0.80(d)

Table of Contents

1. Scalar-Tensor Gravity.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Brans-Dicke theory.- 3 Brans-Dicke cosmology in the Jordan frame.- 4 The limit to general relativity.- 5 Relation to Kaluza-Klein theory.- 6 Brans-Dicke theory from Lyra’s geometry.- 7 Scalar-tensor theories.- 8 Motivations for scalar-tensor theories.- 9 Induced gravity.- 10 Generalized scalar-tensor theories.- 11 Conformal transformation techniques.- 12 Singularities of the gravitational coupling.- 2. Effective Energy-Momentum Tensors and Conformal Frames.- 1 The issue of the conformal frame.- 2 Effective energy-momentum tensors.- 3. Gravitational Waves.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Einstein frame scalar-tensor waves.- 3 Gravitational lensing by scalar-tensor gravitational waves.- 4. Exact Solutions of Scalar-Tensor Cosmology.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Exact solutions of Brans-Dicke cosmology.- 2.2 K = ±1 solutions and phase space for V = 0.- 2.3 Phase space for any K and V = m2ø2/2.- 2.4 Bianchi models.- 3 Exact solutions of scalar-tensor theories.- 5. The Early Universe.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Extended inflation.- 3 Hyperextended inflation.- 4 Real inflation?.- 5 Constraints from primordial nucleosynthesis.- 6. Perturbations.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Scalar perturbations.- 3 Tensor perturbations.- 7. Nonminimal Coupling.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Effective energy-momentum tensors.- 3 Conformal transformations.- 4 Inflation and— 0: the unperturbed universe.- 5 The slow-roll regime of generalized inflation.- 6 Inflation and— 0: perturbations.- 7 Conclusion.- 8. The Present Universe.- 1 Present acceleration of the universe and quintessence.- 2 Quintessence with nonminimal coupling.- 3 Superquintessence.- 4 Quintessence in scalar-tensor gravity.- 5 Conclusion.- References.

Editorial Reviews

From the reviews:

"The book is devoted to some class of gravitational theories which are alternatives to Einstein’s general relativity. … The book is fairly complete on its themes. The list of references has 925 entries; many citations are of the years 2000-2003. The book is both, a useful survey and a contribution to current discussions." (Rainer Schimming, Zentralblatt MATH, Vol. 1057 (8), 2005)

"The main topic of this book is to give an overview about such generalized scalar-tensor theories which represent gravitation … . The list of 925 references presents a well-balanced source for research in this field. … Finally, let me say, that the present book … is recommended to research libraries … ." (Hans Jürgen Schmidt, General Relativity and Gravitation, Vol. 37 (8), 2005)

From the Publisher