General second-order scalar-tensor theory and self-tuning

Starting from the most general scalar-tensor theory with second-order field equations in four dimensions, we establish the unique action that will allow for the existence of a consistent self-tuning mechanism on Friedmann-Lemaître-Robertson-Walker backgrounds, and show how it can be understood as a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physical review letters 2012-01, Vol.108 (5), p.051101-051101, Article 051101
Main Authors: Charmousis, Christos, Copeland, Edmund J, Padilla, Antonio, Saffin, Paul M
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:Starting from the most general scalar-tensor theory with second-order field equations in four dimensions, we establish the unique action that will allow for the existence of a consistent self-tuning mechanism on Friedmann-Lemaître-Robertson-Walker backgrounds, and show how it can be understood as a combination of just four base Lagrangians with an intriguing geometric structure dependent on the Ricci scalar, the Einstein tensor, the double dual of the Riemann tensor, and the Gauss-Bonnet combination. Spacetime curvature can be screened from the net cosmological constant at any given moment because we allow the scalar field to break Poincaré invariance on the self-tuning vacua, thereby evading the Weinberg no-go theorem. We show how the four arbitrary functions of the scalar field combine in an elegant way opening up the possibility of obtaining nontrivial cosmological solutions.
ISSN:0031-9007
1079-7114
DOI:10.1103/physrevlett.108.051101