Linking the Baum-Hawking-Coleman mechanism with unimodular gravity and Vilenkin's probability flux
OA Location
Author(s)
Page, James
Magueijo, Joao
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
We revisit a mechanism proposed by Hawking to resolve the cosmological constant problem (and the controversy it generated) to identify possibly more palatable alternatives and explore new connections and interpretations. In particular, through the introduction of a new action coupling the four-form field strength F = dA to the cosmological constant via a dynamical field λ(x), a novel Baum-Hawking-Coleman type mechanism is presented. This mechanism can be seen as a generalisation of Unimodular Gravity. A theory with a similar coupling to "F2" is also presented, with promising results. We show how in such theories the 3-form is closely related to the Chern-Simons density, and its associated definition of time. On the interpretational front, we propose a method avoiding the standard Euclidean action prescription, which makes use of Vilenkin's probability flux.
Date Issued
2021-08-01
Date Acceptance
2021-07-25
Citation
Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics, 2021, 2021 (8), pp.1-14
ISSN
1475-7516
Publisher
IOP Publishing
Start Page
1
End Page
14
Journal / Book Title
Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
Volume
2021
Issue
8
Copyright Statement
© 2021 IOP Publishing Ltd and Sissa Medialab
Identifier
https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000686656000020&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=a2bf6146997ec60c407a63945d4e92bb
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Physics, Particles & Fields
Physics
modified gravity
quantum cosmology
dark energy theory
gravity
COSMOLOGICAL CONSTANT
QUANTUM-GRAVITY
ZERO
PROOF
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
ARTN 034
Date Publish Online
2021-08-16