Geometrodynamics of variable-speed-of-light cosmologies

Bruce A. Bassett, Stefano Liberati, Carmen Molina-París, and Matt Visser
Phys. Rev. D 62, 103518 – Published 25 October 2000
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Abstract

Variable-speed-of-light (VSL) cosmologies are currently attracting interest as an alternative to inflation. We investigate the fundamental geometrodynamic aspects of VSL cosmologies and provide several implementations which do not explicitly break Lorentz invariance (no “hard” breaking). These “soft” implementations of Lorentz symmetry breaking provide particularly clean answers to the question “VSL with respect to what?.” The class of VSL cosmologies we consider are compatible with both classical Einstein gravity and low-energy particle physics. These models solve the “kinematic” puzzles of cosmology as well as inflation does, but cannot by themselves solve the flatness problem, since in their purest form no violation of the strong energy condition occurs. We also consider a heterotic model (VSL plus inflation) which provides a number of observational implications for the low-redshift universe if χ contributes to the “dark energy” either as CDM or quintessence. These implications include modified gravitational lensing, birefringence, variation of fundamental constants and rotation of the plane of polarization of light from distant sources.

  • Received 25 January 2000

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.62.103518

©2000 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Bruce A. Bassett1,2,*, Stefano Liberati3,4,†, Carmen Molina-París5,‡, and Matt Visser6,§

  • 1Relativity and Cosmology Group, Division of Mathematics and Statistics, Portsmouth University, PO1 2EG, England
  • 2Department of Theoretical Physics, University of Oxford, 1 Keble Road, OX1 3NP, England
  • 3International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Via Beirut 2–4, 34014 Trieste, Italy
  • 4Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN), sezione di Trieste, Italy
  • 5Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545
  • 6Physics Department, Washington University, Saint Louis, Missouri 63130-4899

  • *Electronic mail: bruce.bassett@port.ac.uk
  • Electronic mail: liberati@sissa.it
  • Also at Centro de Astrobiología, INTA, Carretera de Ajalvir Km. 4, 28850 Torrejón, Madrid, Spain. Electronic mail: carmen@t6-serv.lanl.gov
  • §Electronic mail: visser@kiwi.wustl.edu

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Issue

Vol. 62, Iss. 10 — 15 November 2000

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