Disformal invariance of second order scalar-tensor theories: Framing the Horndeski action

[EN] The Horndeski action is the most general one involving a metric and a scalar field that leads to second-order field equations in four dimensions. Being the natural extension of the well-known scalar-tensor theories, its structure and properties are worth analyzing along the experience accumulat...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Bettoni, Dario (1983-), Liberati, Stefano
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión aceptada para publicación
Fecha de publicación:2013
País:España
Institución:Universidad Rey Juan Carlos
Repositorio:BULERIA. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de León
OAI Identifier:oai:buleria.unileon.es:10612/18097
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10612/18097
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Física
Gravitación modificada
Gravitación
Horndeski theory
Scalar-tensor gravity
2101.05 Gravitación
Descripción
Sumario:[EN] The Horndeski action is the most general one involving a metric and a scalar field that leads to second-order field equations in four dimensions. Being the natural extension of the well-known scalar-tensor theories, its structure and properties are worth analyzing along the experience accumulated in the latter context. Here, we argue that disformal transformations play, for the Horndeski theory, a similar role to that of conformal transformations for scalar-tensor theories a là Brans–Dicke. We identify the most general transformation preserving second-order field equations and discuss the issue of viable frames for this kind of theory, in particular, the possibility to cast the action in the so-called Einstein frame. Interestingly, we find that only for a subset of the Horndeski Lagrangian such a frame exists. Finally, we investigate the transformation properties of such frames under field redefinitions and frame transformations and their reciprocal relationship.