The first variation of the matter energy-momentum tensor with respect to the metric, and its implications on modified gravity theories

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Haghani, Zahra, Harko, Tiberiu, Shahidi, Shahab
Format: Preprint
Published: 2023
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author Haghani, Zahra
Harko, Tiberiu
Shahidi, Shahab
author_facet Haghani, Zahra
Harko, Tiberiu
Shahidi, Shahab
contents The first order variation of the matter energy-momentum tensor $T_{μν}$ with respect to the metric tensor $g^{αβ}$ plays an important role in modified gravity theories with geometry-matter coupling, and in particular in the $f(R,T)$ modified gravity theory. We obtain the expression of the variation $δT_{μν}/δg^{αβ}$ for the baryonic matter described by an equation given in a parametric form, with the basic thermodynamic variables represented by the particle number density, and by the specific entropy, respectively. The first variation of the matter energy-momentum tensor turns out to be independent on the matter Lagrangian, and can be expressed in terms of the pressure, the energy-momentum tensor itself, and the matter fluid four-velocity. We apply the obtained results for the case of the $f(R,T)$ gravity theory, where $R$ is the Ricci scalar, and $T$ is the trace of the matter energy-momentum tensor, which thus becomes a unique theory, also independent on the choice of the matter Lagrangian. A simple cosmological model, in which the Hilbert-Einstein Lagrangian is generalized through the addition of a term proportional to $T^n$ is considered in detail, and it is shown that it gives a very good description of the observational values of the Hubble parameter up to a redshift of $z\approx 2.5$.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2301_12133
institution arXiv
publishDate 2023
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle The first variation of the matter energy-momentum tensor with respect to the metric, and its implications on modified gravity theories
Haghani, Zahra
Harko, Tiberiu
Shahidi, Shahab
General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics
High Energy Physics - Theory
The first order variation of the matter energy-momentum tensor $T_{μν}$ with respect to the metric tensor $g^{αβ}$ plays an important role in modified gravity theories with geometry-matter coupling, and in particular in the $f(R,T)$ modified gravity theory. We obtain the expression of the variation $δT_{μν}/δg^{αβ}$ for the baryonic matter described by an equation given in a parametric form, with the basic thermodynamic variables represented by the particle number density, and by the specific entropy, respectively. The first variation of the matter energy-momentum tensor turns out to be independent on the matter Lagrangian, and can be expressed in terms of the pressure, the energy-momentum tensor itself, and the matter fluid four-velocity. We apply the obtained results for the case of the $f(R,T)$ gravity theory, where $R$ is the Ricci scalar, and $T$ is the trace of the matter energy-momentum tensor, which thus becomes a unique theory, also independent on the choice of the matter Lagrangian. A simple cosmological model, in which the Hilbert-Einstein Lagrangian is generalized through the addition of a term proportional to $T^n$ is considered in detail, and it is shown that it gives a very good description of the observational values of the Hubble parameter up to a redshift of $z\approx 2.5$.
title The first variation of the matter energy-momentum tensor with respect to the metric, and its implications on modified gravity theories
topic General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics
High Energy Physics - Theory
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2301.12133