Physics NotePublished
Non-Minimal Interaction of Gravity with other Physical Fields: an Overview
M. Novello; L. A. R. Oliveira
1986
Publication details
- Authors
- M. Novello; L. A. R. Oliveira
- Type
- Physics Note
- Status
- Published
- Publication date
- 1986
- Description
- We present a review on some modern developments concerning the interaction of gravity with other physical fields. It is argued that a suitable context for an account of their dynamical interplay is that of the non-minimal (e.g., conformal) coupling of these fields to gravity. Some interesting features of non-minimal coupling, such as the connection with Weyl-integrable spacetime (WIST) structure, the generation of eternal Universes, the appearance of a cosmological constant and the possible induction of repulsive gravity via spontaneous symmetry breaking (SSB) mechanisms, are discussed. In particular, we examine a simple case of strong interacting scalar particles (such as the well- known elastic reaction <math>\pi k \rightarrow \pi K \,\! </math> ), in a curved background, thereby obtaining the curious result that the actual, observed value of the strong coupling constant and the minimum value allowable, in order to preclude antigravity, are related by Eddington's number <math>10^{39}\,\!</math>.
- Year
- 1986
- Number
- CBPF-NF-033/86
- Linked to a thesis
- No
- Linked to a grant
- No