Coupling Metric-Affine Gravity to a Higgs-Like Scalar Field

Abstract

General Relativity (GR) exists in different formulations. They are equivalent in pure gravity but generically lead to distinct predictions once matter is included. After a brief overview of various versions of GR, we focus on metric-affine gravity, which avoids any assumption about the vanishing of curvature, torsion or non-metricity. We use it to construct an action of a scalar field coupled non-minimally to gravity. It encompasses as special cases numerous previously studied models. Eliminating non-propagating degrees of freedom, we derive an equivalent theory in the metric formulation of GR. Finally, we give a brief outlook to implications for Higgs inflation.

Comments: 49 pages, 5 figures, 3 appendices; v2: minor improvements and references added; v3: simplified eqs. (3.15) and (3.16), matches published version (including Correction)