We study the gravitational vacuum star (gravastar) configuration as proposed by [1] in a model where the interior de Sitter spacetime segment is continuously extended to the exterior Schwarzschild spacetime.

Recently, a fully covariant version of the theory of F (T ) torsion gravity has been introduced [1]. In covariant F (T ) gravity the Schwarzschild solution is not a vacuum solution for F (T ) = T and therefore determining the spherically symmetric vacuum is an important open problem. Within the covariant framework we perturbatively solve the spherically symmetric vacuum gravitational equations around the Schwarzschild solution for the scenario with F (T ) = T + (α/2) T 2 , representing the dominant terms in theories governed by Lagrangians analytic in the torsion scalar. From this we compute the perihelion shift correction to solar system planetary orbits as well as perturbative gravitational effects near neutron stars. This allows us to set an upper bound on the magnitude of the coupling constant, α, which governs deviations from General Relativity. We find the bound on this nonlinear torsion coupling constant by specifically considering the uncertainty in the perihelion shift of Mercury. We also analyze a bound from a similar comparison with the periastron orbit of the binary pulsar PSR J0045-7319 as an independent check for consistency. Setting bounds on the dominant nonlinear coupling is important in determining if other effects in the solar system or greater universe could be attributable to nonlinear torsion.

Using the improved quantization technique to the minisuperspace approximation of loop quantum gravity, we study the evolution of black holes supported by a cosmological constant. The addition of a cosmological constant allows for classical solutions with planar, cylindrical, toroidal, and higher-genus black holes. Here we study the quantum analog of these space-times. In all scenarios studied, the singularity present in the classical counterpart is avoided in the quantized version and is replaced by a bounce, and in the late evolution, a series of less severe bounces. Interestingly, although there are differences during the evolution between the various symmetries and topologies, the evolution on the other side of the bounce asymptotes to space-times of Nariai-type, with the exception of the planar black hole analyzed here, whose T-R ¼ constant subspaces seem to continue expanding in the long-term evolution. For the other cases, Nariai-type universes are attractors in the quantum evolution, albeit with different parameters. We study here the quantum evolution of each symmetry in detail.

In this work, we consider time-dependent dark energy star models, with an evolving parameter $\omega$ crossing the phantom divide, $\omega=-1$. Once in the phantom regime, the null energy condition is violated, which physically implies that the negative radial pressure exceeds the energy density. Therefore, an enormous negative pressure in the center may, in principle, imply a topology change, consequently opening up a tunnel and converting the dark energy star into a wormhole. The criteria for this topology change are discussed, in particular, we consider the Morse Index analysis and a Casimir energy approach involving quasi-local energy difference calculations that may reflect or measure the occurrence of a topology change. We denote these exotic geometries consisting of dark energy stars (in the phantom regime) and phantom wormholes as phantom stars. The final product of this topological change, namely, phantom wormholes, have far-reaching physical and cosmological implications, as in addition to being used for interstellar shortcuts, an absurdly advanced civilization may manipulate these geometries to induce closed timelike curves, consequently violating causality.Comment: 19 pages, 13 figures. V2: Extended version of the paper accepted for publication in Physical Review

We consider wormhole geometries subject to a gravitational action consisting of nonlinear powers of the Ricci scalar. Specifically, wormhole throats are studied in the case where Einstein gravity is supplemented with a Ricci-squared and inverse Ricci term. In this modified theory, it is found that static wormhole throats respecting the weak energy condition can exist. The analysis is done locally in the vicinity of the throat, which eliminates certain restrictions on the models introduced by considering the global topology.

In the context of loop quantum gravity, we construct the phase-space of isolated horizons with genus greater than 0. Within the loop quantum gravity framework, these horizons are described by genus g surfaces with N punctures and the dimension of the corresponding phase-space is calculated including the genus cycles as degrees of freedom. From this, the black hole entropy can be calculated by counting the microstates which correspond to a black hole of fixed area. We find that the leading term agrees with the A/4 law and that the sub-leading contribution is modified by the genus cycles.

We study the existence and properties of wormhole throats in modified f (R) gravity theory. Specifically, we concentrate on the cases where the lapse is not necessarily constant, and hence are not limited to the zero tidal force scenarios. In the class of theories whose actions are generated by Lagrangians of the form f (R) = α n R n we find parameters which allow for the existence of energy condition respecting throats, which do not exist in Einstein gravity. We also consider the effect of the modified action on the anisotropy of the models, and find that modified gravity can minimize the amount of anisotropy required to support the existence of a throat. In both these respects, the sector containing theories with positive n is more promising than the negative n sector in comparison to Einstein gravity alone, with large n being most favorable.

This paper studies wormhole solutions to Einstein gravity with an arbitrary number of time dependent compact dimensions and a matter-vacuum boundary. A new gauge is utilized which is particularly suited for studies of the wormhole throat. The solutions possess arbitrary functions which allow for the description of infinitely many wormhole systems of this type and, at the stellar boundary, the matter field is smoothly joined to vacuum. It turns out that the classical vacuum structure differs considerably from the four dimensional theory and is therefore studied in detail. The presence of the vacuum-matter boundary and extra dimensions places interesting restrictions on the wormhole. For example, in the static case, the radial size of a weak energy condition (WEC) respecting throat is restricted by the extra dimensions. There is a critical dimension, D = 5, where this restriction is eliminated. In the time dependent case, one cannot respect the WEC at the throat as the time dependence actually tends the solution towards WEC violation. This differs considerably from the static case and the four dimensional case.PACS numbers: 04.20. Gz, 04.50.+h, 95.30.Sf