Irreversible matter creation processes through a nonminimal curvature-matter coupling

TL;DR

This paper explores how nonminimal curvature-matter coupling can induce irreversible matter creation in the universe, linking gravitational effects to thermodynamic processes and discussing conditions for equilibrium.

Contribution

It demonstrates that gravitationally induced particle production can result from a nonminimal curvature-matter coupling within a scalar-tensor framework.

Findings

Matter creation can be driven by nonminimal curvature-matter coupling.

Conditions for the universe to reach thermodynamic equilibrium are analyzed.

The model provides a link between gravity and thermodynamics in cosmology.

Abstract

An interesting cosmological history was proposed by Prigogine {\it et al.} who considered the Universe as a thermodynamically open system. This scenario is characterized by a process of matter creation, which corresponds to an irreversible energy flow from the gravitational field to the pressureless matter fluid. Here, we show that the gravitationally induced particle production may arise from a nonminimal curvature-matter coupling. By considering the equivalent scalar-tensor theory, the cosmological implications of the model are discussed. As all known natural systems tend to a state of thermodynamic equilibrium, and assuming the universe is not different in this respect, we also discuss the conditions to attain the equilibrium state.