Cosmology of a new class of massive vector fields

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new non-linear massive vector field theory, Extended Proca-Nuevo, with consistent cosmological solutions that include a late-time self-accelerating universe and stable gravitational wave behavior.

Contribution

It develops a covariantization scheme for a ghost-free, non-linear massive vector field theory with applications to cosmology, including explicit hot Big Bang solutions.

Findings

Stable late-time self-accelerating solutions

Gravitational waves behave as in General Relativity

Consistent, ghost-free cosmological models

Abstract

I introduce (Extended) Proca-Nuevo, a non-linear theory of a massive spin-1 field enjoying a non-linearly realized constraint. I will provide a covariantization scheme that allows for consistent, ghost-free cosmological solutions, describing the correct number of dynamical variables in the presence of perfect fluid matter. I will finally exhibit explicit hot Big Bang solutions featuring a late-time self-accelerating epoch, where all the stability and subluminality conditions are satisfied and where gravitational waves behave precisely as in General Relativity.