A class of ghost-free theories in symmetric teleparallel geometry

Abstract

Theories formulated in the arena of teleparallel geometries are generically plagued by ghost-like instabilities or other pathologies that are ultimately caused by the breaking of some symmetries. In this work, we construct a class of ghost-free theories based on a symmetry under Transverse Diffeomorphisms that is naturally realised in symmetric teleparallelism. We explicitly show their equivalence to a family of theories with an extra scalar field plus a global degree of freedom and how Horndeski theories and healthy couplings to matter fields can be readily accommodated.

11 pages, no figures. V2: 13 pages, added clarifications and references, matches published version

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• Inflation in theories with broken diffeomorphisms
• K-nonizing
• Weak Gravity Limit in Newer General Relativity
• A Unified Dynamical Systems Framework for Cosmology in $f(Q)$ Gravity: Generic Features Beyond the Coincident Gauge
• Multifield theories invariant under transverse diffeomorphisms: The mixed regime case
• Scalar perturbation and density contrast evolution in $f(Q,C)$ gravity
• $\Lambda$CDM from broken diffeomorphisms
• Insights in $f(Q)$ cosmology: the relevance of the connection
• Comparison of Quasinormal Modes of Black Holes in $f(\mathbb{T})$ and $f(\mathbb{Q})$ Gravity