From the elasticity theory to cosmology and vice versa

• Published in: Science China. Physics, mechanics & astronomy Vol. 57; no. 4; pp. 597 - 603
• Main Authors: Levrino, Luca, Tartaglia, Angelo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Science China Press 01.04.2014; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Astronomy; Classical and Continuum Physics; Cosmology; Dark energy; Defects; Elastic deformation; Elasticity; Energy distribution; Observations and Techniques; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Relativity; Spacetime; Strain; Texture; Theory of relativity; Three dimensional; Universe; 各向同性; 宇宙学; 广义相对论; 弹性变形; 弹性理论; 拉格朗日; 文件显示; 能量分布; deformable solids; Lagrangian density and tensors; cosmology; elastic strain
• ISSN: 1674-7348; 1869-1927
• DOI: 10.1007/s11433-013-5169-3

The paper shows how a generalization of the elasticity theory to four dimensions and to space-time allows for a consistent description of the homogeneous and isotropic universe,including the accelerated expansion.The analogy is manifested by the inclusion in the traditional Lagrangian of general relativity of an additional term accounting for the strain induced in the manifold（i.e.in space-time）by the curvature,be it induced by the presence of a texture defect or by a matter/energy distribution.The additional term is su？cient to account for various observed features of the universe and to give a simple interpretation for the so called dark energy.Then,we show how the same approach can be adopted back in three dimensions to obtain the equilibrium configuration of a given solid subject to strain induced by defects or applied forces.Finally,it is shown how concepts coming from the familiar elasticity theory can inspire new approaches to cosmology and in return how methods appropriated to General Relativity can be applied back to classical problems of elastic deformations in three dimensions.