Variational Principles and Cosmological Models in Higher-Order Gravity
Abstract
Description
This dissertation investigates three main topics, all of which dealing with alternative, higher-order gravity theories in four dimensions. Firstly, we study the variational and conformal structure of those theories. Next, we analyse their Hamiltonian formulation and in particular its relationship with the famous ADM canonical version of general relativity. Finally, we study higher-order spatially homogeneous cosmologies and exemplify how Hamiltonian methods can be utilised to simplify the analysis of the associated field equations.
Doctoral dissertation, LaTeX2e, 194 pages, no figures
Doctoral dissertation, LaTeX2e, 194 pages, no figures