Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
5.3
2.2
Journals
Symmetry
Special Issues
Gravitational Physics and Symmetry
share announcement

Gravitational Physics and Symmetry

A special issue of Symmetry (ISSN 2073-8994). This special issue belongs to the section "Physics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2026 | Viewed by 11834

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Fabiano F. Santos

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Departamento de Física, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, Campus Universitário do Bacanga, São Luís, MA, Brazil
Interests: black holes; holographic complexity; string theory; entanglement entropy; AdS/BCFT correspondence; Horndeski gravity
Dr. Moisés Felipe Bravo-Gaete

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Basic Science Faculty, Catholic University of Maule, Casilla, Talca 617, Chile
Interests: general relativity; high energy physics theory; black holes

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Gravitational physics and symmetry are fundamental areas of research in modern physics, providing insights into the nature of the universe and the fundamental forces that govern it. From Einstein's theory of general relativity to the study of black holes, gravitational waves, and cosmology, this field has revolutionized our understanding of space, time, and matter. Symmetry, on the other hand, plays a crucial role in theoretical physics, offering a framework to understand conservation laws, particle interactions, and the unification of forces. The interplay between gravitational physics and symmetry continues to inspire groundbreaking research, making it a vital area of study with profound implications for both theoretical and experimental physics.

This Special Issue aims to bring together cutting-edge research and reviews in the field of gravitational physics and symmetry. The objective is to provide a platform for researchers to share their latest findings, foster collaboration, and explore new directions in this dynamic field. The subject aligns with the journal's scope by focusing on the theoretical and experimental aspects of physics, particularly those that contribute to our understanding of fundamental forces and the structure of the universe. The scope of this Special Issue is carefully defined to ensure a focused yet comprehensive collection of articles, targeting at least 10 high-quality contributions. If this goal is achieved, the Special Issue may also be published in book form, further enhancing its impact.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Gravitational waves and their detection;
  • Black hole physics and singularities;
  • Cosmology and the large-scale structure of the universe;
  • Theoretical developments in general relativity;
  • Symmetry principles in gravitational theories;
  • Quantum gravity and the unification of forces;
  • Experimental tests of gravitational theories;
  • Applications of symmetry in particle physics and cosmology;
  • Mathematical frameworks for symmetry and gravitation;
  • Interdisciplinary approaches to gravitational physics and symmetry.

Dr. Fabiano F. Santos
Dr. Moisés Felipe Bravo-Gaete
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Symmetry is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • gravitational waves and their detection
  • black hole physics and singularities
  • cosmology and the large-scale structure of the universe
  • theoretical developments in general relativity
  • symmetry principles in gravitational theories
  • quantum gravity and the unification of forces
  • experimental tests of gravitational theories
  • applications of symmetry in particle physics and cosmology
  • mathematical frameworks for symmetry and gravitation
  • interdisciplinary approaches to gravitational physics and symmetry

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (7 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

38 pages, 476 KB  
Article
On the Cohomological Understanding of Interactions Between Weyl Graviton and Photon
by Eugen-Mihaita Cioroianu and Stefan-Sabin Manolescu
Symmetry 2026, 18(5), 860; https://doi.org/10.3390/sym18050860 - 19 May 2026
Viewed by 119
Abstract
The problem of constructing consistent interactions between a Weyl graviton—with its free limit expressed by the linearized Weyl action—and a photon—with its free dynamics generated from the standard Maxwell action—is analyzed as a deformation problem for the antifield-BRST generator associated with the non-interacting [...] Read more.
The problem of constructing consistent interactions between a Weyl graviton—with its free limit expressed by the linearized Weyl action—and a photon—with its free dynamics generated from the standard Maxwell action—is analyzed as a deformation problem for the antifield-BRST generator associated with the non-interacting free model. By relaxing the standard working hypotheses to allow at most four spacetime derivatives in the interaction vertices, while not restricting the number of derivatives on the photon potentials, the most general cross-couplings are derived. This proves the uniqueness of the previously geometrically prescribed, overall fourth-order Lagrangian dynamics of the electromagnetic field in the presence of dynamical-type full Weyl gravity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gravitational Physics and Symmetry)
25 pages, 735 KB  
Article
Tachyonic AdS/QCD, Determining the Strong Running Coupling and β-Function in Both UV and IR Regions of AdS Space
by Adamu Issifu, Elijah Anertey Abbey and Francisco A. Brito
Symmetry 2026, 18(4), 682; https://doi.org/10.3390/sym18040682 - 20 Apr 2026
Viewed by 286
Abstract
In this paper, we investigate the Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD)-like running coupling, αsAdS(Q2), and its associated β-function within a tachyonic Anti-de Sitter (AdS)/QCD framework. The AdS5 bulk geometry is deformed through the introduction [...] Read more.
In this paper, we investigate the Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD)-like running coupling, αsAdS(Q2), and its associated β-function within a tachyonic Anti-de Sitter (AdS)/QCD framework. The AdS5 bulk geometry is deformed through the introduction of a color dielectric function G(ϕ(z)), associated with a tachyon field ϕ(z). This function governs the behavior of αsAdS(Q2) across all momentum scales by modifying the AdS background at both small and large values of the holographic coordinate z. In the ultraviolet (UV) regime (small z), the deformation is driven by free tachyons and reproduces features consistent with perturbative QCD. In contrast, in the infrared (IR) regime (large z), tachyon condensation dominates, yielding behavior characteristic of nonperturbative QCD. This construction enables a unified description of the running coupling and its β-function over the full range of momentum transfer Q2, where Q2 denotes the space-like momentum scale. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gravitational Physics and Symmetry)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

34 pages, 21530 KB  
Article
Understanding the Universe Without Dark Matter and Without the Need to Modify Gravity: Is the Universe an Anamorphic Structure?
by Gianni Pascoli and Louis Pernas
Symmetry 2026, 18(2), 234; https://doi.org/10.3390/sym18020234 - 28 Jan 2026
Viewed by 959
Abstract
We envision a minimalist way to explain a number of astronomical facts associated with the unsolved missing mass problem by considering a new phenomenological paradigm. In this model, no new exotic particles need to be added, and the gravity is not modified; it [...] Read more.
We envision a minimalist way to explain a number of astronomical facts associated with the unsolved missing mass problem by considering a new phenomenological paradigm. In this model, no new exotic particles need to be added, and the gravity is not modified; it is the perception that we have of a purely Newtonian (or purely Einsteinian) Universe, dubbed the Newton basis or Einstein basis (actually “viewed through a pinhole” which is “optically” distorted in some manner by a so-called magnifying effect). The κ model is not a theory but rather an exploratory technique that assumes that the sizes of the astronomical objects (galaxies and galaxy clusters or fluctuations in the CMB) are not commensurable with respect to our usual standard measurement. To address this problem, we propose a rescaling of the lengths when these are larger than some critical values, say >100 pc - 1 kpc for the galaxies and ∼1 Mpc for the galaxy clusters. At the scale of the solar system or of a binary star system, the κ effect is not suspected, and the undistorted Newtonian metric fully prevails. A key point of an ontological nature rising from the κ model is the distinction which is made between the distances depending on how they are obtained: (1) distances deduced from luminosity measurements (i.e., the real distances as potentially measured in the Newton basis, which are currently used in the standard cosmological model) and (2) even though it is not technically possible to deduce them, the distances which would be deduced by trigonometry. Those “trigonometric” distances are, in our model, altered by the kappa effect, except in the solar environment where they are obviously accurate. In outer galaxies, the determination of distances (by parallax measurement) cannot be carried out, and it is difficult to validate or falsify the kappa model with this method. On the other hand, it is not the same within the Milky Way, for which we have valuable trigonometric data (from the Gaia satellite). Interestingly, it turns out that for this particular object, there is strong tension between the results of different works regarding the rotation curve of the galaxy. At the present time, when the dark matter concept seems to be more and more illusive, it is important to explore new ideas, even the seemingly incredibly odd ones, with an open mind. The approach taken here is, however, different from that adopted in previous papers. The analysis is first carried out in a space called the Newton basis with pure Newtonian gravity (the gravity is not modified) and in the absence of dark matter-type exotic particles. Then, the results (velocity fields) are transported into the leaves of a bundle (observer space) using a universal transformation associated with the average mass density expressed in the Newton basis. This approach will make it much easier to deal with situations where matter is not distributed centrosymmetrically around a center of maximum density. As examples, we can cite the interaction of two galaxies or the case of the collision between two galaxy clusters in the bullet cluster. These few examples are difficult to treat directly in the bundle, especially since we would include time-based monitoring (with an evolving κ effect in the bundle). We will return to these questions later, as well as the concept of average mass density at a point. The relationship between this density and the coefficient κ must also be precisely defined. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gravitational Physics and Symmetry)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

9 pages, 1739 KB  
Article
Quantum Behavior of 10D Planck Unit: Stationary Electron, Compton Photon and Gravitational Field
by Yan Zhou, Junyan Zhang, Ernst Meyer, Xingkai Zhang and Hongyu Liang
Symmetry 2025, 17(10), 1636; https://doi.org/10.3390/sym17101636 - 2 Oct 2025
Viewed by 735
Abstract
This work focuses on the origin of electrons, Compton photons and a gravitational field. Based on the discovered 10D Planck units, the physical behavior of these units was further studied in isolated systems. Investigation shows that a 10D Planck unit in the in [...] Read more.
This work focuses on the origin of electrons, Compton photons and a gravitational field. Based on the discovered 10D Planck units, the physical behavior of these units was further studied in isolated systems. Investigation shows that a 10D Planck unit in the in situ state has the same properties as a stationary electron, while its non-in situ state shares the same physics with a Compton photon. Results indicate that photons’ potential exists between any two Compton photons, with their strength being determined by the distance between the two photons. Finally, the potential field was proved to be the gravitational field of a proton. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gravitational Physics and Symmetry)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 1654 KB  
Article
Complexity Hierarchies in Euclidean Stars
by Luis Herrera, Alicia Di Prisco and Justo Ospino
Symmetry 2025, 17(9), 1517; https://doi.org/10.3390/sym17091517 - 11 Sep 2025
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1127
Abstract
We establish a hierarchy of Euclidean stars according to their degree of complexity, as measured by the complexity factor and the complexity of the pattern of evolution. We consider both, non-dissipative and dissipative systems. Solutions range from the simplest one, in order of [...] Read more.
We establish a hierarchy of Euclidean stars according to their degree of complexity, as measured by the complexity factor and the complexity of the pattern of evolution. We consider both, non-dissipative and dissipative systems. Solutions range from the simplest one, in order of increasing complexity. Some specific models are found and analyzed in detail. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gravitational Physics and Symmetry)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 1400 KB  
Article
Propagation of Tensor Perturbation in Horndeski-like Gravity
by Fabiano F. Santos and Jackson Levi Said
Symmetry 2025, 17(5), 675; https://doi.org/10.3390/sym17050675 - 28 Apr 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1753
Abstract
Scalar–tensor theories have shown promise in many sectors of cosmology. However, recent constraints from the speed of gravitational waves have put severe limits on the breadth of models such classes of theories can realize. In this work, we explore the possibility of a [...] Read more.
Scalar–tensor theories have shown promise in many sectors of cosmology. However, recent constraints from the speed of gravitational waves have put severe limits on the breadth of models such classes of theories can realize. In this work, we explore the possibility of a Horndeski Lagrangian that is equipped with two dilaton fields. The evolution of a two-dilaton coupled cosmology is not well known in the literature. We explore the tensor perturbations in order to assess the behavior of the model against the speed of the gravitational wave constraint. Our main result is that this model exhibits a class of cosmological theories that is consistent with this observational constraint. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gravitational Physics and Symmetry)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

21 pages, 3150 KB  
Review
Stellar-Mass Black Holes
by Cosimo Bambi
Symmetry 2025, 17(9), 1393; https://doi.org/10.3390/sym17091393 - 26 Aug 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 5649
Abstract
Stellar-mass black holes (3 M⊙≲MBH≲150 M⊙) are the natural product of the evolution of heavy stars (Mstar≳20 M⊙). In our Galaxy, we expect that 108– [...] Read more.
Stellar-mass black holes (3 M⊙≲MBH≲150 M⊙) are the natural product of the evolution of heavy stars (Mstar≳20 M⊙). In our Galaxy, we expect that 108–109 stellar-mass black holes have been formed from the gravitational collapse of heavy stars, but currently we know fewer than 100 objects. We also know of ∼100 stellar-mass black holes in other galaxies, most of them discovered by gravitational wave observatories in the past 10 years. The detection of black holes is indeed extremely challenging and possible only in very special cases. This article is a short review on the physics and astrophysics of stellar-mass black holes, including Galactic and extragalactic black holes in X-ray binaries, black holes in astrometric binaries, isolated black holes, and black holes in compact binaries. The article also addresses some important open issues and introduces the idea of a possible interstellar mission to the closest black hole. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gravitational Physics and Symmetry)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-7
Back to TopTop