Paper detail

Modeling scalar fields consistent with positive mass

This paper explores the conditions under which modified gravitational theories admit the positive mass. Following Witten's spinor argument, it is argued that a single condition should be imposed upon a gauge connection in the super-covariant derivative. Under this condition, we present a simple formula for the divergence of the Nester tensor in Einstein's gravity with general source. Applying this prescription to the Einstein-scalar system, we find that for a certain class of the gauge connection, a special kind of non-canonical scalar-field theory admits the positivity property in addition to the ordinary canonical scalar-field system. In both cases the scalar potential can be written in terms of a superpotential. In the non-canonical case we obtain the most general "BPS" solutions which preserve at least half of the supersymmetry.