Stress-Energy Tensor of the Quantized Massive Fields in Friedman-Robertson-Walker Spacetimes

The approximate stress-energy tensor of the quantized massive scalar, spinor and vector fields in the spatially flat Friedman-Robertson-Walker universe is constructed. It is shown that for the scalar fields with arbitrary curvature coupling, $\xi,$ the stress-energy tensor calculated within the framework of the Schwinger-DeWitt approach is identical to the analogous tensor constructed in the adiabatic vacuum. Similarly, the Schwinger-DeWitt stress-energy tensor for the fields of spin 1/2 and 1 coincides with the analogous result calculated by the Zeldovich-Starobinsky method. The stress-energy tensor thus obtained are subsequently used in the back reaction problem. It is shown that for pure semiclassical Einstein field equations with the vanishing cosmological constant and the source term consisting exclusively of its quantum part there are no self-consistent exponential solutions driven by the spinor and vector fields. A similar situation takes place for the scalar field if the coupling constant belongs to the interval $\xi \gtrsim 0.1.$ For a positive cosmological constant the expansion slows down for all considered types of massive fields except for minimally coupled scalar field. The perturbative approach to the problem is briefly discussed and possible generalizations of the stress-energy tensor are indicated.Comment: Section III expanded. References added. Matches published versio

Inside the degenerate horizons of regular black holes

The regularized stress-energy tensor of the quantized massive scalar, spinor and vector fields inside the degenerate horizon of the regular charged black hole in the (anti-)de Sitter universe is constructed and examined. It is shown that although the components of the stress-energy tensor are small in the vicinity of the black hole degenerate horizon and near the regular center, they are quite big in the intermediate region. The oscillatory character of the stress-energy tensor can be ascribed to various responses of the higher curvature terms to the changes of the metric inside the (degenerate) event horizon, especially in the region adjacent to the region described by the nearly flat metric potentials. Special emphasis is put on the stress-energy tensor in the geometries being the product of the constant curvature two-dimensional subspaces.Comment: Title modified to match published version. References adde

Judicial review, separation of powers and democracy: the problem of activist constitutional tribunals in postcomunist Central Europe

It has become a commonplace belief that the constitutionalization of rights implies the introduction of strongly counter-majoritarian devices into the political system. Conventional wisdom in the current constitutional discourse in the postcommunist countries of Eastern and Central Europe has it that constitutional rights, in order to be meaningful, require a system of constitutional review of political branches performed by non-elected branches of the government, and in particular, by the judiciary. The rise of constitutional tribunals in almost all the countries of the region - though in some countries they achieve higher prominence, independence, and power than in others - is a testimony to the force of this conventional wisdom

Concept, principle, and norm—equality before the law reconsidered

Despite the attention equality before the law has received, both laudatory and critical, peculiarly little has been done to precisely define it. The first ambition of this paper is to remedy this, by exploring the various ways in which a principle of equality before the law can be understood and suggest a concise definition. With a clearer understanding of the principle in hand we are better equipped to assess traditional critique of the principle. Doing so is the second ambition of this paper. I will argue that traditional criticisms are unpersuasive, but that there is a different, powerful argument against equality before the law. The third ambition of the paper is to argue that there is a sense, overlooked by both proponents and critics, in which the principle still captures something important, albeit at the cost of shifting from intrinsic to instrumental value

“Reasonableness” and Value Pluralism in Law and Politics

In law, the category of reasonableness, when used in a “strong sense”, is inherently lied up with proportionality, and also with the test of necessity, and thus is a guarantee of a minimal restriction of constitutional rights compatible with the attainment of a given purpose. This approach to the scrutiny of restrictions of constitutional rights carries certain disadvantages because of an unfortunate alignment of the judicial role with the role of legislator, but it also has some great advantages when compared with alternative approaches: it is more transparent when it comes to revealing to the public all the ingredients of the judicial calculus, and most importantly, it reduces the sense of defeat for the losing party. As such, it is consensus-oriented because it acknowledges explicitly that there are valid constitutional arguments on both sides. In turn in political philosophy the notion of reasonableness applies to the determination of the standards of justifications for authoritative decisions so that they can be considered legitimate, i.e. calling for respect even from those subjected to them who do not agree with them on merits. The attractiveness of this idea results from the fact that it combines two enormously popular traditions in democratic theory: those of social contract and of deliberative democracy. So it can be seen that both these conceptions: reasonableness in law and reasonableness in political theory have some obvious commonalities at the level of their deep justifications; both appeal to liberal, egalitarian and consensus-oriented values