We propose an extension of the symmetric teleparallel gravity, in which the gravitational action L is given by an arbitrary function f of the non-metricity Q and of the trace of the matter-energy-momentum tensor T , so that L = f (Q, T). The field equations of the theory are obtained by varying the gravitational action with respect to both metric and connection. The covariant divergence of the field equations is obtained, with the geometry-matter coupling leading to the nonconservation of the energy-momentum tensor. We investigate the cosmological implications of the theory, and we obtain the cosmological evolution equations for a flat, homogeneous and isotropic geometry, which generalize the Friedmann equations of general relativity. We consider several cosmological models by imposing some simple functional forms of the function f (Q, T), corresponding to additive expressions of f (Q, T) of the form f (Q, T) = α Q + βT , f (Q, T) = α Q n+1 + βT , and f (Q, T) = −α Q −βT 2. The Hubble function, the deceleration parameter, and the matter-energy density are obtained as a function of the redshift by using analytical and numerical techniques. For all considered cases the Universe experiences an accelerating expansion, ending with a de Sitter type evolution. The theoretical predictions are also compared with the results of the standard CDM model.

We consider an f(Q, T) type gravity model in which the scalar non-metricity $$Q_{\alpha \mu \nu }$$Qαμν of the space-time is expressed in its standard Weyl form, and it is fully determined by a vector field $$w_{\mu }$$wμ. The field equations of the theory are obtained under the assumption of the vanishing of the total scalar curvature, a condition which is added into the gravitational action via a Lagrange multiplier. The gravitational field equations are obtained from a variational principle, and they explicitly depend on the scalar nonmetricity and on the Lagrange multiplier. The covariant divergence of the matter energy-momentum tensor is also determined, and it follows that the nonmetricity-matter coupling leads to the nonconservation of the energy and momentum. The energy and momentum balance equations are explicitly calculated, and the expressions of the energy source term and of the extra force are found. We investigate the cosmological implications of the theory, and we obtain the cosmological evolution equations for a flat, homogeneous and isotropic geometry, which generalize the Friedmann equations of standard general relativity. We consider several cosmological models by imposing some simple functional forms of the function f(Q, T), and we compare the predictions of the theory with the standard $$\Lambda $$ΛCDM model.

The spinor condensate with spin states degenerated in the ground spin-space provides a unique platform for investigating the edge of quantum mechanics and statistical physics. We study the evolution of the condensate under the scattering of a coherent atom beam. The time-dependent magnetization, entanglement entropy, statistical entropy, and the entropy production rate are calculated. A novel spontaneous spin symmetry breaking is found during the evolution. It is shown that the stationary spin distribution can be controlled by the coherent spin state of the incident atom beam, therefore the atom-condensate scattering provides a new way to generate designable spin distributions of the condensate.