Gravitational nonminimally coupled electromagnetic fields: a possible solution to some idiosincrasies of Einstein-Maxwell theory

A theory of nonminimal coupling of electromagnetism and gravitation in the framework of Riomannian geometry is constructed. As a consequence the main difficulties concerning the Einstein-Maxwell theory are cleared away. The theory works as a kind of correction to the Einstein-Maxwell one for regions with strong curvature and for times much greater than the Planck time. A Reissner-Nordstroem-type solution is exhibited and comments are made on a parameter which somewhat resembles the ''Schwarzschild radius''. A mechanism of charge creation via nonminimal coupling is also discussed. We calculate the propagation of photons in a Robertson-Walker background and find that the effect of the nonminimal coupling in this case may be to deviate the photon from the null geodesics, increasing its velocity beyond the flat-space value. Taking into account this results, the observed isotropy of the background radiation can be explained in a simple way, regardless of any assumption about the state of the Universe prior to the Planck time. (author)