Infinite efficiency of collisional Penrose process: Can over-spinning Kerr geometry be the source of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays and neutrinos ?

Abstract: The origin of the ultra-high-energy particles we receive on the Earth from the outer space such as EeV cosmic rays and PeV neutrinos remains an enigma. All mechanisms known to us currently make use of electromagnetic interaction to accelerate charged particles. In this paper we propose a mechanism exclusively based on gravity rather than electromagnetic interaction. We show that it is possible to generate ultra-high-energy particles starting from particles with moderate energies using the collisional Penrose process in an overspinning Kerr spacetime transcending the Kerr bound only by an infinitesimal amount, i.e., with the Kerr parameter a=M(1+ϵ), where we take the limit ϵ→ 0^+. We consider two massive particles starting from rest at infinity that collide at r=M with divergent center-of-mass energy and produce two massless particles. We show that massless particles produced in the collision can escape to infinity with the ultra-high energies exploiting the collisional Penrose process with the divergent efficiency η∼1/√(ϵ)→∞. Assuming the isotropic emission of massless particles in the center-of-mass frame of the colliding particles, we show that half of the particles created in the collisions escape to infinity with the divergent energies. To a distant observer, ultra-high-energy particles appear to originate from a bright spot which is at the angular location ξ∼2M/r_obs with respect to the singularity on the side which is rotating towards the observer. We show that the anisotropy in emission in the center-of-mass frame, which is dictated by the differential cross-section of underlying particle physics process, leaves a district signature on the spectrum of ultra-high-energy massless particles. Thus, it provides a unique probe into fundamental particle physics.

collisional penrose process
cosmic ray
kerr spacetime


Embedding realistic surveys in simulations through volume remapping

Abstract: Connecting cosmological simulations to real-world observational programs is often complicated by a mismatch in geometry: while surveys often cover highly irregular cosmological volumes, simulations are customarily performed in a periodic cube. We describe a technique to remap this cube into elongated box-like shapes that are more useful for many applications. The remappings are one-to-one, volume-preserving, keep local structures intact, and involve minimal computational overhead.


Measurements of the low energy neutron and gamma ray accompaniment of extensive air showers in the knee region of primary cosmic ray spectrum

Abstract: Purposeful investigation of radiation fluxes strongly delayed in relation to the main particles front of extensive air shower (EAS) was undertaken at the Tien Shan Mountain Cosmic Ray Station. It was found that the passage of the EAS can be accompanied by the delayed thermal neutrons and by the soft (30-50) keV gamma rays, mostly concentrated within a region of about (5-10) m around shower axis, where the integral radiation fluence can vary in the limits of (10^-4-1) cm^-2 for neutrons, and of (0.1-1000) cm^-2 for gamma rays. The dependence of signal multiplicity on the shower size N_e has a power shape both for the neutron and gamma ray components, with a sharp increase of its power index around the value of N_e≈ 10^6, which corresponds to the position of the 3·10^15 eV knee in the primary cosmic ray spectrum. Total duration of detectable radiation signal after the EAS passage can be of some tens of milliseconds in the case of neutron component, and up to a few whole seconds for gamma rays. The delayed accompaniment of low-energy radiation particles can be an effective probe to study the interaction of the hadronic component of EAS.

extensive air shower
cosmic ray spectrum
neutron component


Energy cross-calibration from the first CREAM flight: transition radiation detector versus calorimeter

Abstract: The Cosmic Ray Energetics And Mass (CREAM) balloon experiment had two successful flights in 2004/05 and 2005/06. It was designed to perform energy measurements from a few GeV up to 1000 TeV, taking advantage of different detection techniques. The first instrument, CREAM-1, combined a transition radiation detector with a calorimeter to provide independent energy measurements of cosmicraynuclei. Each detector was calibrated with particle beams in a limited range of energies. In order to assess the absolute energy scale of the instrument and to investigate the systematic effects of each technique, a cross-calibration was performed by comparing the two independent energy estimates on selected samples of oxygen and carbon nuclei.

cross-calibration
transition radiation detector
calorimeter


Galaxy bias and gauges at second order in General Relativity

Abstract: We discuss the question of gauge choice when analysing relativistic density perturbations at second order. We compare Newtonian and General Relativistic approaches. Some misconceptions in the recent literature are addressed. We show that the comoving-synchronous gauge is the unique gauge in General Relativity that corresponds to the Lagrangian frame and is entirely appropriate to describe the matter overdensity at second order. The comoving-synchronous gauge is the simplest gauge in which to describe Lagrangian bias at second order.

gauge
general relativity
comoving-synchronous gauge
galaxy bias


Ghost instabilities of cosmological models with vector fields nonminimally coupled to the curvature

Abstract: We prove that many cosmological models characterized by vectors nonminimally coupled to the curvature (such as the Turner-Widrow mechanism for the production of magnetic fields during inflation, and models of vector inflation or vector curvaton) contain ghosts. The ghosts are associated with the longitudinal vector polarization present in these models, and are found from studying the sign of the eigenvalues of the kinetic matrix for the physical perturbations. Ghosts introduce two main problems: (1) they make the theories ill-defined at the quantum level in the high energy/sub horizon regime (and create serious problems for finding a well behaved UV completion); (2) they create an instability already at the linearized level. This happens because the eigenvalue corresponding to the ghost crosses zero during the cosmological evolution. At this point the linearized equations for the perturbations become singular (we show that this happens for all the models mentioned above). We explicitly solve the equations in the simplest cases of a vector without vev in a FRW geometry, and of a vector with vev plus a cosmological constant, and we show that indeed the solutions of the linearized equations diverge when these equations become singular.

cosmological model
ghost instability
tachyonic


Towards optimal extraction of cosmological information from nonlinear data

Abstract: One of the main unsolved problems of cosmology is how to maximize the extraction of information from nonlinear data. If the data are nonlinear the usual approach is to employ a sequence of statistics (N-point statistics, counting statistics of clusters, density peaks or voids etc.), along with the corresponding covariance matrices. However, this approach is computationally prohibitive and has not been shown to be exhaustive in terms of information content. Here we instead develop a Bayesian approach, expanding the likelihood around the maximum posterior of linear modes, which we solve for using optimization methods. By integrating out the modes using perturbative expansion of the likelihood we construct an initial power spectrum estimator, which for a fixed forward model contains all the cosmological information if the initial modes are gaussian distributed. We develop a method to construct the window and covariance matrix such that the estimator is explicitly unbiased and nearly optimal. We then generalize the method to include the forward model parameters, including cosmological and nuisance parameters, and primordial non-gaussianity. We apply the method in the simplified context of nonlinear structure formation, using either simplified 2-LPT dynamics or N-body simulations as the nonlinear mapping between linear and nonlinear density, and 2-LPT dynamics in the optimization steps used to reconstruct the initial density modes. We demonstrate that the method gives an unbiased estimator of the initial power spectrum, providing among other a near optimal reconstruction of linear baryonic acoustic oscillations.

extraction
cosmological information
nonlinear data
bayesian approach


Light-cone averaging in cosmology: formalism and applications

Abstract: We present a general gauge invariant formalism for defining cosmological averages that are relevant for observations based on light-like signals. Such averages involve either null hypersurfaces corresponding to a family of past light-cones or compact surfaces given by their intersection with timelike hypersurfaces. Generalized Buchert-Ehlers commutation rules for derivatives of these light-cone averages are given. After introducing some adapted "geodesic light-cone" coordinates, we give explicit expressions for averaging the redshift to luminosity-distance relation and the so-called "redshift drift" in a generic inhomogeneous Universe.


Entropic cosmology for a generalized black-hole entropy

Abstract: An entropic-force scenario, i.e., entropic cosmology, assumes that the horizon of the universe has an entropy and a temperature. In the present study, in order to examine entropic cosmology, we derive entropic-force terms not only from the Bekenstein entropy but also from a generalized black-hole entropy proposed by C. Tsallis and L.J.L. Cirto [Eur. Phys. J. C 73, 2487 (2013)]. Unlike the Bekenstein entropy, which is proportional to area, the generalized entropy is proportional to volume because of appropriate nonadditive generalizations. The entropic-force term derived from the generalized entropy is found to behave as if it were an extra driving term for bulk viscous cosmology, in which a bulk viscosity of cosmological fluids is assumed. Using an effective description similar to bulk viscous cosmology, we formulate the modified Friedmann, acceleration, and continuity equations for entropic cosmology. Based on this formulation, we propose two entropic-force models derived from the Bekenstein and generalized entropies. In order to examine the properties of the two models, we consider a homogeneous, isotropic, and spatially flat universe, focusing on a single-fluid-dominated universe. The two entropic-force models agree well with the observed supernova data. Interestingly, the entropic-force model derived from the generalized entropy predicts a decelerating and accelerating universe, as for a fine-tuned standard ΛCDM (lambda cold dark matter) model, whereas the entropic-force model derived from the Bekenstein entropy predicts a uniformly accelerating universe.

black-hole entropy
universe
entropic-force model
entropic cosmology
bulk viscous model


The multidimensional dependence of halo bias in the eye of a machine: a tale of halo structure, assembly and environment

Abstract: We develop a novel approach in exploring the joint dependence of halo bias on multiple halo properties using Gaussian process regression. Using a ΛCDM N-body simulation, we carry out a comprehensive study of the joint bias dependence on halo structure, formation history and environment. We show that the bias is a multivariate function of halo properties that falls into three regimes. For massive haloes, halo mass explains the majority of bias variation. For early-forming haloes, bias depends sensitively on the recent mass accretion history. For low-mass and late-forming haloes, bias depends more on the structure of a halo such as its shape and spin. Our framework enables us to convincingly prove that V_max/V_vir is a lossy proxy of formation time for bias modelling, whereas the mass, spin, shape and formation time variables are non-redundant with respect to each other. Combining mass and formation time largely accounts for the mass accretion history dependence of bias. Combining all the internal halo properties fully accounts for the density profile dependence inside haloes, and predicts the clustering variation of individual haloes to a 20% level at ∼ 10Mpch^-1. When an environmental density is measured outside 1Mpch^-1 from the halo centre, it outperforms and largely accounts for the bias dependence on the internal halo structure, explaining the bias variation above a level of 30%.


Electromagnetic Counterparts to Black Hole Mergers Detected by LIGO

Abstract: Mergers of stellar-mass black holes (BHs), such as GW150914 observed by LIGO, are not expected to have electromagnetic counterparts. However, the Fermi GBM detector identified of a gamma-ray transient 0.4 s after the gravitational wave (GW) signal GW150914 with consistent sky localization. I show that the two signals might be related if the BH binary detected by LIGO originated from two clumps in a dumbbell configuration that formed when the core of a rapidly rotating massive star collapsed. In that case, the BH binary merger was followed by a gamma-ray burst (GRB) from a jet that originated in the accretion flow around the remnant BH. A future detection of a GRB afterglow could be used to determine the redshift and precise localization of the source. A population of standard GW sirens with GRB redshifts would provide a new approach for precise measurements of cosmological distances as a function of redshift.

black hole merger
gamma-ray burst
electromagnetic counterpart


Speed of sound constraints from tidal deformability of neutron stars

Abstract: The upper bound of the speed of sound in dense nuclear matter is one of the most interesting but still unsolved problems in Nuclear Physics. Theoretical studies in connection with recent observational data of isolated neutron stars as well as binary neutron stars systems offer an excellent opportunity to shed light on this problem. In the present work, we suggest a method to directly relate the measured tidal deformability (polarizability) of binary neutron stars system (before merger) to the maximum neutron star mass scenario and possible upper bound on the speed of sound. This method is based on the simple but efficient idea that while the upper limit of the effective tidal deformability favors soft equations of state, the recent high measured values of neutron star mass favor stiff ones. In the present work, firstly, using a simple well established model we parametrize the stiffness of the equation of state with the help of the speed of sound. Secondly, in comparison with the recent observations by LIGO/VIRGO collaboration of two events, GW170817 and GW190425, we suggest possible robust constraints. Moreover, we evaluate and postulate, in the framework of the present method, what kind of future measurements could help us to improve the stringent of the constraints on the neutron star equation of state.

tidal deformability
neutron star
nuclear matter


Observational signatures of anisotropic inflationary models

Abstract: We study observational signatures of two classes of anisotropic inflationary models in which an inflaton field couples to (i) a vector kinetic term F_mu nuF^mu nu and (ii) a two-form kinetic term H_mu nu lambdaH^mu nu lambda. We compute the corrections from the anisotropic sources to the power spectrum of gravitational waves as well as the two-point cross correlation between scalar and tensor perturbations. The signs of the anisotropic parameter g_* are different depending on the vector and the two-form models, but the statistical anisotropies generally lead to a suppressed tensor-to-scalar ratio r and a smaller scalar spectral index n_s in both models. In the light of the recent Planck bounds of n_s and r, we place observational constraints on several different inflaton potentials such as those in chaotic and natural inflation in the presence of anisotropic interactions. In the two-form model we also find that there is no cross correlation between scalar and tensor perturbations, while in the vector model the cross correlation does not vanish. The non-linear estimator f_NL of scalar non-Gaussianities in the two-form model is generally smaller than that in the vector model for the same orders of |g_*|, so that the former is easier to be compatible with observational bounds of non-Gaussianities than the latter.

inflationary model
tensor perturbation
observational signature


The Impact of the First Galaxies on Cosmic Dawn and Reionization

Abstract: The formation of the first galaxies during cosmic dawn and reionization (at redshifts z=5-30), triggered the last major phase transition of our universe, as hydrogen evolved from cold and neutral to hot and ionized. The 21-cm line of neutral hydrogen will soon allow us to map these cosmic milestones and study the galaxies that drove them. To aid in interpreting these observations, we upgrade the publicly available code 21cmFAST. We introduce a new, flexible parametrization of the additive feedback from: an inhomogeneous, H_2-dissociating (Lyman-Werner; LW) background; and dark matter – baryon relative velocities; which recovers results from recent, small-scale hydrodynamical simulations with both effects. We perform a large, "best-guess" simulation as the 2021 installment of the Evolution of 21-cm Structure (EOS) project. This improves the previous release with a galaxy model that reproduces the observed UV luminosity functions (UVLFs), and by including a population of molecular-cooling galaxies. The resulting 21-cm global signal and power spectrum are significantly weaker, primarily due to a more rapid evolution of the star-formation rate density required to match the UVLFs. Nevertheless, we forecast high signal-to-noise detections for both HERA and the SKA. We demonstrate how the stellar-to-halo mass relation of the unseen, first galaxies can be inferred from the 21-cm evolution. Finally, we show that the spatial modulation of X-ray heating due to relative velocities provides a unique acoustic signature that is detectable at z ≈ 10-15 in our fiducial model. Ours are the first public simulations with joint inhomogeneous LW and relative-velocity feedback across the entire cosmic dawn and reionization.


Non-parametric Reconstruction of Growth Index via Gaussian Processes

Abstract: The accelerated cosmic expansion could be due to dark energy within general relativity (GR), or modified gravity. It is of interest to differentiate between them, by using both the expansion history and the growth history. In the literature, it was proposed that the growth index γ is useful to distinguish these two scenarios. In this work, we consider the non-parametric reconstruction of the growth index γ as a function of redshift z from the latest observational data as of July 2018 via Gaussian Processes. We find that f(R) theories and dark energy models within GR (especially ΛCDM) are inconsistent with the results in the moderate redshift range far beyond 3σ confidence level. A modified gravity scenario different from f(R) theories is favored. However, these results can also be due to other non-trivial possibilities, in which dark energy models within GR (especially ΛCDM) and f(R) theories might still survive. In all cases, our results suggest that new physics is required.

growth index
gaussian processes
non-parametric reconstruction
late observational data


Properties of galaxies reproduced by a hydrodynamic simulation

Abstract: Previous simulations of the growth of cosmic structures have broadly reproduced the 'cosmic web' of galaxies that we see in the Universe, but failed to create a mixed population of elliptical and spiral galaxies due to numerical inaccuracies and incomplete physical models. Moreover, because of computational constraints, they were unable to track the small scale evolution of gas and stars to the present epoch within a representative portion of the Universe. Here we report a simulation that starts 12 million years after the Big Bang, and traces 13 billion years of cosmic evolution with 12 billion resolution elements in a volume of (106.5 Mpc)^3. It yields a reasonable population of ellipticals and spirals, reproduces the distribution of galaxies in clusters and statistics of hydrogen on large scales, and at the same time the metal and hydrogen content of galaxies on small scales.

galaxy
hydrodynamic simulation
dark matter
scale structure


The Galaxy in circular polarization: all-sky radio prediction, detection strategy, and the charge of the leptonic cosmic rays

Abstract: The diffuse Galactic synchrotron emission should exhibit a low level of diffuse circular polarization (CP) due to the circular motions of the emitting relativistic electrons. This probes the Galactic magnetic field in a similar way as the product of total Galactic synchrotron intensity times Faraday depth. We use this to construct an all sky prediction of the so far unexplored Galactic CP from existing measurements. This map can be used to search for this CP signal in low frequency radio data even prior to imaging. If detected as predicted, it would confirm the expectation that relativistic electrons, and not positrons, are responsible for the Galactic radio emission. Furthermore, the strength of real to predicted circular polarization would provide statistical information on magnetic structures along the line-of-sights.

galaxy
circular polarization
galactic magnetic field


The Interior Structure, Composition, and Evolution of Giant Planets

Abstract: We discuss our current understanding of the interior structure and thermal evolution of giant planets. This includes the gas giants, such as Jupiter and Saturn, that are primarily composed of hydrogen and helium, as well as the "ice giants," such as Uranus and Neptune, which are primarily composed of elements heavier than H/He. The effect of different hydrogen equations of state (including new first-principles computations) on Jupiter's core mass and heavy element distribution is detailed. This variety of the hydrogen equations of state translate into an uncertainty in Jupiter's core mass of 18 M_Earth. For Uranus and Neptune we find deep envelope metallicities up to 0.95, perhaps indicating the existence of an eroded core, as also supported by their low luminosity. We discuss the results of simple cooling models of our solar system's planets, and show that more complex thermal evolution models may be necessary to understand their cooling history. We review how measurements of the masses and radii of the 50 transiting extrasolar giant planets are changing our understanding of giant planets. In particular a fraction of these planets appear to be larger than can be accommodated by standard models of planetary contraction. We review the proposed explanations for the radii of these planets. We also discuss very young giant planets, which are being directly imaged with ground- and space-based telescopes.

interior structure
giant planet
core mass


Dipole anisotropy in sky brightness and source count distribution in radio NVSS data

Abstract: We study the dipole anisotropy in number counts and flux density weighted number counts or sky brightness in the NRAO VLA Sky Survey (NVSS) data. The dipole anisotropy is expected due to our local motion with respect to the CMBR rest frame. We analyse data with an improved fit to the number density, n(S), as a function of the flux density S, which allows deviation from a pure power law behaviour. We also impose more stringent cuts to remove the contribution due to clustering dipole. In agreement with earlier results, we find that the amplitude of anisotropy is significantly larger in comparison to the prediction based on CMBR measurements. The extracted speed is found to be roughly 3 times the speed corresponding to CMBR. The significance of deviation is smaller, roughly 2 sigma, in comparison to earlier estimates. For the cut, S>30 mJy, the speed is found to be 1110±370 Km/s using the source count analysis. The direction of the dipole anisotropy is found to be approximately in agreement with CMBR. We find that the results are relatively insensitive to the lower as well as upper limit imposed on the flux density. Our results suggest that the Universe is intrinsically anisotropic with the axis of anisotropy axis pointing roughly towards the CMBR dipole direction. Finally we present a method which may allow an independent extraction of the local speed and an intrinsic dipole anisotropy, provided a larger data set becomes available in future.

sky brightness
flux density
dipole anisotropy


Non-linear wavefront reconstruction methods for pyramid sensors using Landweber and Landweber-Kaczmarz iteration

Abstract: Accurate and robust wavefront reconstruction methods for pyramid wavefront sensors are in high demand as these sensors are planned to be part of many instruments currently under development for ground based telescopes. The pyramid sensor relates the incoming wavefront and its measurements in a non-linear way. Nevertheless, almost all existing reconstruction algorithms are based on a linearization of the model. The assumption of a linear pyramid sensor response is justifiable in closed loop AO when the measured phase information is small but may not be reasonable in reality due to unpreventable errors depending on the system such as non common path aberrations. In order to solve the non-linear inverse problem of wavefront reconstruction from pyramid sensor data we introduce two new methods based on the non-linear Landweber and Landweber-Kaczmarz iteration. Using these algorithms we experience high-quality wavefront estimation especially for the non-modulated sensor by still keeping the numerical effort feasible for large-scale AO systems.

reconstruction method
pyramid sensor
wavefront sensor


Large-Scale Magnetic Fields, Dark Energy and QCD

Abstract: Cosmological magnetic fields are being observed with ever increasing correlation lengths, possibly reaching the size of superclusters, therefore disfavouring the conventional picture of generation through primordial seeds later amplified by galaxy-bound dynamo mechanisms. In this paper we put forward a fundamentally different approach that links such large-scale magnetic fields to the cosmological vacuum energy. In our scenario the dark energy is due to the Veneziano ghost (which solves the U(1)_A problem in QCD). The Veneziano ghost couples through the triangle anomaly to the electromagnetic field with a constant which is unambiguously fixed in the standard model. While this interaction does not produce any physical effects in Minkowski space, it triggers the generation of a magnetic field in an expanding universe at every epoch. The induced energy of the magnetic field is thus proportional to cosmological vacuum energy: ρ_EM≃ B^2 ≃ (α/4π)^2 ρ_DE, ρ_DE hence acting as a source for the magnetic energy ρ_EM. The corresponding numerical estimate leads to a magnitude in the nG range. There are two unique and distinctive predictions of our proposal: an uninterrupted active generation of Hubble size correlated magnetic fields throughout the evolution of the universe; the presence of parity violation on the enormous scales 1/H, which apparently has been already observed in CMB. These predictions are entirely rooted into the standard model of particle physics.


Dust processing in elliptical galaxies

Abstract: We reconsider the origin and processing of dust in elliptical galaxies. We theoretically formulate the evolution of grain size distribution, taking into account dust supply from asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars and dust destruction by sputtering in the hot interstellar medium (ISM), whose temperature evolution is treated by including two cooling paths: gas emission and dust emission (i.e. gas cooling and dust cooling). With our new full treatment of grain size distribution, we confirm that dust destruction by sputtering is too efficient to explain the observed dust abundance even if AGB stars continue to supply dust grains, and that, except for the case where the initial dust-to-gas ratio in the hot gas is as high as ∼ 0.01, dust cooling is negligible compared with gas cooling. However, we show that, contrary to previous expectations, cooling does not help to protect the dust; rather, the sputtering efficiency is raised by the gas compression as a result of cooling. We additionally consider grain growth after the gas cools down. Dust growth by the accretion of gas-phase metals in the cold medium increase the dust-to-gas ratio up to ∼ 10^-3 if this process lasts >10/(n_H/10^3 cm^-3) Myr, where n_H is the number density of hydrogen nuclei. We show that the accretion of gas-phase metals is a viable mechanism of increasing the dust abundance in elliptical galaxies to a level consistent with observations, and that the steepness of observed extinction curves is better explained with grain growth by accretion.

elliptical galaxy
interstellar medium
dust growth


Bumblebee field as a source of cosmological anisotropies

Abstract: In this work, a bumblebee field is adopted in order to generate cosmological anisotropies. For that purpose, we assume a Bianchi I cosmology, as the background geometry, and a bumblebee field coupled to it. Bumblebee models are examples of a mechanism for the Lorentz symmetry violation by assuming a nonzero vacuum expectation value for the bumblebee field. When coupled to the Bianchi I geometry, which is not in agreement with a cosmological principle, the bumblebee field plays the role of a source of anisotropies and produces a preferred axis. Thus, a fraction of the cosmic anisotropies would come from the Lorentz symmetry violation. In the last part of the article, we try to assume an upper bound on the bumblebee field using the quadrupole and octopole moments of the cosmic microwave background radiation.

cosmological anisotropy
bianchi
bumblebee field


Halo-independent methods for inelastic dark matter scattering

Abstract: We present halo-independent methods to analyze the results of dark matter direct detection experiments assuming inelastic scattering. We focus on the annual modulation signal reported by DAMA/LIBRA and present three different halo-independent tests. First, we compare it to the upper limit on the unmodulated rate from XENON100 using (a) the trivial requirement that the amplitude of the annual modulation has to be smaller than the bound on the unmodulated rate, and (b) a bound on the annual modulation amplitude based on an expansion in the Earth's velocity. The third test uses the special predictions of the signal shape for inelastic scattering and allows for an internal consistency check of the data without referring to any astrophysics. We conclude that a strong conflict between DAMA/LIBRA and XENON100 in the framework of spin-independent inelastic scattering can be established independently of the local properties of the dark matter halo.

dark matter
halo-independent method
astrophysical uncertainty


The BAO+BBN take on the Hubble tension

Abstract: Many attempts to solve the Hubble tension with extended cosmological models combine an enhanced relic radiation density, acting at the level of background cosmology, with new physical ingredients affecting the evolution of cosmological perturbations. Several authors have pointed out the ability of combined Baryon Acoustic Oscillation (BAO) and Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (BBN) data to probe the background cosmological history independently of both CMB maps and supernovae data. Using state-of-the-art assumptions on BBN, we confirm that combined BAO, deuterium, and helium data are in tension with the SH0ES measurements under the ΛCDM assumption at the 3.2σ level, while being in close agreement with the CMB value. We subsequently show that floating the radiation density parameter N_eff only reduces the tension down to the 2.6σ level. This conclusion, totally independent of any CMB data, shows that a high N_eff accounting for extra relics (either free-streaming or self-interacting) does not provide an obvious solution to the crisis, not even at the level of background cosmology. To circumvent this strong bound, (i) the extra radiation has to be generated after BBN to avoid helium bounds, and (ii) additional ingredients have to be invoked at the level of perturbations to reconcile this extra radiation with CMB and LSS data.

hubble tension
bao
big bang nucleosynthesis
bbn


One line to run them all: SuperEasy massive neutrino linear response in N-body simulations

Abstract: We present in this work a novel and yet extremely simple method for incorporating the effects of massive neutrinos in cosmological N-body simulations. This so-called "SuperEasy linear response" approach is based upon analytical solutions to the collisionless Boltzmann equation in the clustering and free-streaming limits, which are then connected by a rational function interpolation function with cosmology-dependent coefficients given by simple algebraic expressions of the cosmological model parameters. The outcome is a one-line modification to the gravitational potential that requires only the cold matter density contrast as a real-time input, and that can be incorporated into any N-body code with a Particle–Mesh component with no additional implementation cost. To demonstrate its power, we implement the SuperEasy method in the publicly available code, and show that for neutrino mass sums not exceeding ∑ m_ν≃ 1 eV, the total matter and cold matter power spectra are in sub-1% and sub-0.1% agreement with those from state-of-the-art linear response simulations in literature. Aside from its minimal implementation cost, compared with existing massive neutrino simulation methods, the SuperEasy approach has better memory efficiency, incurs no runtime overhead relative to a standard ΛCDM simulation, and requires no post-processing. The minimal nature of the method allows limited computational resources to be diverted to modelling other physical effects of interest, e.g., baryonic physics via hydrodynamics.

neutrino
n-body simulation
gravitational potential


Major Galaxy Mergers Only Trigger the Most Luminous AGN

Abstract: Using multiwavelength surveys of active galactic nuclei across a wide range of bolometric luminosities (10^43<L_bol(erg/s<5x10^46) and redshifts (0<z<3), we find a strong, redshift-independent correlation between the AGN luminosity and the fraction of host galaxies undergoing a major merger. That is, only the most luminous AGN phases are connected to major mergers, while less luminous AGN appear to be driven by secular processes. Combining this trend with AGN luminosity functions to assess the overall cosmic growth of black holes, we find that 50 only 10 events. Our results suggest that to reach the highest AGN luminosities -where the most massive black holes accreted the bulk of their mass - a major merger appears to be required. The luminosity dependence of the fraction of AGN triggered by major mergers can successfully explain why the observed scatter in the M-σrelation for elliptical galaxies is significantly lower than in spirals. The lack of a significant redshift dependence of the L_bol-f_merger relation suggests that downsizing, i.e., the general decline in AGN and star formation activity with decreasing redshift, is driven by a decline in the frequency of major mergers combined with a decrease in the availability of gas at lower redshifts.


Bouncing alternatives to inflation

Abstract: Although the inflationary paradigm is the most widely accepted explanation for the current cosmological observations, it does not necessarily correspond to what actually happened in the early stages of our Universe. To decide on this issue, two paths can be followed: first, all the possible predictions it makes must be derived thoroughly and compared with available data, and second, all imaginable alternatives must be ruled out. Leaving the first task to all other contributors of this volume, we concentrate here on the second option, focusing on the bouncing alternatives and their consequences.

alternative
inflationary paradigm
bounce
primordial perturbation


Cosmic Rays from Cosmic Strings with Condensates

Abstract: We re-visit the production of cosmic rays by cusps on cosmic strings. If a scalar field (“Higgs”) has a linear interaction with the string world-sheet, such as would occur if there is a bosonic condensate on the string, cusps on string loops emit narrow beams of very high energy Higgses which then decay to give a flux of ultra high energy cosmic rays. The ultra-high energy flux and the gamma to proton ratio agree with observations if the string scale is ∼ 10^13 GeV. The diffuse gamma ray and proton fluxes are well below current bounds. Strings that are lighter and have linear interactions with scalars produce an excess of direct and diffuse cosmic rays and are ruled out by observations, while heavier strings (∼ 10^15 GeV) are constrained by their gravitational signatures. This leaves a narrow window of parameter space for the existence of cosmic strings with bosonic condensates.


Vortices in Bose-Einstein Condensate Dark Matter

Abstract: If dark matter in the galactic halo is composed of bosons that form a Bose-Einstein condensate then it is likely that the rotation of the halo will lead to the nucleation of vortices. After a review of the Gross-Pitaevskii equation, the Thomas-Fermi approximation and vortices in general, we consider vortices in detail. We find strong bounds for the boson mass, interaction strength, the shape and quantity of vortices in the halo, the critical rotational velocity for the nucleation of vortices and, in the Thomas-Fermi regime, an exact solution for the mass density of a single, axisymmetric vortex.

dark matter
boson mass
einstein condensate


Large-Scale Structure Formation: from the first non-linear objects to massive galaxy clusters

Abstract: The large-scale structure of the Universe formed from initially small perturbations in the cosmic density field, leading to galaxy clusters with up to 10^15 Msun at the present day. Here, we review the formation of structures in the Universe, considering the first primordial galaxies and the most massive galaxy clusters as extreme cases of structure formation where fundamental processes such as gravity, turbulence, cooling and feedback are particularly relevant. The first non-linear objects in the Universe formed in dark matter halos with 10^5-10^8 Msun at redshifts 10-30, leading to the first stars and massive black holes. At later stages, larger scales became non-linear, leading to the formation of galaxy clusters, the most massive objects in the Universe. We describe here their formation via gravitational processes, including the self-similar scaling relations, as well as the observed deviations from such self-similarity and the related non-gravitational physics (cooling, stellar feedback, AGN). While on intermediate cluster scales the self-similar model is in good agreement with the observations, deviations from such self-similarity are apparent in the core regions, where numerical simulations do not reproduce the current observational results. The latter indicates that the interaction of different feedback processes may not be correctly accounted for in current simulations. Both in the most massive clusters of galaxies as well as during the formation of the first objects in the Universe, turbulent structures and shock waves appear to be common, suggesting them to be ubiquitous in the non-linear regime.

structure formation
first non-linear object
galaxy cluster
star


Non-Gaussianity in a Matter Bounce

Abstract: A nonsingular bouncing cosmology in which the scales of interest today exit the Hubble radius in a matter-dominated contracting phase yields an alternative to inflation for producing a scale-invariant spectrum of adiabatic cosmological fluctuations. In this paper we identify signatures in the non-Gaussianities of the fluctuations which are specific to this scenario and allow it to be distinguished from the results of inflationary models.

matter bounce
matter-dominated contracting phase
non-gaussianity


GW170817 Most Likely Made a Black Hole

Abstract: There are two outstanding issues regarding the neutron-star merger event GW170817: the nature of the compact remnant and the interstellar shock. The mass of the remnant of GW170817, ∼2.7 M_⊙, implies the remnant could be either a massive, rotating, neutron star, or a black hole. We report Chandra Director's Discretionary Time observations made in 2017 December and 2018 January, and we reanalyze earlier observations from 2017 August and 2017 September, in order to address these unresolved issues. We estimate the X-ray flux from a neutron star remnant and compare that to the measured X-ray flux. If we assume that the spin-down luminosity of any putative neutron star is converted to pulsar wind nebula X-ray emission in the 0.5-8 keV band with an efficiency of 10^-3, for a dipole magnetic field with 3 × 10^11 G < B < 10^14 G, a rising X-ray signal would result and would be brighter than that observed by day 107, we therefore conclude that the remnant of GW170817 is most likely a black hole. Independent of any assumptions of X-ray efficiency, however, if the remnant is a rapidly-rotating, magnetized, neutron star, the total energy in the external shock should rise by a factor ∼10^2 (to ∼10^52 erg) after a few years, therefore, Chandra observations over the next year or two that do not show substantial brightening will rule out such a remnant. The same observations can distinguish between two different models for the relativistic outflow, either an angular or radially varying structure.


Fermi Large Area Telescope Bright Gamma-ray Source List

Abstract: Following its launch in June 2008, the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope (Fermi) began a sky survey in August. The Large Area Telescope (LAT) on Fermi in 3 months produced a deeper and better-resolved map of the gamma-ray sky than any previous space mission. We present here initial results for energies above 100 MeV for the 205 most significant (statistical significance greater than 10-sigma) gamma-ray sources in these data. These are the best-characterized and best-localized point-like (i.e., spatially unresolved) gamma-ray sources in the early-mission data.

gamma-ray source
source list
space telescope
fermi
star-burst galaxy


Nucleon effective masses within the Brueckner-Hartree-Fock theory: Impact on stellar neutrino emission

Abstract: We calculate the effective masses of neutrons and protons in dense nuclear matter within the microscopic Brueckner-Hartree-Fock many-body theory and study the impact on the neutrino emissivity processes of neutron stars. We compare results based on different nucleon-nucleon potentials and nuclear three-body forces. Useful parametrizations of the numerical results are given. We find substantial in-medium suppression of the emissivities, strongly dependent on the interactions.


Astrophysical imaging of Kerr black holes with scalar hair

Abstract: We address the astrophysical imaging of a family of deformed Kerr black holes (BHs). These are stationary, asymptotically flat black hole (BH) spacetimes, that are solutions of General Relativity minimally coupled to a massive, complex scalar field: Kerr BHs with scalar hair (KBHsSH). Such BHs bifurcate from the vacuum Kerr solution and can be regarded as a horizon within a rotating boson star. In a recent letter, it was shown that KBHsSH can exhibit very distinct shadows from the ones of their vacuum counterparts. The setup therein, however, considered the light source to be a celestial sphere sufficiently far away from the BH. Here, we analyse KBHsSH surrounded by an emitting torus of matter, simulating a more realistic astrophysical environment, and study the corresponding lensing of light as seen by a very far away observer, to appropriately model ground-based observations of Sgr A*. We find that the differences in imaging between KBHsSH and comparable vacuum Kerr BHs remain, albeit less dramatic than those observed for the corresponding shadows in the previous setup. In particular, we highlight two observables that might allow differentiating KBHsSH and Kerr BHs. The first is the angular size of the photon ring (in a Kerr spacetime) or lensing ring (in a KBHSH spacetime), the latter being significantly smaller for sufficiently non-Kerr-like spacetimes. The second is the existence of an edge in the intensity distribution (the photon ring in Kerr spacetime). This edge can disappear for very non-Kerr-like KBHsSH. It is plausible, therefore, that sufficiently precise Very Long Baseline Interferometric observations of BH candidates can constrain this model.

black hole
boson star
astrophysical imaging


A Star Harbouring a Wormhole at its Core

Abstract: We consider a configuration consisting of a wormhole filled by a perfect fluid. Such a model can be applied to describe stars as well as neutron stars with a nontrivial topology. The presence of a tunnel allows for motion of the fluid, including oscillations near the core of the system. Choosing the polytropic equation of state for the perfect fluid, we obtain static regular solutions. Based on these solutions, we consider small radial oscillations of the configuration and show that the solutions are stable with respect to linear perturbations in the external region.

star
wormhole
massless ghost
polytropic fluid


Review of axino dark matter

Abstract: We review the status of axino dark matter. Two hierarchy problems, the strong CP problem and the gauge hierarchy problem, have led to introducing into particle physics a spontaneously broken global Peccei-Quinn symmetry and a softly broken supersymmetry, respectively. Combining them implies the presence of not only an axion, but also of its scalar component, saxion, and their fermionic partner, axino. Among these, the axion and the axino are attractive dark matter candidates. Various possibilities for the axino as dark matter are discussed.


LIGER: mock relativistic light-cones from Newtonian simulations

Abstract: We introduce a method to create mock galaxy catalogues in redshift space including general relativistic effects to linear order in the cosmological perturbations. We dub our method LIGER, short for `light cones with general relativity'. LIGER takes a (N-body or hydrodynamic) Newtonian simulation as an input and outputs the distribution of galaxies in comoving redshift space. This result is achieved making use of a coordinate transformation and simultaneously accounting for lensing magnification. The calculation includes both local corrections and terms that have been integrated along the line of sight. Our fast implementation allows the production of many realizations that can be used to forecast the performance of forthcoming wide-angle surveys and to estimate the covariance matrix of the observables. To facilitate this use, we also present a variant of LIGER designed for large-volume simulations with low mass resolution. In this case, the galaxy distribution on large scales is obtained by biasing the matter-density field. Finally, we present two sample applications of LIGER. First, we discuss the impact of weak gravitational lensing onto the angular clustering of galaxies in a Euclid-like survey. In agreement with previous analytical studies, we find that magnification bias can be measured with high confidence. Second, we focus on two generally neglected Doppler-induced effects: magnification and the change of number counts with redshift. We show that the corresponding redshift-space distortions can be detected at 5.5σ significance with the completed Square Kilometre Array.

newtonian simulation
galaxy
general relativity
first-order statistic


Numerical determination of the cutoff frequency in solar models

Abstract: In stratified atmospheres, acoustic waves can only propagate if their frequency is above the cutoff value. Different theories provide different cutoff values. We developed an alternative method to derive the cutoff frequency in several standard solar models, including various quiet-Sun and umbral atmospheres. We performed numerical simulations of wave propagation in the solar atmosphere. The cutoff frequency is determined from the inspection of phase difference spectra computed between the velocity signal at two atmospheric heights. The process is performed by choosing pairs of heights across all the layers between the photosphere and the chromosphere, to derive the vertical stratification of the cutoff in the solar models. The cutoff frequency predicted by the theoretical calculations departs significantly from our measurements. In quiet-Sun atmospheres, the cutoff shows a strong dependence on the magnetic field for adiabatic wave propagation. When radiative losses are taken into account, the cutoff frequency is greatly reduced and the variation of the cutoff with the strength of the magnetic field is lower. The effect of the radiative losses in the cutoff is necessary to understand recent quiet-Sun and sunspot observations. In the presence of inclined magnetic fields, our numerical calculations confirm the reduction of the cutoff frequency due to the reduced gravity experienced by waves propagating along field lines. An additional reduction is also found in regions with significant changes in the temperature, due to the lower temperature gradient along the path of field-guided waves. Our results show that the cutoff values are not correctly captured by theoretical estimates. In addition, most of the widely-used analytical cutoff formulae neglect the impact of magnetic fields and radiative losses, whose role is critical to determine the evanescent or propagating nature of the waves.

cutoff frequency
solar model
radiative loss


Growth Index after the Planck Results

Abstract: The growth index γ_L was proposed to investigate the possible deviation from the standard ΛCDM model and Einstein's gravity theory in a dynamical perspective. Recently, thanks to the measurement of the cosmic growth rate via the redshift-space distortion, one can understand the evolution of density contrast through fσ_8(z), where f(z)=dlnδ/d ln a is the growth rate of matter and σ_8(z) is the rms amplitude of the density contrast δ at the comoving 8h^-1 Mpc scale. In this paper, we use the redshift space distortion data points to study the growth index on the bases of Einstein's gravity theory and a modified gravity theory under the assumption of f=Ω_m(a)^γ_L. The cosmic background evolution is fixed by the cosmic observations from the type Ia supernovae SNLS3, cosmic microwave background radiation data from Planck and baryon acoustic oscillations. Via the Markov Chain Monte Carlo method, we found the γ_L values for Einstein's gravity with a cosmological constant, w=constant dark energy and a modified gravity theory in the 1,2,3σ regions respectively: 0.675_-0.0662-0.120-0.155^+0.0611+0.129+0.178, 0.745_-0.0819-0.146-0.190^+0.0755+0.157+0.205 and 0.555_-0.0167-0.0373-0.0516^+0.0193+0.0335+0.0436. In the Einstein's gravity theory, the values of growth index γ_L show almost 2σ deviation from the theoretical prediction 6/11 for the ΛCDM model. However in the modified gravity framework, a deviation from the Einstein's relativity is not detected in 1σ region. That implies that the currently available cosmic observations don't expect an alternative modified gravity theory beyond the ΛCDM model under Einstein's gravity, but that the simple assumption of f=Ω_m^γ_L should be improved.

redshift-space distortion
growth index
model parameter space


Sensitivity of third-generation interferometers to extra polarizations in the Stochastic Gravitational Wave Background

Abstract: When modified theories of gravity are considered, at most six gravitational wave polarization modes are allowed and classified in tensor modes, the only ones predicted by General Relativity (GR), along with additional vector and scalar modes. Therefore, gravitational waves represent a powerful tool to test alternative theories of gravitation. In this paper, we forecast the sensitivity of third-generation ground-based interferometers, Einstein Telescope and Cosmic Explorer, to non-GR polarization modes focusing on the stochastic gravitational wave background. We consider the latest technical specifications of the two independent detectors and the full network in order to estimate both the optimal signal-to-noise ratio and the detectable energy density limits relative to all polarization modes in the stochastic background for several locations on Earth and orientations of the two observatories. By considering optimal detector configurations, we find that in 5 years of observation the detection limit for tensor and extra polarization modes could reach h_0^2Ω^T,V,S_GW≈ 10^-12-10^-11, depending on the network configuration and the stochastic background (i.e., if only one among vector and scalar modes exists or both are present). This means that the network sensitivity to different polarization modes can be approximately improved by a factor 10^3 with respect to second-generation interferometers. We finally discuss the possibility of breaking the scalar modes degeneracy by considering both detectors angular responses to sufficiently high gravitational wave frequencies.

interferometer
extra polarization
gravitational wave background


Cosmological parameters from large scale structure - geometric versus shape information

Abstract: The matter power spectrum as derived from large scale structure (LSS) surveys contains two important and distinct pieces of information: an overall smooth shape and the imprint of baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO). We investigate the separate impact of these two types of information on cosmological parameter estimation, and show that for the simplest cosmological models, the broad-band shape information currently contained in the SDSS DR7 halo power spectrum (HPS) is by far superseded by geometric information derived from the baryonic features. An immediate corollary is that contrary to popular beliefs, the upper limit on the neutrino mass m_νpresently derived from LSS combined with cosmic microwave background (CMB) data does not in fact arise from the possible small-scale power suppression due to neutrino free-streaming, if we limit the model framework to minimal LambdaCDM+m_ν. However, in more complicated models, such as those extended with extra light degrees of freedom and a dark energy equation of state parameter w differing from -1, shape information becomes crucial for the resolution of parameter degeneracies. This conclusion will remain true even when data from the Planck surveyor become available. In the course of our analysis, we introduce a new dewiggling procedure that allows us to extend consistently the use of the SDSS HPS to models with an arbitrary sound horizon at decoupling. All the cases considered here are compatible with the conservative 95

large scale structure
neutrino mass
cosmic microwave background
cosmological scenario


Electron-positron pairs in physics and astrophysics: from heavy nuclei to black holes

Abstract: From the interaction of physics and astrophysics we are witnessing in these years a splendid synthesis of theoretical, experimental and observational results originating from three fundametal physical processes. They were originally proposed by Dirac, by Breit and Wheeler and by Sauter, Heisenberg, Euler and Schwinger. The vacuum polarization process in strong electromagnetic field, pioneered by Sauter, Heisenberg, Euler and Schwinger, introduced the concept of critical electric field. It has been searched without success for more than forty years by heavy-ion collisions in many of the leading particle accelerators worldwide. The novel situation today is that these same processes can be studied on a much more grandiose scale during the gravitational collapse leading to the formation of a black hole being observed in Gamma Ray Bursts. This report is dedicated to the scientific race in act. The theoretical and experimental work developed in Earth-based laboratories is confronted with the theoretical interpretation of space-based observations of phenomena originating on cosmological scales. What has become clear in the last ten years is that all the three above mentioned processes, duly extended in the general relativistic framework, are necessary for the understanding of the physics of the gravitational collapse to a black hole. Vice versa, the natural arena where these processes can be observed in mutual interaction and on an unprecedented scale, is indeed the realm of relativistic astrophysics.

astrophysic
black hole
vacuum polarization process


Oscillations in the stochastic gravitational wave background from sharp features and particle production during inflation

Abstract: We identify a characteristic pattern in the scalar-induced stochastic gravitational wave background from particle production during inflation. If particle production is sufficiently efficient, the scalar power spectrum exhibits 𝒪(1) oscillations periodic in k, characteristic of a sharp feature, with an exponentially enhanced envelope. We systematically study the properties of the induced spectrum of gravitational waves sourced after inflation and find that this inherits the periodic structure in k, resulting in a peak in the gravitational wave energy density spectrum with 𝒪(10 %) modulations. The frequency of the oscillation in the scalar power spectrum is determined by the scale of the feature during inflation and in turn sets the frequency of modulations in the gravitational wave signal. We present an explicit realisation of this phenomenon in the framework of multifield inflation, in the form of a strong sharp turn in the inflationary trajectory. The resulting stochastic background is potentially detectable in future gravitational wave observatories, and considerations of backreaction and perturbativity can be used to constrain the parameter space from the theoretical side. Our work motivates more extensive research linking primordial features to observable properties of the stochastic background of gravitational waves, and dedicated development in data analysis for their detection.

gravitational wave background
particle production
power spectrum
perturbativity
oscillation


No-hair theorem for Black Holes in Astrophysical Environments

Abstract: According to the no-hair theorem, static black holes are described by a Schwarzschild spacetime provided there are no other sources of the gravitational field. This requirement, however, is in astrophysical realistic scenarios often violated, e.g., if the black hole is part of a binary system or if it is surrounded by an accretion disk. In these cases, the black hole is distorted due to tidal forces. Nonetheless, the subsequent formulation of the no-hair theorem holds: The contribution of the distorted black hole to the multipole moments that describe the gravitational field close to infinity and, thus, all sources is that of a Schwarzschild black hole. It still has no hair. This implies that there is no multipole moment induced in the black hole and that its second Love numbers, which measure some aspects of the distortion, vanish as was already shown in approximations to general relativity. But here we prove this property for astrophysical relevant black holes in full general relativity.

black hole
general relativity
no-hair theorem


No-Scale Supergravity Realization of the Starobinsky Model of Inflation

Abstract: We present a model for cosmological inflation based on a no-scale supergravity sector with an SU(2,1)/U(1) Kahler potential, a single modulus T and an inflaton superfield Phi described by a Wess-Zumino model with superpotential parameters (mu, lambda). This model yields a scalar spectral index n_s and a tensor-to-scalar ratio r that are compatible with the Planck measurements for values of lambda simeq mu/3M_P. For the specific choice lambda = mu/3M_P, the model is a no-scale supergravity realization of the R+R^2 Starobinsky model.

no-scale supergravity realization
inflaton field
starobinsky-like inflation


Primordial power spectrum: a complete analysis with the WMAP nine-year data

Abstract: We have improved further the error sensitive Richardson-Lucy deconvolution algorithm making it applicable directly on the un-binned measured angular power spectrum of Cosmic Microwave Background observations to reconstruct the form of the primordial power spectrum. This improvement makes the application of the method significantly more straight forward by removing some intermediate stages of analysis allowing a reconstruction of the primordial spectrum with higher efficiency and precision and with lower computational expenses. Applying the modified algorithm we fit the WMAP 9 year data using the optimized reconstructed form of the primordial spectrum with more than 300 improvement in χ^2 with respect to the best fit power-law. This is clearly beyond the reach of other alternative approaches and reflects the efficiency of the proposed method in the reconstruction process and allow us to look for any possible feature in the primordial spectrum projected in the CMB data. Though the proposed method allow us to look at various possibilities for the form of the primordial spectrum, all having good fit to the data, proper error-analysis is needed to test for consistency of theoretical models since, along with possible physical artefacts, most of the features in the reconstructed spectrum might be arising from fitting noises in the CMB data. Reconstructed error-band for the form of the primordial spectrum using many realizations of the data, all bootstrapped and based on WMAP 9 year data, shows proper consistency of power-law form of the primordial spectrum with the WMAP 9 data at all wave numbers. Including WMAP polarization data in to the analysis have not improved much our results due to its low quality but we expect Planck data will allow us to make a full analysis on CMB observations on both temperature and polarization separately and in combination.

possible feature
cmb data
primordial power spectrum


The Effective Theory of Inflation in the Standard Model of the Universe and the CMB+LSS data analysis

Abstract: Inflation is part of the Standard Model of the Universe supported by CMB and large scale structure LSS datasets. This review presents new developments of inflation in three main chapters. (I): The effective theory of inflation a la Ginsburg-Landau (GL): the inflaton potential is a polynomial with universal form making explicit the inflation energy scale M, the Planck mass and the inflation e-folds number N 60. The slow-roll expansion becomes a systematic 1/N expansion and the inflaton couplings are naturally small as powers of (M/M_Pl)^2. The spectral index (n_s - 1) and the ratio of tensor/scalar fluctuations r are O(1/N), the running index is O(1/N^2). M 0.7 10^16 GeV is completely determined by the scalar adiabatic fluctuations amplitude. (II): A Monte Carlo Markov Chains (MCMC) analysis of the CMB+LSS data (including WMAP5) with our analytic theoretical results yields: a lower bound for r (new inflation): r > 0.023 (95 potential is a double well, even function of the field yielding as most probable values n_s 0.964, r 0.051. This value for r is within reach of forthcoming CMB observations. Slow-roll inflation is generically preceded by a short fast-roll stage which leads to a suppression of the CMB quadrupoles. MCMC analysis of the WMAP+SDSS data shows that fast-roll fits the TT, TE and EE modes well reproducing the quadrupole suppression and fixes the total number of efolds of inflation to be N_total 64. (III) Quantum loop corrections are very small and controlled by powers of (H /M_Pl)^2 10^-9 which validates the effective theory of inflation. We show how powerful is the GL theory of inflation in predicting observables.


What the small angle CMB really tells us about the curvature of the Universe

Abstract: It is well known that observations of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) are highly sensitive to the spatial curvature of the Universe, k. Here we find that what is in fact being tightly constrained by small angle fluctuations is spatial curvature near the surface of last scattering, and that if we allow k to be a function of position, rather than taking a constant value everywhere, then considerable spatial curvature is permissible within our own locale. This result is of interest for the giant void models that attempt to explain the supernovae observations without Dark Energy. We find voids models with a homogeneous big bang can be compatible with the observed small angle CMB, but only if they exist in a positively curved universe. To be compatible with local measurements of H_0, however, we find that a radially varying bang time is required.

small angle cmb
curvature
cosmological model


Assessment of the Information Content of the Power Spectrum and Bispectrum

Abstract: The covariance matrix of the matter and halo power spectrum and bispectrum are studied. Using a large suite of simulations, we find that the non-Gaussianity in the covariance is significant already at mildly nonlinear scales. We compute the leading disconnected non-Gaussian correction to the matter bispectrum covariance using perturbation theory, and find that the corrections result in good agreement in the mildly nonlinear regime. The shot noise contribution to the halo power spectrum and bispectrum covariance is computed using the Poisson model, and the model yields decent agreement with simulation results. However, when the shot noise is estimated from the individual realization, which is usually done in reality, we find that the halo covariance is substantially reduced and gets close to the Gaussian covariance. This is because most of the non-Gaussianity in the covariance arises from the fluctuations in the Poisson shot noise. We use the measured non-Gaussian covariance to access the information content of the power spectrum and bispectrum. The signal-to-noise ratio, S/N, of the matter and halo power spectrum levels off in the mildly nonlinear regime, k ∼ 0.1 - 0.2 Mpc h^-1. In the nonlinear regime the S/N of the matter and halo bispectrum increases but much slower than the Gaussian results suggest. We find that both the S/N for power spectrum and bispectrum are overestimated by the Gaussian covariances, but the problem being much more serious for the bispectrum. Because the bispectrum is affected strongly by nonlinearity and shot noise, inclusion of the bispectrum only adds modest amount of S/N compared to that of the power spectrum.

information content
power spectrum
non-gaussianity
assessment


Fluctuations of differential number counts of radio continuum sources

Abstract: We investigate the differential number counts of sources in radio continuum surveys, including all terms at linear order in cosmological perturbations. Our framework does not assume a specific gauge condition. This general approach allows us to recover gauge invariance explicitly. With the complete derivations of the covariant volume integral on the past light cone, we have identified several contributions in the number counts. To clarify their underlying physics, we present each contributions in terms of scalar, vector and tensor modes. This theoretical framework promises to be widely applicable to continuum radio galaxy surveys to model the expected angular power spectrum and two-point correlation.

differential number count
fluctuation
radio source


Orbital migration of low-mass planets in evolutionary radiative models: Avoiding catastrophic infall

Abstract: Outward migration of low-mass planets has recently been shown to be a possibility in non-barotropic disks. We examine the consequences of this result in evolutionary models of protoplanetary disks. Planet migration occurs towards equilibrium radii with zero torque. These radii themselves migrate inwards because of viscous accretion and photoevaporation. We show that as the surface density and temperature fall, the planet orbital migration and disk depletion timescales eventually become comparable, with the precise timing depending on the mass of the planet. When this occurs, the planet decouples from the equilibrium radius. At this time, however, the gas surface density is already too low to drive substantial further migration. A higher mass planet, of 10 Earth masses, can open a gap during the late evolution of the disk, and stops migrating. Low mass planets, with 1 or 0.1 Earth masses, released beyond 1 AU in our models, avoid migrating into the star. Our results provide support for the reduced migration rates adopted in recent planet population synthesis models.

planet
protoplanetary disk
orbital migration


Momentum Injection by Supernovae in the Interstellar Medium

Abstract: Supernova (SN) explosions deposit prodigious energy and momentum in their environments, with the former regulating multiphase thermal structure and the latter regulating turbulence and star formation rates in the interstellar medium (ISM). However, systematic studies quantifying the impact of SNe in realistic inhomogeneous ISM conditions have been lacking. Using three-dimensional hydrodynamic simulations, we investigate the dependence of radial momentum injection on both physical conditions (considering a range of mean density n=0.1-100) and numerical parameters. Our inhomogeneous simulations adopt two-phase background states that result from thermal instability in atomic gas. Although the SNR morphology becomes highly complex for inhomogeneous backgrounds, the radial momentum injection is remarkably insensitive to environmental details. For our two-phase simulations, the final momentum produced by a single SN is given by 2.8*10^5 M_sun*km/s n^-0.17. This is only 5 with the same mean density, and only 30 of shell formation. The maximum mass in hot gas is quite insensitive to environmental inhomogeneity. Strong magnetic fields alter the hot gas mass at very late times, but the momentum injection remains the same. Initial experiments with multiple spatially-correlated SNe show a momentum per event nearly as large as single-SN cases. We also present a full numerical parameter study to assess convergence requirements. For convergence in the momentum and other quantities, we find that the numerical resolution dx and the initial size of the SNR r_init must satisfy dx, r_init<r_sf/3, where the shell formation radius is given by r_sf = 30 pc n^-0.46 for two-phase models (or 30 for a homogeneous medium).

supernova
interstellar medium
momentum injection


The First Magnetic Fields

Abstract: We review current ideas on the origin of galactic and extragalactic magnetic fields. We begin by summarizing observations of magnetic fields at cosmological redshifts and on cosmological scales. These observations translate into constraints on the strength and scale magnetic fields must have during the early stages of galaxy formation in order to seed the galactic dynamo. We examine mechanisms for the generation of magnetic fields that operate prior during inflation and during subsequent phase transitions such as electroweak symmetry breaking and the quark-hadron phase transition. The implications of strong primordial magnetic fields for the reionization epoch as well as the first generation of stars is discussed in detail. The exotic, early-Universe mechanisms are contrasted with astrophysical processes that generate fields after recombination. For example, a Biermann-type battery can operate in a proto-galaxy during the early stages of structure formation. Moreover, magnetic fields in either an early generation of stars or active galactic nuclei can be dispersed into the intergalactic medium.

magnetic field
phase transition
primordial magnetic field
star
early-universe mechanism


A First Transients Survey with JWST: the FLARE project

Abstract: JWST was conceived and built to answer one of the most fundamental questions that humans can address empirically: "How did the Universe make its first stars?". Our First Lights At REionization (FLARE) project transforms the quest for the epoch of reionization from the static to the time domain. It targets the complementary question: "What happened to those first stars?". It will be answered by observations of the most luminous events: supernovae and accretion on to black holes formed by direct collapse from the primordial gas clouds. These transients provide direct constraints on star-formation rates (SFRs) and the truly initial Initial Mass Function (IMF), and they may identify possible stellar seeds of supermassive black holes (SMBHs). Furthermore, our knowledge of the physics of these events at ultra-low metallicity will be much expanded. JWST's unique capabilities will detect these most luminous and earliest cosmic messengers easily in fairly shallow observations. However, these events are very rare at the dawn of cosmic structure formation and so require large area coverage. Time domain astronomy can be advanced to an unprecedented depth by means of a shallow field of JWST reaching 27 mag AB in 2 and 4.4 microns over a field as large as 0.1 square degree visited multiple times each year. Such a survey may set strong constraints or detect massive Pop III SNe at redshifts beyond 10, pinpointing the redshift of the first stars, or at least their death. Based on our current knowledge of superluminous supernovae (SLSNe), such a survey will find one or more SLSNe at redshifts above 6 in five years and possibly several direct collapse black holes. Although JWST is not designed as a wide field survey telescope, we show that such a wide field survey is possible with JWST and is critical in addressing several of its key scientific goals.

jwst
flare project
first lights
supernovae
redshift


Turning Around along the Cosmic Web

Abstract: A bound-violation designates a case that the turn-around radius of a bound object exceeds the upper limit put by the spherical collapse model based on the standard ΛCDM paradigm. Given that the turn-around radius of a bound object is a stochastic quantity and that the spherical model overly simplifies the true gravitational collapse which actually proceeds anisotropically along the cosmic web, the rarity of the occurrence of a bound violation may depend on the web environment. Assuming a Planck cosmology, we numerically construct the bound-zone peculiar velocity profiles along the cosmic web (filaments and sheets) around the isolated groups with virial mass M_ v≥ 3× 10^13 h^-1M_⊙ identified in the Small MultiDark Planck simulations and determine the radial distances at which their peculiar velocities equal the Hubble expansion speed as the turn-around radii of the groups. It is found that although the average turn-around radii of the isolated groups are well below the spherical bound-limit on all mass scales, the bound violations are not forbidden for individual groups and that the cosmic web has an effect of reducing the rarity of the occurrence of a bound violation. Explaining that the spherical bound limit on the turn-around radius in fact represents the threshold distance up to which the intervention of the external gravitational field in the bound-zone peculiar velocity profiles around the non-isolated groups stays negligible, we discuss the possibility of using the threshold distance scale to constrain locally the equation of state of dark energy .

cosmic web
turn-around radius
peculiar velocity profile


On Loops in Inflation

Abstract: We study loop corrections to correlation functions of inflationary perturbations. Previous calculations have found that the two-point function can have a logarithmic running of the form log(k/mu), where k is the wavenumber of the perturbation, and mu is the renormalization scale. We highlight that this result would have profound consequences for both eternal inflation and the predictivity of standard inflation. We find a different result. We consider two sets of theories: one where the inflaton has a large cubic self-interaction and one where the inflaton interacts gravitationally with N massless spectator scalar fields. We find that there is a logarithmic running but of the form log(H/mu), where H is the Hubble constant during inflation. We find this result in three independent ways: by performing the calculation with a sharp cutoff in frequency-momentum space, in dimensional regularization and by the simple procedure of making the loop integral dimensionless. For the simplest of our theories we explicitly renormalize the correlation function proving that the divergencies can be reabsorbed and that the correlation function for super-horizon modes does not depend on time (once the tadpole terms have been properly taken into account). We prove the time-independence of the super-horizon correlation function in several additional ways: by doing the calculation of the correlation function at finite time using both the regularizations and by developing a formalism which expresses loop corrections directly in terms of renormalized quantities at each time. We find this last formalism particularly helpful to develop intuition which we then use to generalize our results to higher loops and different interactions.

loop correction
logarithmic running
perturbation theory


Ensemble modeling of CMEs using the WSA-ENLIL+Cone model

Abstract: Ensemble modeling of CMEs provides a probabilistic forecast of CME arrival time which includes an estimation of arrival time uncertainty from the spread and distribution of predictions and forecast confidence in the likelihood of CME arrival. The real-time ensemble modeling of CME propagation uses the WSA-ENLIL+Cone model installed at the CCMC and executed in real-time. The current implementation evaluates the sensitivity of WSA-ENLIL+Cone model simulations of CME propagation to initial CME parameters. We discuss the results of real-time ensemble simulations for a total of 35 CME events between January 2013 - July 2014. For the 17 events where the CME was predicted to arrive at Earth, the mean absolute arrival time prediction error was 12.3 hours, which is comparable to the errors reported in other studies. For predictions of CME arrival at Earth the correct rejection rate is 62 false-alarm rate is 38 arrival predictions for 8 out of 17 events. The Brier Score for CME arrival predictions is 0.15 (where 1 is a perfect forecast), indicating that on average, the predicted likelihood of CME arrival is fairly accurate. The reliability of ensemble CME arrival predictions is heavily dependent on the initial distribution of CME input parameters, particularly the median and spread. Preliminary analysis of the probabilistic forecasts suggests undervariability, indicating that these ensembles do not sample a wide enough spread in CME input parameters. Prediction errors can also arise from ambient model parameters, the accuracy of the solar wind background derived from coronal maps, or other model limitations. Finally, predictions of the Kp geomagnetic index differ from observed values by less than one for 11 out of 17 of the ensembles and Kp prediction errors computed from the mean predicted Kp show a mean absolute error of 1.3.

wsa-enlil+cone model
cme input parameter
ensemble modeling


Earth as a Hybrid Planet - The Anthropocene in an Evolutionary Astrobiological Context

Abstract: We develop a classification scheme for the evolutionary state of planets based on the non-equilibrium thermodynamics of their coupled systems, including the presence of a biosphere and the possibility of what we call an agency-dominated biosphere (i.e. an energy-intensive technological species). The premise is that Earths entry into the Anthropocene represents what might be from an astrobiological perspective a predictable planetary transition. We explore this problem from the perspective of the solar system and exoplanet studies. Our classification discriminates planets by the forms of free energy generation driven from stellar forcing. We then explore how timescales for global evolutionary processes on Earth might be synchronized with ecological transformations driven by increases in energy harvesting and its consequences (which might have reached a turning point with global urbanization). Finally, we describe quantitatively the classification scheme based on the maintenance of chemical disequilibrium in the past and current Earth systems and on other worlds in the solar system. In this perspective, the beginning of the Anthropocene can be seen as the onset of the hybridization of the planet - a transitional stage from one class of planetary systems interaction to another. For Earth, this stage occurs as the effects of human civilization yield not just new evolutionary pressures, but new selected directions for novel planetary ecosystem functions and their capacity to generate disequilibrium and enhance planetary dissipation.


Large-scale Perturbations from the Waterfall Field in Hybrid Inflation

Abstract: We estimate large-scale curvature perturbations from isocurvature fluctuations in the waterfall field during hybrid inflation, in addition to the usual inflaton field perturbations. The tachyonic instability at the end of inflation leads to an explosive growth of super-Hubble scale perturbations, but they retain the steep blue spectrum characteristic of vacuum fluctuations in a massive field during inflation. The power spectrum thus peaks around the Hubble-horizon scale at the end of inflation. We extend the usual delta-N formalism to include the essential role of these small fluctuations when estimating the large-scale curvature perturbation. The resulting curvature perturbation due to fluctuations in the waterfall field is second-order and the spectrum is expected to be of order 10^-54 on cosmological scales.

hybrid inflation
curvature perturbation
tachyonic instability
cosmological scale


Kinetic Equations for Baryogenesis via Sterile Neutrino Oscillation

Abstract: We investigate baryogenesis in the νMSM (neutrino Minimal Standard Model), which is the MSM extended by three right-handed neutrinos with masses below the electroweak scale. The baryon asymmetry of the universe can be generated by the mechanism via flavor oscillation of right-handed (sterile) neutrinos which are responsible to masses of active neutrinos confirmed by various experiments. We present the kinetic equations for the matrix of densities of leptons which describe the generation of asymmetries. Especially, the momentum dependence of the matrix of densities is taken into account. By solving these equations numerically, it is found that the momentum distribution is significantly distorted from the equilibrium one, since the production for the modes with lower momenta k ≪ T (T is the temperature of the universe) is enhanced, while suppressed for higher modes. As a result, the most important mode for the yields of sterile neutrinos as well as the baryon asymmetry is k ≃ 2 T, which is smaller than < k > inferred from the thermal average. The comparison with the previous works is also discussed.

baryogenesis
sterile neutrino
electroweak scale


Mass Transport and Turbulence in Gravitationally Unstable Disk Galaxies II: The Effects of Star Formation Feedback

Abstract: Self-gravity and stellar feedback are capable of driving turbulence and transporting mass and angular momentum in disk galaxies, but the balance between them is not well understood. In the previous paper in this series, we showed that gravity alone can drive turbulence in galactic disks, regulate their Toomre Q parameters to ∼ 1, and transport mass inwards at a rate sufficient to fuel star formation in the centers of present-day galaxies. In this paper we extend our models to include the effects of star formation feedback. We show that feedback suppresses galaxies' star formation rates by a factor of ∼ 5 and leads to the formation of a multi-phase atomic and molecular ISM. Both the star formation rate and the phase balance produced in our simulations agree well with observations of nearby spirals. After our galaxies reach steady state, we find that the inclusion of feedback actually lowers the gas velocity dispersion slightly compared to the case of pure self-gravity, and also slightly reduces the rate of inward mass transport. Nevertheless, we find that, even with feedback included, our galactic disks self-regulate to Q ∼ 1, and transport mass inwards at a rate sufficient to supply a substantial fraction of the inner disk star formation. We argue that gravitational instability is therefore likely to be the dominant source of turbulence and transport in galactic disks, and that it is responsible for fueling star formation in the inner parts of galactic disks over cosmological times.

turbulence
star formation feedback
gravitational instability


On the number density of "direct collapse" black hole seeds

Abstract: Supermassive black holes (BHs) of millions solar masses and above reside in the center of most local galaxies, but they also power active galactic nuclei and quasars, detected up to z=7. This observational evidence puts strong constraints on the BH growth and the mass of the first BH seeds. The scenario of "direct collapse" is very appealing as it leads to the formation of large mass BH seeds in the range 10^4-10^6 Msun, which eases explaining how quasars at z=6-7 are powered by BHs with masses >10^9 Msun. Direct collapse, however, appears to be rare, as the conditions required by the scenario are that gas is metal-free, the presence of a strong photo-dissociating Lyman-Werner flux, and large inflows of gas at the center of the halo, sustained for 10-100 Myr. We performed several cosmological hydrodynamical simulations that cover a large range of box sizes and resolutions, thus allowing us to understand the impact of several physical processes on the distribution of direct collapse BHs. We identify halos where direct collapse can happen, and derive the number density of BHs. We also investigate the discrepancies between hydrodynamical simulations, direct or post-processed, and semi-analytical studies. We find that for direct collapse to account for BHs in normal galaxies, the critical Lyman-Werner flux required for direct collapse must be much less than predicted by 3D simulations that include detailed chemical models. However, when supernova feedback is relatively weak, enough direct collapse BHs to explain z=6-7 quasars can be obtained for more realistic values of the critical Lyman Werner flux.

number density
direct collapse
black hole


Are pulsars spun up or down by SASI spiral modes?

Abstract: Pulsars may either be spun up or down by hydrodynamic instabilities during the supernova explosion of massive stars. Besides rapidly-rotating cases related to bipolar explosions, stellar rotation may affect the explosion of massive stars in the more common situations where the centrifugal force is minor. Using 2D simulations of a simplified setup in cylindrical geometry, we examine the impact of rotation on the Standing Accretion Shock Instability (SASI) and the corotation instability, also known as low-T/|W|. The influence of rotation on the saturation amplitude of these instabilities depends on the specific angular momentum in the accretion flow and the ratio of the shock to the neutron star radii. The spiral mode of SASI becomes more vigorous with faster rotation only if this ratio is large enough. A corotation instability develops at large rotation rates and impacts the dynamics more dramatically, leading to a strong one-armed spiral wave. Non-axisymmetric instabilities are able to redistribute angular momentum radially and affect the pulsar spin at birth. A systematic study of the relationship between the core rotation period of the progenitor and the initial pulsar spin is performed. Stellar rotation rates for which pulsars are spun up or down by SASI are estimated. Rapidly spinning progenitors are modestly spun down by spiral modes, less than ∼ 30%, when a corotation instability develops. Given the observational constraints on pulsar spin periods at birth, this suggests that rapid rotation might not play a significant hydrodynamic role in most core-collapse supernovae.

pulsar
spiral mode
accretion shock instability


Measuring the neutron star equation of state with gravitational wave observations

Abstract: We report the results of a first study that uses numerical simulations to estimate the accuracy with which one can use gravitational wave observations of double neutron star inspiral to measure parameters of the neutron-star equation of state. The simulations use the evolution and initial-data codes of Shibata and Uryu to compute the last several orbits and the merger of neutron stars, with matter described by a parametrized equation of state. Previous work suggested the use of an effective cutoff frequency to place constraints on the equation of state. We find, however, that greater accuracy is obtained by measuring departures from the point-particle limit of the gravitational waveform produced during the late inspiral. As the stars approach their final plunge and merger, the gravitational wave phase accumulates more rapidly for smaller values of the neutron star compactness (the ratio of the mass of the neutron star to its radius). We estimate that realistic equations of state will lead to gravitational waveforms that are distinguishable from point particle inspirals at an effective distance (the distance to an optimally oriented and located system that would produce an equivalent waveform amplitude) of 100 Mpc or less. As Lattimer and Prakash observed, neutron-star radius is closely tied to the pressure at density not far above nuclear. Our results suggest that broadband gravitational wave observations at frequencies between 500 and 1000 Hz will constrain this pressure, and we estimate the accuracy with which it can be measured. Related first estimates of radius measurability show that the radius can be determined to an accuracy of 1 km at 100 Mpc.

neutron star
gravitational wave observation
point-particle limit


The Eleventh and Twelfth Data Releases of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey: Final Data from SDSS-III

Abstract: The third generation of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS-III) took data from 2008 to 2014 using the original SDSS wide-field imager, the original and an upgraded multi-object fiber-fed optical spectrograph, a new near-infrared high-resolution spectrograph, and a novel optical interferometer. All the data from SDSS-III are now made public. In particular, this paper describes Data Release 11 (DR11) including all data acquired through 2013 July, and Data Release 12 (DR12) adding data acquired through 2014 July (including all data included in previous data releases), marking the end of SDSS-III observing. Relative to our previous public release (DR10), DR12 adds one million new spectra of galaxies and quasars from the Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS) over an additional 3000 sq. deg of sky, more than triples the number of H-band spectra of stars as part of the Apache Point Observatory (APO) Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE), and includes repeated accurate radial velocity measurements of 5500 stars from the Multi-Object APO Radial Velocity Exoplanet Large-area Survey (MARVELS). The APOGEE outputs now include measured abundances of 15 different elements for each star. In total, SDSS-III added 2350 sq. deg of ugriz imaging; 155,520 spectra of 138,099 stars as part of the Sloan Exploration of Galactic Understanding and Evolution 2 (SEGUE-2) survey; 2,497,484 BOSS spectra of 1,372,737 galaxies, 294,512 quasars, and 247,216 stars over 9376 sq. deg; 618,080 APOGEE spectra of 156,593 stars; and 197,040 MARVELS spectra of 5,513 stars. Since its first light in 1998, SDSS has imaged over 1/3 of the Celestial sphere in five bands and obtained over five million astronomical spectra.

data release
sdss-iii
star
photometric data


Lower Bounds on Intergalactic Magnetic Fields from Simultaneously Observed GeV-TeV Light Curves of the Blazar Mrk 501

Abstract: We derive lower bounds on intergalactic magnetic fields (IGMFs) from upper limits on the pair echo emission from the blazar Mrk 501, that is, delayed GeV emission from secondary e^-e^+ pairs produced via interactions of primary TeV gamma rays with the cosmic infrared background. Utilizing only simultaneous GeV-TeV light curves observed by VERITAS, MAGIC and Fermi-LAT during a multiwavelength campaign in 2009 that included a TeV flare, bounds are deduced on the IGMF strength of B ≳ 10^-20 G at 90 for a field coherence length of 1 kpc. Since our analysis is based firmly on the observational data alone and nearly free of assumptions concerning the primary TeV flux in unobserved periods or spectral bands, our evaluation of the pair echo flux is conservative and the evidence for a non-zero IGMF is more robust compared to previous studies.

magnetic field
intergalactic medium
extragalactic magnetic field


Further explorations of Skyrme-Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov mass formulas. XI: Stabilizing neutron stars against a ferromagnetic collapse

Abstract: We construct a new Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov (HFB) mass model, labeled HFB-18, with a generalized Skyrme force. The additional terms that we have introduced into the force are density-dependent generalizations of the usual t_1 and t_2 terms, and are chosen in such a way as to avoid the high-density ferromagnetic instability of neutron stars that is a general feature of conventional Skyrme forces, and in particular of the Skyrme forces underlying all the HFB mass models that we have developed in the past. The remaining parameters of the model are then fitted to essentially all the available mass data, an rms deviation σ of 0.585 MeV being obtained. The new model thus gives almost as good a mass fit as our best-fit model HFB-17 (σ = 0.581 MeV), and has the advantage of avoiding the ferromagnetic collapse of neutron stars.

neutron star
ferromagnetic collapse
mass model


Measuring the Hubble constant and spatial curvature from supernova apparent magnitude, baryon acoustic oscillation, and Hubble parameter data

Abstract: Cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropy (spatial inhomogeneity) data provide the tightest constraints on the Hubble constant, matter density, spatial curvature, and dark energy dynamics. Other data, sensitive to the evolution of only the spatially homogeneous part of the cosmological model, such as Type Ia supernova apparent magnitude, baryon acoustic oscillation distance, and Hubble parameter measurements, can be used in conjunction with the CMB data to more tightly constrain parameters. Recent joint analyses of CMB and such non-CMB data indicate that slightly closed spatial hypersurfaces are favored in nonflat untilted inflation models and that dark energy dynamics cannot be ruled out, and favor a smaller Hubble constant. We show that the constraints that follow from these non-CMB data alone are consistent with those that follow from the CMB data alone and so also consistent with, but weaker than, those that follow from the joint analyses of the CMB and non-CMB data.

hubble
spatial curvature
apparent magnitude


Early structure formation from cosmic string loops

Abstract: We examine the effects of cosmic strings on structure formation and on the ionization history of the universe. While Gaussian perturbations from inflation are known to provide the dominant contribution to the large scale structure of the universe, density perturbations due to strings are highly non-Gaussian and can produce nonlinear structures at very early times. This could lead to early star formation and reionization of the universe. We improve on earlier studies of these effects by accounting for high loop velocities and for the filamentary shape of the resulting halos. We find that for string energy scales Gμ> 10^-7 the effect of strings on the CMB temperature and polarization power spectra can be significant and is likely to be detectable by the Planck satellite. We mention shortcomings of the standard cosmological model of galaxy formation which may be remedied with the addition of cosmic strings, and comment on other possible observational implications of early structure formation by strings.

cosmic string
reionization
early structure formation


Exploring Bouncing Cosmologies with Cosmological Surveys

Abstract: In light of the recent observational data coming from the sky we have two significant directions in the field of theoretical cosmology recently. First, we are now able to make use of present observations, such as the Planck and BICEP2 data, to examine theoretical predictions from the standard inflationary ΛCDM which were made decades of years ago. Second, we can search for new cosmological signatures as a way to explore physics beyond the standard cosmic paradigm. In particular, a subset of early universe models admit a nonsingular bouncing solution that attempts to address the issue of the big bang singularity. These models have achieved a series of considerable developments in recent years, in particular in their perturbative frameworks, which made brand-new predictions of cosmological signatures that could be visible in current and forthcoming observations. In this article we present two representative paradigms of very early universe physics. The first is the so-called new matter (or matter-ekpyrotic) bounce scenario in which the universe starts with a matter-dominated contraction phase and transitions into an ekpyrotic phase. In the setting of this paradigm, we propose some possible mechanisms of generating a red tilt for primordial curvature perturbations and confront its general predictions with recent cosmological observations. The second is the matter-bounce inflation scenario which can be viewed as an extension of inflationary cosmology with a matter contraction before inflation. We present a class of possible model constructions and review its implications on the current CMB experiments. Last, we review the significant achievements of these paradigms beyond the inflationary ΛCDM model, which we expect to shed new light on the direction of observational cosmology in the next decade years.

cosmology
curvature perturbation
cosmological observation
matter bounce scenario