Stars, Gas, and Dark Matter in the Solar Neighborhood

Abstract: The surface density and vertical distribution of stars, stellar remnants, and gas in the solar vicinity form important ingredients for understanding the star formation history of the Galaxy as well as for inferring the local density of dark matter by using stellar kinematics to probe the gravitational potential. In this paper we review the literature for these baryonic components, reanalyze data, and provide tables of the surface densities and exponential scale heights of main sequence stars, giants, brown dwarfs, and stellar remnants. We also review three components of gas (H2, HI, and HII), give their surface densities at the solar circle, and discuss their vertical distribution. We find a local total surface density of M dwarfs of 17.3 pm 2.3 Mo/pc^2. Our result for the total local surface density of visible stars, 27.0 pm 2.7 Mo/pc^2, is close to previous estimates due to a cancellation of opposing effects: more mass in M dwarfs, less mass in the others. The total local surface density in white dwarfs is 4.9 pm 0.6 Mo/pc^2; in brown dwarfs, it is 1.2 Mo/pc^2. We find that the total local surface density of stars and stellar remnants is 33.4 pm 3 Mo/pc^2, somewhat less than previous estimates. We analyze data on 21 cm emission and absorption and obtain good agreement with recent results on the local amount of neutral atomic hydrogen obtained with the Planck satellite. The local surface density of gas is 13.7 pm 1.6 Mo/pc^2. The total baryonic mass surface density that we derive for the solar neighborhood is 47.1 pm 3.4 Mo/pc^2. Combining these results with others' measurements of the total surface density of matter within 1-1.1 kpc of the plane, we find that the local density of dark matter is 0.013 pm 0.003Mo/pc^3.The local density of all matter is 0.097 pm 0.013 Mo/pc^3. We discuss limitations on the properties of a possible thin disk of dark matter.


Thermal Relics in Modified Cosmologies: Bounds on Evolution Histories of the Early Universe and Cosmological Boosts for PAMELA

Abstract: Alternative cosmologies, based on extensions of General Relativity, predict modified thermal histories in the Early Universe during the pre Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (BBN) era, epoch which is not directly constrained by cosmological observations. When the expansion rate is enhanced with respect to the standard case, thermal relics typically decouple with larger relic abundances. The correct value of the relic abundance is therefore obtained for larger annihilation cross–sections, as compared to standard cosmology. A direct consequence is that indirect detection rates are enhanced. Extending previous analyses of ours, we derive updated astrophysical bounds on the dark matter annihilation cross sections and use them to constrain alternative cosmologies in the pre–BBN era. We also determine the characteristics of these alternative cosmologies in order to provide the correct value of relic abundance for a thermal relic for the (large) annihilation cross–section required to explain the PAMELA results on the positron fraction, therefore providing a "cosmological boost" solution to the dark matter interpretation of the PAMELA data.

early universe
alternative cosmology
relic abundance


The effects of supernovae on the dynamical evolution of binary stars and star clusters

Abstract: In this chapter I review the effects of supernovae explosions on the dynamical evolution of (1) binary stars and (2) star clusters. (1) Supernovae in binaries can drastically alter the orbit of the system, sometimes disrupting it entirely, and are thought to be partially responsible for `runaway' massive stars - stars in the Galaxy with large peculiar velocities. The ejection of the lower-mass secondary component of a binary occurs often in the event of the more massive primary star exploding as a supernova. The orbital properties of binaries that contain massive stars mean that the observed velocities of runaway stars (10s - 100s km s^-1) are consistent with this scenario. (2) Star formation is an inherently inefficient process, and much of the potential in young star clusters remains in the form of gas. Supernovae can in principle expel this gas, which would drastically alter the dynamics of the cluster by unbinding the stars from the potential. However, recent numerical simulations, and observational evidence that gas-free clusters are observed to be bound, suggest that the effects of supernova explosions on the dynamics of star clusters are likely to be minimal.


Cosmological constraints from noisy convergence maps through deep learning

Abstract: Deep learning is a powerful analysis technique that has recently been proposed as a method to constrain cosmological parameters from weak lensing mass maps. Due to its ability to learn relevant features from the data, it is able to extract more information from the mass maps than the commonly used power spectrum, and thus achieve better precision for cosmological parameter measurement. We explore the advantage of Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) over the power spectrum for varying levels of shape noise and different smoothing scales applied to the maps. We compare the cosmological constraints from the two methods in the Ω_M-σ_8 plane for sets of 400 deg^2 convergence maps. We find that, for a shape noise level corresponding to 8.53 galaxies/arcmin^2 and the smoothing scale of σ_s = 2.34 arcmin, the network is able to generate 45 scale of σ_s = 1.17 the improvement can reach ∼ 50 %, while for larger smoothing scale of σ_s = 5.85, the improvement decreases to 19 The advantage generally decreases when the noise level and smoothing scales increase. We present a new training strategy to train the neural network with noisy data, as well as considerations for practical applications of the deep learning approach.

convergence map
deep learning
cosmological constraint


Thermodynamics and classification of cosmological models in the Horava-Lifshitz theory of gravity

Abstract: We study thermodynamics of cosmological models in the Horava-Lifshitz theory of gravity, and systematically investigate the evolution of the universe filled with a perfect fluid that has the equation of state p=wρ, where p and ρ denote, respectively, the pressure and energy density of the fluid, and w is an arbitrary real constant. Depending on specific values of the free parameters involved in the models, we classify all of them into various cases. In each case the main properties of the evolution are studied in detail, including the periods of deceleration and/or acceleration, and the existence of big bang, big crunch, and big rip singularities. We pay particular attention on models that may give rise to a bouncing universe.

cosmological model
horava-lifshitz theory
gravity


Connection between the Accretion Disk and Jet in the Radio Galaxy 3C 111

Abstract: We present the results of extensive multi-frequency monitoring of the radio galaxy 3C 111 between 2004 and 2010 at X-ray (2.4–10 keV), optical (R band), and radio (14.5, 37, and 230 GHz) wave bands, as well as multi-epoch imaging with the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) at 43 GHz. Over the six years of observation, significant dips in the X-ray light curve are followed by ejections of bright superluminal knots in the VLBA images. This shows a clear connection between the radiative state near the black hole, where the X-rays are produced, and events in the jet. The X-ray continuum flux and Fe line intensity are strongly correlated, with a time lag shorter than 90 days and consistent with zero. This implies that the Fe line is generated within 90 light-days of the source of the X-ray continuum. The power spectral density function of X-ray variations contains a break, with steeper slope at shorter timescales. The break timescale of 13 (+12,-6) days is commensurate with scaling according to the mass of the central black hole based on observations of Seyfert galaxies and black hole X-ray binaries (BHXRBs). The data are consistent with the standard paradigm, in which the X-rays are predominantly produced by inverse Compton scattering of thermal optical/UV seed photons from the accretion disk by a distribution of hot electrons — the corona — situated near the disk. Most of the optical emission is generated in the accretion disk due to reprocessing of the X-ray emission. The relationships that we have uncovered between the accretion disk and the jet in 3C 111, as well as in the FR I radio galaxy 3C 120 in a previous paper, support the paradigm that active galactic nuclei and Galactic BHXRBs are fundamentally similar, with characteristic time and size scales proportional to the mass of the central black hole


Filtergraph: An Interactive Web Application for Visualization of Astronomy Datasets

Abstract: Filtergraph is a web application being developed and maintained by the Vanderbilt Initiative in Data-intensive Astrophysics (VIDA) to flexibly and rapidly visualize a large variety of astronomy datasets of various formats and sizes. The user loads a flat-file dataset into Filtergraph which automatically generates an interactive data portal that can be easily shared with others. From this portal, the user can immediately generate scatter plots of up to 5 dimensions as well as histograms and tables based on the dataset. Key features of the portal include intuitive controls with auto-completed variable names, the ability to filter the data in real time through user-specified criteria, the ability to select data by dragging on the screen, and the ability to perform arithmetic operations on the data in real time. To enable seamless data visualization and exploration, changes are quickly rendered on screen and visualizations can be exported as high quality graphics files. The application is optimized for speed in the context of large datasets: for instance, a plot generated from a stellar database of 3.1 million entries renders in less than 2 seconds on a standard web server platform. This web application has been created using the Web2py web framework based on the Python programming language. Filtergraph is free to use at http://filtergraph.vanderbilt.edu/.

visualization
astronomy dataset
filtergraph


Universality for quintessence

Abstract: Several recent works suggested the possibility of describing inflation by means of a renormalization group equation. In this paper we discuss the application of these methods to models of quintessence. In this framework a period of exponential expansion corresponds to the slow evolution of the scalar field in the neighborhood of a fixed point. A minimal set of universality classes for models of quintessence is defined and the transition from a matter dominated to quintessence dominated universe is studied. Models in which quintessence is non-minimally coupled with gravity are also discussed. We show that the formalism proves to be extremely convenient to describe quintessence and moreover we find that in most of the models discussed in this work quintessence naturally takes over ordinary matter.


Missing Black Holes Unveil The Supernova Explosion Mechanism

Abstract: It is firmly established that the stellar mass distribution is smooth, covering the range 0.1-100 Msun. It is to be expected that the masses of the ensuing compact remnants correlate with the masses of their progenitor stars, and thus it is generally thought that the remnant masses should be smoothly distributed from the lightest white dwarfs to the heaviest black holes. However, this intuitive prediction is not borne out by observed data. In the rapidly growing population of remnants with observationally determined masses, a striking mass gap has emerged at the boundary between neutron stars and black holes. The heaviest neutron stars reach a maximum of two solar masses, while the lightest black holes are at least five solar masses. Over a decade after the discovery, the gap has become a significant challenge to our understanding of compact object formation. We offer new insights into the physical processes that bifurcate the formation of remnants into lower mass neutron stars and heavier black holes. Combining the results of stellar modeling with hydrodynamic simulations of supernovae, we both explain the existence of the gap, and also put stringent constraints on the inner workings of the supernova explosion mechanism. In particular, we show that core-collapse supernovae are launched within 100-200 milliseconds of the initial stellar collapse, implying that the explosions are driven by instabilities with a rapid (10-20 ms) growth time. Alternatively, if future observations fill in the gap, this will be an indication that these instabilities develop over a longer (>200 milliseconds) timescale.

black hole
supernova explosion mechanism
mass gap
compact object formation


Non-linear damping of superimposed primordial oscillations on the matter power spectrum in galaxy surveys

Abstract: Galaxy surveys are an important probe for superimposed oscillations on the primordial power spectrum of curvature perturbations, which are predicted in several theoretical models of inflation and its alternatives. In order to exploit the full cosmological information in galaxy surveys it is necessary to study the matter power spectrum to fully non-linear scales. We therefore study the non-linear clustering in models with superimposed linear and logarithmic oscillations to the primordial power spectrum by running high-resolution dark-matter-only N-body simulations. We fit a Gaussian envelope for the non-linear damping of superimposed oscillations in the matter power spectrum to the results of the N-body simulations for k ≲ 0.6 h/Mpc at 0 ≤ z ≤ 5 with an accuracy below the percent. We finally use this fitting formula to forecast the capabilities of future galaxy surveys, such as Euclid and Subaru, to probe primordial oscillation down to non-linear scales alone and in combination with the information contained in CMB anisotropies.

primordial oscillation
galaxy survey
non-linear damping


Strongly Coupled Perturbations in Two-Field Inflationary Models

Abstract: We study models of inflation with two scalar fields and non-canonical kinetic terms, focusing on the case in which the curvature and isocurvature perturbations are strongly coupled to each other. In the regime where a heavy mode can be identified and integrated out, we clarify the passage from the full two-field model to an effectively single-field description. However, the strong coupling sets a new scale in the system, and affects the evolution of the perturbations as well as the beginning of the regime of validity of the effective field theory. In particular, the predictions of the model are sensitive to the relative hierarchy between the coupling and the mass of the heavy mode. As a result, observables are not given unambiguously in terms of the parameters of an effectively single field model with non-trivial sound speed. Finally, the requirement that the sound horizon crossing occurs within the regime of validity of the effective theory leads to a lower bound on the sound speed. Our analysis is done in an extremely simple toy model of slow-roll inflation, which is chosen for its tractability, but is non-trivial enough to illustrate the richness of the dynamics in non-canonical multi-field models.

two-field model
heavy field
curvature perturbation


Fast Radio Burst/Gamma-Ray Burst Cosmography

Abstract: Recently, both theoretical arguments and observational evidence suggested that a small fraction of fast radio bursts (FRBs) could be associated with gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). If such FRB/GRB association systems are commonly detected in the future, the combination of dispersion measure (DM) derived from FRBs and redshifts derived from GRBs makes these systems a plausible tool to conduct cosmography. We quantify uncertainties in deriving the redshift-dependent DM_IGM as a function of z, and test how well dark energy models can be constrained with Monte Carlo simulations. We show that with potentially several 10s of FRB/GRB systems detected in a decade or so, one may reach reasonable constraints on wCDM models. When combined with SN Ia data, unprecedented constraints on dark energy equation of state may be achieved, thanks to the prospects of detecting FRB/GRB systems at relatively high redshifts. The ratio between the mean value < DM_IGM (z)> and luminosity distance (D_L (z)) is insensitive to dark energy models. This gives the prospects of applying SN Ia data to calibrate < DM_IGM (z)> using a relatively small sample of FRB/GRB systems, allowing a reliable constraint on the baryon inhomogeneity distribution as a function of redshift. The methodology developed in this paper can also be applied, if the FRB redshifts can be measured by other means. Some caveats of putting this method into practice are also discussed.


Equilibrium configurations from gravitational collapse

Abstract: We develop here a new procedure within Einstein's theory of gravity to generate equilibrium configurations that result as the final state of gravitational collapse from regular initial conditions. As a simplification, we assume that the collapsing fluid is supported only by tangential pressure. We show that the equilibrium geometries generated by this method form a subset of static solutions to the Einstein equations, and that they can either be regular or develop a naked singularity at the center. When a singularity is present, there are key differences in the properties of stable circular orbits relative to those around a Schwarzschild black hole with the same mass. Therefore, if an accretion disk is present around such a naked singularity it could be observationally distinguished from a disk around a black hole.

gravitational collapse
singularity
equilibrium configuration


F-theory and Dark Energy

Abstract: Motivated by its potential use as a starting point for solving various cosmological constant problems, we study F-theory compactified on the warped product ℝ_time× S^3 × Y_8 where Y_8 is a Spin(7) manifold, and the S^3 factor is the target space of an SU(2) Wess–Zumino–Witten (WZW) model at level N. Reduction to M-theory exploits the abelian duality of this WZW model to an S^3 / ℤ_N orbifold. In the large N limit, the untwisted sector is captured by 11D supergravity. The local dynamics of intersecting 7-branes in the Spin(7) geometry is controlled by a Donaldson–Witten twisted gauge theory coupled to defects. At late times, the system is governed by a 1D quantum mechanics system with a ground state annihilated by two real supercharges, which in four dimensions would appear as "𝒩 = 1/2 supersymmetry" on a curved background. This leads to a cancellation of zero point energies in the 4D field theory but a split mass spectrum for superpartners of order Δ m_4D∼√(M_IR M_UV) specified by the IR and UV cutoffs of the model. This is suggestively close to the TeV scale in some scenarios. The classical 4D geometry has an intrinsic instability which can produce either a collapsing or expanding Universe, the latter providing a promising starting point for a number of cosmological scenarios. The resulting 1D quantum mechanics in the time direction also provides an appealing starting point for a more detailed study of quantum cosmology.

dark energy
f-theory
string theory
cosmological implication


The Physical Mechanisms of Fast Radio Bursts

Abstract: Fast radio bursts are mysterious millisecond-duration transients prevalent in the radio sky. Rapid accumulation of data in recent years has facilitated an understanding of the underlying physical mechanisms of these events. Knowledge gained from the neighboring fields of gamma-ray bursts and radio pulsars also offered insight. Here I review developments in this fast-moving field.Two generic categories of radiation model invoking either magnetospheres of compact objects (neutron stars or black holes) or relativistic shocks launched from such objects have been much debated. The recent detection of a Galactic fast radio burst in association with a soft gamma-ray repeater suggests that magnetar engines can produce at least some, and probably all, fast radio bursts. Other engines that could produce fast radio bursts are not required, but are also not impossible.

fast radio burst
gamma-ray repeater
frbs
millisecond duration
radiation mechanism


Solar Dynamics, Rotation, Convection and Overshoot

Abstract: We discuss recent observational, theoretical and modeling progress made in understanding the Sun's internal dynamics, including its rotation, meridional flow, convection and overshoot. Over the past few decades, substantial theoretical and observational effort has gone into appreciating these aspects of solar dynamics. A review of these observations, related helioseismic methodology and inference and computational results in relation to these problems is undertaken here.


Angular dependence of primordial trispectra and CMB spectral distortions

Abstract: Under the presence of anisotropic sources in the inflationary era, the trispectrum of the primordial curvature perturbation has a very specific angular dependence between each wavevector that is distinguishable from the one encountered when only scalar fields are present, characterized by an angular dependence described by Legendre polynomials. We examine the imprints left by curvature trispectra on the TTμ bispectrum, generated by the correlation between temperature anisotropies (T) and chemical potential spectral distortions (μ) of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB). Due to the angular dependence of the primordial signal, the corresponding TTμ bispectrum strongly differs in shape from TTμ sourced by the usual g_ NL or τ_ NL local trispectra, enabling us to obtain an unbiased estimation. From a Fisher matrix analysis, we find that, in a cosmic-variance-limited (CVL) survey of TTμ, a minimum detectable value of the quadrupolar Legendre coefficient is d_2 ∼ 0.01, which is 4 orders of magnitude better than the best value attainable from the TTTT CMB trispectrum. In the case of an anisotropic inflationary model with a f(ϕ)F^2 interaction (coupling the inflaton field ϕ with a vector kinetic term F^2), the size of the curvature trispectrum is related to that of quadrupolar power spectrum asymmetry, g_*. In this case, a CVL measurement of TTμ makes it possible to measure g_* down to 10^-3.

trispectra
spectral distortion
angular dependence


On the Extra Mode and Inconsistency of Horava Gravity

Abstract: We address the consistency of Horava's proposal for a theory of quantum gravity from the low-energy perspective. We uncover the additional scalar degree of freedom arising from the explicit breaking of the general covariance and study its properties. The analysis is performed both in the original formulation of the theory and in the Stueckelberg picture. A peculiarity of the new mode is that it satisfies an equation of motion that is of first order in time derivatives. At linear level the mode is manifest only around spatially inhomogeneous and time-dependent backgrounds. We find two serious problems associated with this mode. First, the mode develops very fast exponential instabilities at short distances. Second, it becomes strongly coupled at an extremely low cutoff scale. We also discuss the "projectable" version of Horava's proposal and argue that this version can be understood as a certain limit of the ghost condensate model. The theory is still problematic since the additional field generically forms caustics and, again, has a very low strong coupling scale. We clarify some subtleties that arise in the application of the Stueckelberg formalism to Horava's model due to its non-relativistic nature.

gravity
explicit breaking
extra graviton mode


Galaxy distribution and extreme value statistics

Abstract: We consider the conditional galaxy density around each galaxy, and study its fluctuations in the newest samples of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 7. Over a large range of scales, both the average conditional density and its variance show a nontrivial scaling behavior, which resembles to criticality. The density depends, for 10 < r < 80 Mpc/h, only weakly (logarithmically) on the system size. Correspondingly, we find that the density fluctuations follow the Gumbel distribution of extreme value statistics. This distribution is clearly distinguishable from a Gaussian distribution, which would arise for a homogeneous spatial galaxy configuration. We also point out similarities between the galaxy distribution and critical systems of statistical physics.

extreme value statistic
mpc
galaxy distribution


Leptogenesis via hypermagnetic fields and baryon asymmetry

Abstract: We study baryon asymmetry generation originated from the leptogenesis in the presence of hypermagnetic fields in the early Universe plasma before the electroweak phase transition (EWPT). For the simplest Chern-Simons (CS) wave configuration of hypermagnetic field we find the baryon asymmetry growth when the hypermagnetic field value changes due to alpha^2-dynamo and the lepton asymmetry rises due to the Abelian anomaly. We solve the corresponding integro-differential equations for the lepton asymmetries describing such self-consistent dynamics for lepto- and baryogenesis in the two scenarios : (i) when a primordial lepton asymmetry sits in right electrons e_R; and (ii) when, in addition to e_R, a left lepton asymmetry for e_L and nu_eL arises due to chirality flip reactions provided by inverse Higgs decays at the temperatures, T<T_RL 10 TeV. We find that the baryon asymmetry of the Universe (BAU) rises very fast through such leptogenesis, especially, in strong hypermagnetic fields. Varying (decreasing) the CS wave number parameter k_0 < 10^-7 T_EW one can recover the observable value of BAU, eta_B 10^-9, where k_0 = 10^-7 T_EW corresponds to the maximum value for CS wave number surviving ohmic dissipation of hypermagnetic field. In the scenario (ii) one predicts the essential difference of the lepton numbers of right - and left electrons at EWPT time, L_eR - L_eL (mu_eR - mu_eL) / T_EW = Delta mu / T_EW 10^-5 that can be used as an initial condition for chiral asymmetry after EWPT.

baryon asymmetry
electroweak phase transition
abelian anomaly
lepto-
chiral asymmetry


MICADO PSF-Reconstruction work package description

Abstract: The point spread function reconstruction (PSF-R) capability is a deliverable of the MICADO@ESO-ELT project. The PSF-R team works on the implementation of the instrument software devoted to reconstruct the point spread function (PSF), independently of the science data, using adaptive optics (AO) telemetry data, both for Single Conjugate (SCAO) and Multi-Conjugate Adaptive Optics (MCAO) mode of the MICADO camera and spectrograph. The PSF-R application will provide reconstructed PSFs through an archive querying system to restore the telemetry data synchronous to each science frame that MICADO will generate. Eventually, the PSF-R software will produce the output according to user specifications. The PSF-R service will support the state-of-the-art scientific analysis of the MICADO imaging and spectroscopic data.


The dynamical structure of the MEO region: long-term stability, chaos, and transport

Abstract: It has long been suspected that the Global Navigation Satellite Systems exist in a background of complex resonances and chaotic motion; yet, the precise dynamical character of these phenomena remains elusive. Recent studies have shown that the occurrence and nature of the resonances driving these dynamics depend chiefly on the frequencies of nodal and apsidal precession and the rate of regression of the Moon's nodes. Woven throughout the inclination and eccentricity phase space is an exceedingly complicated web-like structure of lunisolar secular resonances, which become particularly dense near the inclinations of the navigation satellite orbits. A clear picture of the physical significance of these resonances is of considerable practical interest for the design of disposal strategies for the four constellations. Here we present analytical and semi-analytical models that accurately reflect the true nature of the resonant interactions, and trace the topological organization of the manifolds on which the chaotic motions take place. We present an atlas of FLI stability maps, showing the extent of the chaotic regions of the phase space, computed through a hierarchy of more realistic, and more complicated, models, and compare the chaotic zones in these charts with the analytical estimation of the width of the chaotic layers from the heuristic Chirikov resonance-overlap criterion. As the semi-major axis of the satellite is receding, we observe a transition from stable Nekhoroshev-like structures at three Earth radii, where regular orbits dominate, to a Chirikov regime where resonances overlap at five Earth radii. From a numerical estimation of the Lyapunov times, we find that many of the inclined, nearly circular orbits of the navigation satellites are strongly chaotic and that their dynamics are unpredictable on decadal timescales.

meo region
chaos
moon
circular orbit
important effect


Varying fundamental constants principal component analysis: additional hints about the Hubble tension

Abstract: Varying fundamental constants (VFC) [e.g., the fine-structure constant, α_ EM] can arise in numerous extended cosmologies. Through their effect on the decoupling of baryons and photons during last scattering and reionisation, these models can be directly constrained using measurements of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) temperature and polarization anisotropies. Previous investigations focused mainly on time-independent changes to the values of fundamental constants. Here we generalize to time-dependent variations. Instead of directly studying various VFC parameterizations, we perform a model-independent principal component analysis (PCA), directly using an eigenmode decomposition of the varying constant during recombination. After developing the formalism, we use Planck 2018 data to obtain new VFC limits, showing that three independent VFC modes can be constrained at present. No indications for significant departures from the standard model are found with Planck data. Cosmic variance limited modes are also compared and simple forecasts for The Simons Observatory are carried out, showing that in the future improvements of the current constraints by a factor of ≃ 3 can be anticipated. Our modes focus solely on VFC at redshifts z≥ 300. This implies that they do not capture some of the degrees of freedom relating to the reionisation era. This aspect provides important new insights into the possible origin of the Hubble tension, hinting that indeed a combined modification of recombination and reionisation physics could be at work. An extended PCA, covering both recombination and reionisation simultaneously, could shed more light on this question, as we emphasize here.

principal component analysis
hubble tension
fine-structure constant


Analytic formulae of the CMB bispectra generated from non-Gaussianity in the tensor and vector perturbations

Abstract: We present a complete set of formulae for calculating the bispectra of CMB temperature and polarization anisotropies generated from non-Gaussianity in the vector and tensor mode perturbations. In the all-sky analysis it is found that the bispectrum formulae for the tensor and vector-mode non-Gaussianity formally take complicated forms compared to the scalar mode one because the photon transfer functions in the tensor and vector modes depend on the azimuthal angle between the direction of the wave number vector of the photon's perturbation and that of the line of sight. We demonstrate that flat-sky approximations remove this difficulty because this kind of azimuthal angle dependence apparently vanishes in the flat-sky limit. Through the flat-sky analysis, we also find that the vector or tensor bispectrum of B-mode polarization vanishes in the squeezed limit, unless the cosmological parity is violated at the nonlinear level.


The Matter Bounce Curvaton Scenario

Abstract: Massless scalar fields originating in a quantum vacuum state acquire a scale-invariant spectrum of fluctuations in a matter-dominated contracting universe. We show that these isocurvature fluctuations transfer to a scale-invariant spectrum of curvature fluctuations during a non-singular bounce phase. This provides a mechanism for enhancing the primordial adiabatic fluctuations and suppressing the ratio of tensor to scalar perturbations. Moreover, this mechanism leads to new sources of non-Gaussianity of curvature perturbations.

scalar field
matter bounce scenario
loop quantum cosmology
holonomy


Conformal invariance of curvature perturbation

Abstract: We show that in the single component situation all perturbation variables in the comoving gauge are conformally invariant to all perturbation orders. Generally we identify a special time slicing, the uniform-conformal transformation slicing, where all perturbations are again conformally invariant to all perturbation orders. We apply this result to the delta N formalism, and show its conformal invariance.

curvature perturbation
frame
non-linear order
equivalence
coordinate approach


Occurrence Rates from Direct Imaging Surveys

Abstract: The occurrence rate of young giant planets from direct imaging surveys is a fundamental tracer of the efficiency with which planets form and migrate at wide orbital distances. These measurements have progressively converged to a value of about 1 averaged over all stellar masses at separations spanning a few tens to a few hundreds of AU. The subtler statistical properties of this population are beginning to emerge with ever-increasing sample sizes: there is tentative evidence that planets on wide orbits are more frequent around stars that possess debris disks; brown dwarf companions exist at comparable (or perhaps slightly higher) rates as their counterparts in the planetary-mass regime; and the substellar companion mass function appears to be smooth and may extend down to the opacity limit for fragmentation. Within a few years, the conclusion of second-generation direct imaging surveys will enable more definitive interpretations with the ultimate goal of identifying the dominant origin of this population and uncovering its relationship to planets at smaller separations.

direct imaging survey
wide orbit
separation
star
occurrence rate


Abstract: This paper presents an overview and introduction to Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics and Magnetohydrodynamics in theory and in practice. Firstly, we give a basic grounding in the fundamentals of SPH, showing how the equations of motion and energy can be self-consistently derived from the density estimate. We then show how to interpret these equations using the basic SPH interpolation formulae and highlight the subtle difference in approach between SPH and other particle methods. In doing so, we also critique several `urban myths' regarding SPH, in particular the idea that one can simply increase the `neighbour number' more slowly than the total number of particles in order to obtain convergence. We also discuss the origin of numerical instabilities such as the pairing and tensile instabilities. Finally, we give practical advice on how to resolve three of the main issues with SPMHD: removing the tensile instability, formulating dissipative terms for MHD shocks and enforcing the divergence constraint on the particles, and we give the current status of developments in this area. Accompanying the paper is the first public release of the NDSPMHD SPH code, a 1, 2 and 3 dimensional code designed as a testbed for SPH/SPMHD algorithms that can be used to test many of the ideas and used to run all of the numerical examples contained in the paper.

magnetohydrodynamics
spmhd
smoothed particle hydrodynamics


Schwarzschild black holes can wear scalar wigs

Abstract: We study the evolution of a massive scalar field surrounding a Schwarzschild black hole and find configurations that can survive for arbitrarily long times, provided the black hole or the scalar field mass is small enough. In particular, both ultra-light scalar field dark matter around supermassive black holes and axion-like scalar fields around primordial black holes can survive for cosmological times. Moreover, these results are quite generic, in the sense that fairly arbitrary initial data evolves, at late times, as a combination of those long-lived configurations.

black hole
scalar field
long time
schwarzschild


Galaxy Pairs in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey - V. Tracing changes in star formation rate and metallicity out to separations of 80 kpc

Abstract: We present a sample of 1899 galaxies with a close companion taken from the SDSS DR7. The galaxy pairs are selected to have velocity differences < 300 km/s, projected separations (rp) < 80 kpc/h, mass ratios between 0.1 and 10, and robust measurements of star formation rates and gas-phase metallicities. We match the galaxies in total stellar mass, redshift, and local density to a set of 10 control galaxies per pair galaxy. For each pair galaxy we can therefore calculate the statistical change in star formation rate (SFR) and metallicity associated with the interaction process. Relative to the control sample, we find that galaxies in pairs show typical SFR enhancements that are, on average, 60 demonstrate more modest SFR enhancements of 30 widest separations in our sample). Galaxies in both major and minor mergers show significant SFR enhancements at all rp, although the strongest starbursts (with SFR enhancements of a factor of 10) appear to be found only in the major mergers. For the first time, we are also able to trace the metallicity changes in galaxy pairs as a function of projected separation. The metallicity is generally diluted in galaxy pairs by 0.02 dex, with an average metallicity decrement of -0.03 dex at the smallest separations. The SFR and metallicity trends with projected separation are interpreted through a comparison with theoretical models. These simulations indicate that the peak in SFR enhancements at small separations is due to systems near the end of the merger process. The extended plateau in SFR enhancements out to at least 80 kpc/h is dominated by galaxies that have made a pericentric passage and are now experiencing triggered star formation on their trajectory towards apogalacticon, or on a subsequent close approach. (Abridged)


Data Compression and Covariance Matrix Inspection: Cosmic Shear

Abstract: Covariance matrices are among the most difficult pieces of end-to-end cosmological analyses. In principle, for two-point functions, each component involves a four-point function, and the resulting covariance often has hundreds of thousands of elements. We investigate various compression mechanisms capable of vastly reducing the size of the covariance matrix in the context of cosmic shear statistics. This helps identify which of its parts are most crucial to parameter estimation. We start with simple compression methods, by isolating and "removing" 200 modes associated with the lowest eigenvalues, then those with the lowest signal-to-noise ratio, before moving on to more sophisticated schemes like compression at the tomographic level and, finally, with the Massively Optimized Parameter Estimation and Data compression (MOPED). We find that, while most of these approaches prove useful for a few parameters of interest, like Ω_m, the simplest yield a loss of constraining power on the intrinsic alignment (IA) parameters as well as S_8. For the case considered – cosmic shear from the first year of data from the Dark Energy Survey – only MOPED was able to replicate the original constraints in the 16-parameter space. Finally, we apply a tolerance test to the elements of the compressed covariance matrix obtained with MOPED and confirm that the IA parameter A_IA is the most susceptible to inaccuracies in the covariance matrix.

covariance matrix
cosmic shear
data compression


The environment of bright QSOs at z 6: Star forming galaxies and X-ray emission

Abstract: We employ cosmological hydrodynamical simulations to investigate models in which the supermassive black holes (BHs) powering luminous z 6 QSOs grow from massive seeds. We simulate at high resolution 18 fields sampling regions with densities ranging from the mean cosmic density all the way to the highest sigma peaks in the Millennium simulation volume. Only in the most massive halos, BHs can grow to masses up to 10^9 Msun by z 6 without invoking super-Eddington accretion. Accretion onto the most massive BHs becomes limited by thermal AGN feedback by z 9-8 with further BH growth proceeding in short Eddington limited bursts. Our modelling suggests that current flux-limited surveys of QSOs at high redshift preferentially detect objects at their peak luminosity and therefore miss a substantial population of QSOs powered by similarly massive BHs but with low accretion rates. To test whether the required host halo masses are consistent with the observed galaxy environment of z 6 QSOs, we produce realistic rest-frame UV images of our simulated galaxies. Without strong stellar feedback, our simulations predict numbers of bright galaxies larger than observed by a factor ten or more. Supernova-driven galactic winds reduce the predicted numbers to a level consistent with observations indicating that stellar feedback was already very efficient at high redshifts. We have further investigated the effect of thermal AGN feedback on the surrounding gas. Our adopted AGN feedback prescription drives mostly energy-driven highly anisotropic outflows with gas speeds of >= 1000 km/s to distances of >= 10 kpc consistent with observations. The spatially extended thermal X-ray emission around bright QSOs powered by these outflows can exceed by large factors the emission expected without AGN feedback and is an important diagnostic of the mechanism whereby AGN feedback energy couples to surrounding gas.


KWISP: an ultra-sensitive force sensor for the Dark Energy sector

Abstract: An ultra-sensitive opto-mechanical force sensor has been built and tested in the optics laboratory at INFN Trieste. Its application to experiments in the Dark Energy sector, such as those for Chameleon-type WISPs, is particularly attractive, as it enables a search for their direct coupling to matter. We present here the main characteristics and the absolute force calibration of the KWISP (Kinetic WISP detection) sensor. It is based on a thin Si3N4 micro-membrane placed inside a Fabry-Perot optical cavity. By monitoring the cavity characteristic frequencies it is possible to detect the tiny membrane displacements caused by an applied force. Far from the mechanical resonant frequency of the membrane, the measured force sensitivity is 5.0e-14 N/sqrt(Hz), corresponding to a displacement sensitivity of 2.5e-15 m/sqrt(Hz), while near resonance the sensitivity is 1.5e-14 N/sqrt(Hz), reaching the estimated thermal limit, or, in terms of displacement, 7.5e-16 N/sqrt(Hz). These displacement sensitivities are comparable to those that can be achieved by large interferometric gravitational wave detectors.


Relativistic Effect in Galaxy Clustering

Abstract: The general relativistic description of galaxy clustering provides a complete and unified treatment of all the effects in galaxy clustering such as the redshift-space distortion, gravitational lensing, Sachs-Wolfe effects, and their relativistic effects. In particular, the relativistic description resolves the gauge issues in the standard Newtonian description of galaxy clustering by providing the gauge-invariant expression for the observed galaxy number density. The relativistic effect in galaxy clustering is significant on large scales, in which dark energy models or alternative theories of modified gravity deviate from general relativity. In this paper, we review the relativistic effect in galaxy clustering by providing a pedagogical derivation of the relativistic formula and by computing the observed galaxy two-point statistics. The relativistic description of galaxy clustering is an essential tool for testing general relativity and probing the early Universe on large scales in the era of precision cosmology.

galaxy clustering
universe
relativistic effect


Signatures of Initial State Modifications on Bispectrum Statistics

Abstract: Modifications of the initial-state of the inflaton field can induce a departure from Gaussianity and leave a testable imprint on the higher order correlations of the CMB and large scale structures in the Universe. We focus on the bispectrum statistics of the primordial curvature perturbation and its projection on the CMB. For a canonical single-field action the three-point correlator enhancement is localized, maximizing in the collinear limit, corresponding to enfolded or squashed triangles in comoving momentum space. We show that the available local and equilateral template are very insensitive to this localized enhancement and do not generate noteworthy constraints on initial-state modifications. On the other hand, when considering the addition of a dimension 8 higher order derivative term, we find a dominant rapidly oscillating contribution, which had previously been overlooked and whose significantly enhanced amplitude is independent of the triangle under consideration. Nevertheless, the oscillatory nature of (the sign of) the correlation function implies the signal is nearly orthogonal to currently available observational templates, strongly reducing the sensitivity to the enhancement. Constraints on departures from the standard Bunch-Davies vacuum state can be derived, but also depend on the next-to-leading terms. We emphasize that the construction and application of especially adapted templates could lead to CMB bispectrum constraints on modified initial states already competing with those derived from the power spectrum.

initial state
bispectrum
curvature perturbation
non-gaussianity
bunch-davies state


Imaging the Epoch of Reionization: limitations from foreground confusion and imaging algorithms

Abstract: Tomography of redshifted 21 cm transition from neutral Hydrogen using Fourier synthesis telescopes is a promising tool to study the Epoch of Reionization (EoR). Limiting the confusion from Galactic and Extragalactic foregrounds is critical to the success of these telescopes. Instrumental response or the Point Spread Function (PSF) of such telescopes is inherently 3 dimensional with frequency mapping to the Line of Sight (LOS) distance. EoR signals will necessarily have to be detected in data where continuum confusion persists; therefore, it is important that the PSF has acceptable frequency structure so that the residual foreground does not confuse the EoR signature. This paper aims to understand the 3 dimensional PSF and foreground contamination in the same framework. We develop a formalism to estimate the foreground contamination along frequency, or equivalently LOS dimension, and establish a relationship between foreground contamination in the image plane and visibility weights on the Fourier plane. We identify two dominant sources of LOS foreground contamination-'PSF contamination' and 'gridding contamination'. We show that 'PSF contamination' is localized in LOS wavenumber space, beyond which there potentially exists an 'EoR window' with negligible foreground contamination where we may focus our efforts to detect EoR. 'PSF contamination' in this window may be substantially reduced by judicious choice of a frequency window function. Gridding and imaging algorithms create additional 'gridding contamination' and we propose a new imaging algorithm using the Chirp Z Transform (CZT) that significantly reduces this contamination. Finally, we demonstrate the analytical relationships and the merit of the new imaging algorithm for the case of imaging with the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA).

epoch
reionization
imaging algorithm
foreground contamination


Fast radio bursts as a cosmic probe?

Abstract: We discuss the possibility of using fast radio bursts (FRBs), if cosmological, as a viable cosmic probe. We find out that the contribution of the host galaxies to the detected dispersion measures can be inapparent for the FRBs not from galaxy centers or star forming regions. The inhomogeneity of the intergalactic medium (IGM), however, causes significant deviation of the dispersion measure from that predicted in the simplified homogeneous IGM model for individual event. Fortunately, with sufficient FRBs along different sightlines but within a very narrow redshift interval (e.g., Δ z ∼ 0.05 or Δ z ∼ 0.05(1+z)), the mean from averaging observed dispersion measures does not suffer such a problem and hence may be used as a cosmic probe. We show that in the optimistic case (e.g., tens FRBs in each Δ z have been measured; the most distant FRBs were at redshift ≥ 3; the host galaxies and the FRB sources contribute little to the detected dispersion measures) and with all the uncertainties (i.e. the inhomogeneity of the IGM, the contribution and uncertainty of host galaxies as well as the evolution and error of f_ IGM) considered, FRBs could help constrain the equation of state of dark energy.

cosmic probe
cosmology
host galaxy
redshift
fast radio burst


Analytic Minkowski Functionals of the Cosmic Microwave Background: Second-order Non-Gaussianity with Bispectrum and Trispectrum

Abstract: Analytic formulas of Minkowski functionals in two-dimensional random fields are derived, including effects of second-order non-Gaussianity in the presence of both the bispectrum and trispectrum. The set of formulas provides a promising method to constrain the primordial non-Gaussianity of the universe by temperature fluctuations in the cosmic microwave background radiation. In a case of local-type non-Gaussianity, the Minkowski functionals are analytically given by powers of quadratic and cubic parameters, f_ NL and g_ NL. Our formulas are not restricted to this particular model, and applicable to a wide class of non-Gaussian models. The analytic formulas are compared to numerical evaluations from non-Gaussian realizations of temperature maps, showing very good agreements.

minkowski functionals
second-order non-gaussianity
bispectrum


Current status of turbulent dynamo theory: From large-scale to small-scale dynamos

Abstract: Several recent advances in turbulent dynamo theory are reviewed. High resolution simulations of small-scale and large-scale dynamo action in periodic domains are compared with each other and contrasted with similar results at low magnetic Prandtl numbers. It is argued that all the different cases show similarities at intermediate length scales. On the other hand, in the presence of helicity of the turbulence, power develops on large scales, which is not present in non-helical small-scale turbulent dynamos. At small length scales, differences occur in connection with the dissipation cutoff scales associated with the respective value of the magnetic Prandtl number. These differences are found to be independent of whether or not there is large-scale dynamo action. However, large-scale dynamos in homogeneous systems are shown to suffer from resistive slow-down even at intermediate length scales. The results from simulations are connected to mean field theory and its applications. Recent work on helicity fluxes to alleviate large-scale dynamo quenching, shear dynamos, nonlocal effects and magnetic structures from strong density stratification are highlighted. Several insights which arise from analytic considerations of small-scale dynamos are discussed.

turbulent dynamo theory
small-scale dynamos
astrophysic


Georgia Tech Catalog of Gravitational Waveforms

Abstract: This paper introduces a catalog of gravitational waveforms from the bank of simulations by the numerical relativity effort at Georgia Tech. Currently, the catalog consists of 452 distinct waveforms from more than 600 binary black hole simulations: 128 of the waveforms are from binaries with black hole spins aligned with the orbital angular momentum, and 324 are from precessing binary black hole systems. The waveforms from binaries with non-spinning black holes have mass-ratios q = m_1/m_2 ≤ 15, and those with precessing, spinning black holes have q ≤ 8. The waveforms expand a moderate number of orbits in the late inspiral, the burst during coalescence, and the ring-down of the final black hole. Examples of waveforms in the catalog matched against the widely used approximate models are presented. In addition, predictions of the mass and spin of the final black hole by phenomenological fits are tested against the results from the simulation bank. The role of the catalog in interpreting the GW150914 event and future massive binary black-hole search in LIGO is discussed. The Georgia Tech catalog is publicly available at einstein.gatech.edu/catalog.

binary
black hole
georgia tech catalog
mass ratio
relativity code


Testing Unimodular Gravity

Abstract: We consider models of gravitation that are based on unimodular general coordinate transformations (GCT). These transformations include only those which do not change the determinant of the metric. We treat the determinant as a separate field which transforms as a scalar under unimodular GCT. We consider a class of such theories. In general, these theories do not transform covariantly under the full GCT. We characterize the violation of general coordinate invariance by introducing a new parameter. We show that the theory is consistent with observations for a wide range of this parameter. This parameter may serve as a test for possible violations of general coordinate invariance. We also consider the cosmic evolution within the framework of these models. We show that in general we do not obtain consistent cosmological solutions if we assume the standard cosmological constant or the standard form of non-relativistic matter. We propose a suitable generalization which is consistent with cosmology. We fit the resulting model to the high redshift supernova data. We find that we can obtain a good fit to this data even if include only a single component, either cosmological constant or non-relativistic matter.

unimodular gravity
gct
cosmological constant


Antideuteron Sensitivity for the GAPS Experiment

Abstract: The General Antiparticle Spectrometer (GAPS) is a novel approach for indirect dark matter searches that exploits cosmic antiparticles, especially antideuterons. The GAPS antideuteron measurement utilizes distinctive detection methods using atomic X-rays and charged particles from the decay of exotic atoms as well as the timing and stopping range of the incoming particle, which together provide excellent antideuteron identification. Prior to the future balloon experiment, an accelerator test and a prototype flight were successfully conducted in 2005 and 2012 respectively, in order to verify the GAPS detection concept. This paper describes how the sensitivity of GAPS to antideuterons was estimated using a Monte Carlo simulation along with the atomic cascade model and the Intra-Nuclear Cascade model. The sensitivity for the GAPS antideuteron search obtained using this method is 2.0 × 10^-6 [m^-2s^-1sr^-1(GeV/n)^-1] for the proposed long duration balloon program (LDB, 35 days × 3 flights), indicating that GAPS has a strong potential to probe a wide variety of dark matter annihilation and decay models through antideuteron measurements. GAPS is proposed to fly from Antarctica in the austral summer of 2019-2020.

gaps
general antiparticle spectrometer
ldb
antarctica
antideuteron


Dark and luminous matter in THINGS dwarf galaxies

Abstract: We present mass models for the dark matter component of seven dwarf galaxies taken from "The HI Nearby Galaxy Survey" (THINGS) and compare these with those from numerical Lambda Cold Dark Matter (LCDM) simulations. The THINGS high-resolution data significantly reduce observational uncertainties and thus allow us to derive accurate dark matter distributions in these systems. We here use the bulk velocity fields when deriving the rotation curves of the galaxies. Compared to other types of velocity fields, the bulk velocity field minimizes the effect of small-scale random motions more effectively and traces the underlying kinematics of a galaxy more properly. The "Spitzer Infrared Nearby Galaxies Survey" (SINGS) 3.6 micron and ancillary optical data are used for separating the baryons from their total matter content in the galaxies. The sample dwarf galaxies are found to be dark matter dominated over most radii. We find discrepancies between the derived dark matter distributions of the galaxies and those of LCDM simulations, even after corrections for non-circular motions have been applied. The observed solid body-like rotation curves of the galaxies rise too slowly to reflect the cusp-like dark matter distribution in CDM halos. Instead, they are better described by core-like models such as pseudo-isothermal halo models dominated by a central constant-density core. The mean value of the logarithmic inner slopes of the mass density profiles is alpha = -0.29 +- 0.07. They are significantly different from the steep slope of -1.0 inferred from previous dark-matter-only simulations, and are more consistent with shallower slopes found in recent LCDM simulations of dwarf galaxies in which the effects of baryonic feedback processes are included.

thing dwarf galaxy
dark matter
central constant-density core


Wide binaries as a critical test of Classical Gravity

Abstract: Modified gravity scenarios where a change of regime appears at acceleration scales a<a_0 have been proposed. Since for 1 M_⊙ systems the acceleration drops below a_0 at scales of around 7000 AU, a statistical survey of wide binaries with relative velocities and separations reaching 10^4 AU and beyond should prove useful to the above debate. We apply the proposed test to the best currently available data. Results show a constant upper limit to the relative velocities in wide binaries which is independent of separation for over three orders of magnitude, in analogy with galactic flat rotation curves in the same a<a_0 acceleration regime. Our results are suggestive of a breakdown of Kepler's third law beyond a ≈ a_0 scales, in accordance with generic predictions of modified gravity theories designed not to require any dark matter at galactic scales and beyond.

law
dark matter
galactic scale
wide binary
mond-like gravity


Extreme Gravity Tests with Gravitational Waves from Compact Binary Coalescences: (II) Ringdown

Abstract: The LIGO/Virgo detections of binary black hole mergers marked a watershed moment in astronomy, ushering in the era of precision tests of Kerr dynamics. We review theoretical and experimental challenges that must be overcome to carry out black hole spectroscopy with present and future gravitational wave detectors. Among other topics, we discuss quasinormal mode excitation in binary mergers, astrophysical event rates, tests of black hole dynamics in modified theories of gravity, parameterized "post-Kerr" ringdown tests, exotic compact objects, and proposed data analysis methods to improve spectroscopic tests of Kerr dynamics by stacking multiple events.

gravity
black hole
astronomy
late-merger


LensExtractor: A Convolutional Neural Network in Search of Strong Gravitational Lenses

Abstract: In this work, we present our classification algorithm to identify strong gravitational lenses from wide-area surveys using machine learning convolutional neural network; LensExtractor. We train and test the algorithm using a wide variety of strong gravitational lens configurations from simulations of lensing events. Images are processed through multiple convolutional layers which extract feature maps necessary to assign a lens probability to each image. LensExtractor provides a ranking scheme for all sources which could be used to identify potential gravitational lens candidates significantly reducing the number of images that have to be visually inspected. We further apply our algorithm to the HST/ACS i-band observations of the COSMOS field and present our sample of identified lensing candidates. The developed machine learning algorithm is much more computationally efficient than classical lens identification algorithms and is ideal for discovering such events across wide areas from current and future surveys such as LSST and WFIRST.

convolutional neural network
strong gravitational lense
lensextractor


Testing for New Physics: Neutrinos and the Primordial Power Spectrum

Abstract: We test the sensitivity of neutrino parameter constraints from combinations of CMB and LSS data sets to the assumed form of the primordial power spectrum (PPS) using Bayesian model selection. Significantly, none of the tested combinations, including recent high-precision local measurements of H_0 and cluster abundances, indicate a signal for massive neutrinos or extra relativistic degrees of freedom. For PPS models with a large, but fixed number of degrees of freedom, neutrino parameter constraints do not change significantly if the location of any features in the PPS are allowed to vary, although neutrino constraints are more sensitive to PPS features if they are known a priori to exist at fixed intervals in log k. Although there is no support for a non-standard neutrino sector from constraints on both neutrino mass and relativistic energy density, we see surprisingly strong evidence for features in the PPS when it is constrained with data from Planck 2015, SZ cluster counts, and recent high-precision local measurements of H_0. Conversely combining Planck with matter power spectrum and BAO measurements yields a much weaker constraint. Given that this result is sensitive to the choice of data this tension between SZ cluster counts, Planck and H_0 measurements is likely an indication of unmodeled systematic bias that mimics PPS features, rather than new physics in the PPS or neutrino sector.

new physics
neutrino
primordial power spectrum
dark radiation


Clustering and redshift-space distortions in modified gravity models with massive neutrinos

Abstract: Modified gravity and massive neutrino cosmologies are two of the most interesting scenarios that have been recently explored to account for possible observational deviations from the concordance Λ-cold dark matter (ΛCDM) model. In this context, we investigated the large-scale structure of the Universe by exploiting the simulations that implement, simultaneously, the effects of f(R) gravity and massive neutrinos. To study the possibility of breaking the degeneracy between these two effects, we analysed the redshift-space distortions in the clustering of dark matter haloes at different redshifts. Specifically, we focused on the monopole and quadrupole of the two-point correlation function, both in real and redshift space. The deviations with respect to ΛCDM model have been quantified in terms of the linear growth rate parameter. We found that redshift-space distortions provide a powerful probe to discriminate between ΛCDM and modified gravity models, especially at high redshifts (z ≳ 1), even in the presence of massive neutrinos.

redshift-space distortion
gravity model
massive neutrino


Millicharged Atomic Dark Matter

Abstract: We present a simplified version of the atomic dark matter scenario, in which charged dark constituents are bound into atoms analogous to hydrogen by a massless hidden sector U(1) gauge interaction. Previous studies have assumed that interactions between the dark sector and the standard model are mediated by a second, massive Z' gauge boson, but here we consider the case where only a massless gamma' kinetically mixes with the standard model hypercharge and thereby mediates direct detection. This is therefore the simplest atomic dark matter model that has direct interactions with the standard model, arising from the small electric charge for the dark constituents induced by the kinetic mixing. We map out the parameter space that is consistent with cosmological constraints and direct searches, assuming that some unspecified mechanism creates the asymmetry that gives the right abundance, since the dark matter cannot be a thermal relic in this scenario. In the special case where the dark "electron" and "proton" are degenerate in mass, inelastic hyperfine transitions can explain the CoGeNT excess events. In the more general case, elastic transitions dominate, and can be close to current direct detection limits over a wide range of masses.

dark matter
dark sector
thermal relic
photon


Orbital precession in the distant solar system; further constraining the Planet Nine hypothesis with numerical simulations

Abstract: The longitudes of perihelia and orbital poles of the solar system's dozen or so most remote detected objects are clustered in a manner inconsistent with that of a random sample of uniformly distributed orbits. While small number statistics and observational biases may explain these features, the statistical significance of the clustering has led to the recent development of the "Planet Nine hypothesis." In the proposed scenario, orbits in the distant solar system are shepherded via secular perturbations from an undetected massive planet on an eccentric orbit. However, the precession of perihelia and nodes in the outer Kuiper Belt and inner Oort Cloud are also affected by the the giant planets, passing stars, and the galactic tide. We perform a large suite of numerical simulations designed to study the orbital alignment of Extreme Trans-Neptunian Objects (ETNOs) and Inner Oort Cloud Objects (IOCOs). In our various integrations that include Planet Nine, we consistently find that >60 and IOCOs that are detectable after 4 Gyr are also anti-aligned in perihelia with the distant massive perturber. However, when we randomly select 17 objects from this sample of remaining orbits, there is significant scatter in the degree of longitude of perihelion and orbital pole clustering that might be observed. Furthermore, we argue that, in the absence of Planet Nine, 17 randomly drawn orbits should still exhibit some clustering even if the underlying distribution is uniform. Thus, we find that still more ETNO and IOCO detections are required to confidently infer the presence of Planet Nine.


Ultra slow-roll G-inflation

Abstract: The conventional slow-roll approximation is broken in the so-called "ultra slow-roll" models of inflation, for which the inflaton potential is exactly (or extremely) flat. The interesting nature of (canonical) ultra slow-roll inflation is that the curvature perturbation grows on superhorizon scales, but has a scale-invariant power spectrum. We study the ultra slow-roll inflationary dynamics in the presence of non-canonical kinetic terms of the scalar field, namely ultra slow-roll G-inflation. We compute the evolution of the curvature perturbation and show that the primordial power spectrum follows a broken power law with an oscillation feature. It is demonstrated that this could explain the lack of large-scale power in the cosmic microwave background temperature anisotropies. We also point out that the violation of the null energy condition is prohibited in ultra slow-roll G-inflation and hence a blue tensor tilt is impossible as long as inflation is driven by the potential. This statement is, however, not true if the energy density is dominated by the kinetic energy of the scalar field.

scalar field
ultra slow-roll g-inflation
era


Supermassive black holes with high accretion rates in active galactic nuclei: I. First results from a new reverberation mapping campaign

Abstract: We report first results from a large project to measure black hole (BH) mass in high accretion rate active galactic nuclei (AGNs). Such objects may be different from other AGNs in being powered by slim accretion disks and showing saturated accretion luminosities, but both are not yet fully understood. The results are part of a large reverberation mapping (RM) campaign using the 2.4-m Shangri-La telescope at the Yunnan Observatory in China. The goals are to investigate the gas distribution near the BH and the properties of the central accretion disks, to measure BH mass and Eddington ratios, and to test the feasibility of using such objects as a new type of cosmological candles. The paper presents results for three objects, Mrk 335, Mrk 142 and IRAS F12397+3333 with Hβ time lags relative to the 5100Å continuum of 10.6^+1.7_-2.9, 6.4^+0.8_-2.2 and 11.4^+2.9_-1.9 days, respectively. The corresponding BH masses are (8.3_-3.2^+2.6)× 10^6M_⊙, (3.4_-1.2^+0.5)× 10^6M_⊙ and (7.5_-4.1^+4.3)× 10^6M_⊙, and the lower limits on the Eddington ratios 0.6, 2.3, and 4.6 for the minimal radiative efficiency of 0.038. Mrk 142 and IRAS F12397+333 (extinction corrected) clearly deviate from the currently known relation between Hβ lag and continuum luminosity. The three Eddington ratios are beyond the values expected in thin accretion disks and two of them are the largest measured so far among objects with RM-based BH masses. We briefly discuss implications for slim disks, BH growth and cosmology.

black hole
high accretion rate
reverberation mapping campaign


Asymmetric galaxy correlation functions

Abstract: We study the two-point cross-correlation function between two populations of galaxies: for instance a bright population and a faint population. We show that this cross-correlation is asymmetric under the exchange of the line-of-sight coordinate of the galaxies, i.e. that the correlation is different if the bright galaxy is in front of, or behind, the faint galaxy. We give an intuitive, quasi-Newtonian derivation of all the effects that contribute to such an asymmetry in large-scale structure: gravitational redshift, Doppler shift, lensing, light-cone, evolution and Alcock-Paczynski effects - interestingly, the gravitational redshift term is exactly canceled by some of the others, assuming geodesic motion. Most of these effects are captured by previous calculations of general relativistic corrections to the observed galaxy density fluctuation; the asymmetry arises from terms that are suppressed by the ratio H/k - H is the Hubble constant and k is the wavenumber - which are more readily observable than the terms suppressed by (H/k)^2. Some of the contributions to the asymmetry, however, arise from terms that are generally considered 'Newtonian' - the lensing and evolution - and thus represent a contaminant in the search for general relativistic corrections. We propose methods to disentangle these different contributions. A simple method reduces the contamination to a level of < 10 relation to recent work on measuring gravitational redshifts by stacking clusters.

galaxy
correlation function
correction
relativistic contribution


Hydromagnetics of advective accretion flows around black holes: Removal of angular momentum by large scale magnetic stresses

Abstract: We show that the removal of angular momentum is possible in the presence of large scale magnetic stresses in geometrically thick, advective, sub-Keplerian accretion flows around black holes in steady-state, in the complete absence of alpha-viscosity. The efficiency of such an angular momentum transfer could be equivalent to that of alpha-viscosity with alpha=0.01-0.08. Nevertheless, required field is well below its equipartition value, leading to a magnetically stable disk flow. This is essentially important in order to describe the hard spectral state of the sources, when the flow is non/sub-Keplerian. We show in our simpler 1.5-dimensional, vertically averaged disk model that larger the vertical-gradient of azimuthal component of magnetic field, stronger the rate of angular momentum transfer is, which in turn may lead to a faster rate of outflowing matter. Finding efficient angular momentum transfer, in black hole disks, via magnetic stresses alone is very interesting, when the generic origin of alpha-viscosity is still being explored.


A scaling-relation for disc galaxies: circular-velocity gradient versus central surface brightness

Abstract: For disc galaxies, a close relation exists between the distribution of light and the shape of the rotation curve. We quantify this relation by measuring the inner circular-velocity gradient d_RV(0) for spiral and irregular galaxies with high-quality rotation curves. We find that d_RV(0) correlates with the central surface brightness mu_0 over more than two orders of magnitude in d_RV(0) and four orders of magnitudes in mu_0. This is a scaling-relation for disc galaxies. It shows that the central stellar density of a galaxy closely relates to the inner shape of the potential well, also for low-luminosity and low-surface-brightness galaxies that are expected to be dominated by dark matter.

disc galaxy
circular-velocity gradient
central surface brightness
dark matter


Imprints of Massive Primordial Fields on Large-Scale Structure

Abstract: Attention has focussed recently on models of inflation that involve a second or more fields with a mass near the inflationary Hubble parameter H, as may occur in supersymmetric theories if the supersymmetry-breaking scale is not far from H. Quasi-single-field (QsF) inflation is a relatively simple family of phenomenological models that serve as a proxy for theories with additional fields with masses m∼ H. Since QsF inflation involves fields in addition to the inflaton, the consistency conditions (ccs) between correlations that arise in single-clock inflation are not necessarily satisfied. As a result, correlation functions in the squeezed limit may be larger than in single-field inflation. Scalar non-Gaussianities mediated by the massive isocurvature field in QsF have been shown to be potentially observable. These are especially interesting since they would convey information about the mass of the isocurvature field. Here we consider non-Gaussian correlators involving tensor modes and their observational signatures. A physical correlation between a (long-wavelength) tensor mode and two scalar modes (tss), for instance, may give rise to local departures from statistical isotropy or, in other words, a non-trivial four-point function. The presence of the tensor mode may moreover be inferred geometrically from the shape dependence of the four-point function. We compute tss and stt (one soft curvature mode and two hard tensors) bispectra in QsF inflation, identifying the conditions necessary for these to "violate" the ccs. We find that while ccs are violated by stt correlations, they are preserved by the tss in the minimal QsF model. Our study of primordial correlators which include gravitons in seeking imprints of additional fields with masses m∼ H during inflation can be seen as complementary to the recent "cosmological collider physics" proposal.

cosmological collider physics
quasi-single field inflation
particle physics


Extragalactic propagation of ultrahigh energy cosmic-rays

Abstract: In this paper we review the extragalactic propagation of ultrahigh energy cosmic-rays (UHECR). We present the different energy loss processes of protons and nuclei, and their expected influence on energy evolution of the UHECR spectrum and composition. We discuss the possible implications of the recent composition analyses provided by the Pierre Auger Observatory. The influence of extragalactic magnetic fields and possible departures from the rectilinear case are also mentioned as well as the production of secondary cosmogenic neutrinos and photons and the constraints their observation would imply for the UHECRs origin. Finally, we conclude by briefly discussing the relevance of a multi messenger approach for solving the mystery of UHECRs.

ultrahigh energy cosmic-ray
neutrino
extragalactic propagation


Dust settling against hydrodynamic turbulence in protoplanetary discs

Abstract: Enhancing the local dust-to-gas ratio in protoplanetary discs is a necessary first step to planetesimal formation. In laminar discs, dust settling is an efficient mechanism to raise the dust-to-gas ratio at the disc midplane. However, turbulence, if present, can stir and lift dust particles, which ultimately hinders planetesimal formation. In this work, we study dust settling in protoplanetary discs with hydrodynamic turbulence sustained by the vertical shear instability. We perform axisymmetric numerical simulations to investigate the effect of turbulence, particle size, and solid abundance or metallicity on dust settling. We highlight the positive role of drag forces exerted onto the gas by the dust for settling to overcome the vertical shear instability. In typical disc models we find particles with a Stokes number ∼ 10^-3 can sediment to ≲ 10% of the gas scale-height, provided that Σ_d/Σ_g≳ 0.02-0.05, where Σ_d,g are the surface densities in dust and gas, respectively. This coincides with the metallicity condition for small particles to undergo clumping via the streaming instability. Super-solar metallicities, at least locally, are thus required for a self-consistent picture of planetesimal formation. Our results also imply that dust rings observed in protoplanetary discs should have smaller scale-heights than dust gaps, provided that the metallicity contrast between rings and gaps exceed the corresponding contrast in gas density.

hydrodynamic turbulence
protoplanetary disc
dust


CMB Constraints on WIMP Annihilation: Energy Absorption During the Recombination Epoch

Abstract: We compute in detail the rate at which energy injected by dark matter annihilation heats and ionizes the photon-baryon plasma at z 1000, and provide accurate fitting functions over the relevant redshift range for a broad array of annihilation channels and DM masses. The resulting perturbations to the ionization history can be constrained by measurements of the CMB temperature and polarization angular power spectra. We show that models which fit recently measured excesses in 10-1000 GeV electron and positron cosmic rays are already close to the 95 Planck satellite will be capable of ruling out a wide range of DM explanations for these excesses. In models of dark matter with Sommerfeld-enhanced annihilation, where sigma v rises with decreasing WIMP velocity until some saturation point, the WMAP5 constraints imply that the enhancement must be close to saturation in the neighborhood of the Earth.

recombination epoch
dark matter
photon-baryon plasma
annihilation cross section


On the realizability of relativistic acoustic geometry under a generalized perturbation scheme for axisymmetric matter flow onto black holes

Abstract: We propose a novel linear perturbation scheme to study the stability properties of the stationary transonic integral solutions for axisymmetric matter flow around astrophysical black holes for the Schwarzschild as well as for rotating Rindler space time. We discuss the emergence of the relativistic acoustic geometry as a consequence of such stability analysis. Our work thus makes a crucial connection between two apparently non-overlapping fields of research - the accretion astrophysics and the analogue gravity phenomena.

relativistic acoustic geometry
axisymmetric matter
black hole


Equal-time Consistency Relations in the Large-Scale Structure of the Universe

Abstract: We discuss the consistency relations involving the soft limit of the (n + 1)-correlator functions of dark matter at equal times and their consequences for the halo model.

consistency relation
large-scale structure
equal time
standard perturbation theory


Scattering of Dark Matter and Dark Energy

Abstract: We demonstrate how the two dominant constituents of the Universe, dark energy and dark matter, could possess a large scattering cross-section without considerably impacting observations. Unlike models involving energy exchange between the two fluids, the background cosmology remains unaltered, leaving fewer observational signatures. Following a brief review of the scattering cross-sections between cosmologically significant particles, we explore the implications of an elastic interaction between dark matter and dark energy. The growth of large scale structure is suppressed, yet this effect is found to be weak due to the persistently low dark energy density. Thus we conclude that the dark matter-dark energy cross section may exceed the Thomson cross-section by several orders of magnitude.

dark matter
dark energy
thomson cross-section


Cross-correlations between scalar perturbations and magnetic fields in bouncing universes

Abstract: Bouncing scenarios offer an alternative to the inflationary paradigm for the generation of perturbations in the early universe. Recently, there has been a surge in interest in examining the issue of primordial magnetogenesis in the context of bouncing universes. As in the case of inflation, the conformal invariance of the electromagnetic action needs to be broken in bouncing scenarios in order to generate primordial magnetic fields which correspond to observed strengths today. The non-minimal coupling, which typically depends on a scalar field that possibly drives the homogeneous background, leads to a cross-correlation at the level of the three-point function between the perturbation in the scalar field and the magnetic fields. This has been studied in some detail in the context of inflation and, specifically, it has been established that the three-point function satisfies the so-called consistency relation in the squeezed limit. In this work, we study the cross-correlation between the magnetic fields and the perturbation in an auxiliary scalar field in a certain class of bouncing scenarios. We consider couplings that lead to scale invariant spectra of the magnetic field and evaluate the corresponding cross-correlation between the magnetic field and the perturbation in the scalar field. We find that, when compared to de Sitter inflation, the dimensionless non-Gaussianity parameter that characterizes the amplitude of the cross-correlations proves to be considerably larger in bouncing scenarios. We also show that the aforementioned consistency condition governing the cross-correlation is violated in the bouncing models. We discuss the implications of our results.

magnetic field
universe
cross-correlation


Assessing the Habitability of the TRAPPIST-1 System Using a 3D Climate Model

Abstract: The TRAPPIST-1 system provides an extraordinary opportunity to study multiple terrestrial extrasolar planets and their atmospheres. Here we use the National Center for Atmospheric Research Community Atmosphere Model version 4 to study the possible climate and habitability of the planets in the TRAPPIST-1 system. We assume ocean-covered worlds, with atmospheres comprised of N2, CO2, and H2O, and with orbital and geophysical properties defined from observation. Model results indicate that the inner three planets (b, c, and d) presently reside interior to the inner edge of the traditional liquid water habitable zone. Thus if water ever existed on the inner planets, they would have undergone a runaway greenhouse and lost their water to space, leaving them dry today. Conversely the outer 3 planets (f, g, and h) fall beyond the maximum CO2 greenhouse outer edge of the habitable zone. Model results indicate that the outer planets cannot be warmed despite as much as 30 bar CO2 atmospheres, instead entering a snowball state. The middle planet (e) represents the best chance for a presently habitable ocean-covered world in the TRAPPIST-1 system. Planet e can maintain at least some habitable surface area with 0 - 2 bar CO2, depending on the background N2 content. Near present day Earth surface temperatures can be maintained for an ocean-covered planet e with either 1 bar N2 and 0.4 bar CO2, or a 1.3 bar pure CO2 atmosphere.

habitability
trappist-1 system
climate model


The candidate cluster and protocluster catalog (CCPC) II: Spectroscopically identified structures spanning 2 < z < 6.6

Abstract: The Candidate Cluster and Protocluster Catalog (CCPC) is a list of objects at redshifts z > 2 composed of galaxies with spectroscopically confirmed redshifts that are coincident on the sky and in redshift. These protoclusters are identified by searching for groups in volumes corresponding to the expected size of the most massive protoclusters at these redshifts. In CCPC1 we identified 43 candidate protoclusters among 14,000 galaxies between 2.74 < z < 3.71. Here we expand our search to more than 40,000 galaxies with spectroscopic redshifts z > 2.00, resulting in an additional 173 candidate structures. The most significant of these are 36 protoclusters with overdensities δ > 7. We also identify three large proto-supercluster candidates containing multiple protoclusters at z = 2.3, 3.5 and z = 6.56. Eight candidates with N > 10 or more galaxies are found at redshifts z > 4.0. The last system in the catalog is the most distant spectroscopic protocluster candidate known to date at z = 6.56.

candidate cluster
protocluster catalog
ccpc


Entropy of quasiblack holes

Abstract: We trace the origin of the black hole entropy S replacing a black hole by a quasiblack hole. Let the boundary of a static body approach its own gravitational radius, in such a way that a quasihorizon forms. We show that if the body is thermal with the temperature taking the Hawking value at the quasihorizon limit, it follows, in the nonextremal case, from the first law of thermodynamics that the entropy approaches the Bekenstein-Hawking value S=A/4. In this setup, the key role is played by the surface stresses on the quasihorizon and one finds that the entropy comes from the quasihorizon surface. Any distribution of matter inside the surface leads to the same universal value for the entropy in the quasihorizon limit. This can be of some help in the understanding of black hole entropy. Other similarities between black holes and quasiblack holes, such as the mass formulas for both objects had been found previously. We also discuss the entropy for extremal quasiblack holes, a more subtle issue.


The Cold Spot as a Large Void: Lensing Effect on CMB Two and Three Point Correlation Functions

Abstract: The "Cold Spot" in the CMB sky could be due to the presence of an anomalous huge spherical underdense region - a "Void" - of a few hundreds Mpc/h radius. Such a structure would have an impact on the CMB two-point (power spectrum) and three-point (bispectrum) correlation functions not only at low-l, but also at high-l through Lensing, which is a unique signature of a Void. Modeling such an underdensity with an LTB metric, we show that for the power spectrum the effect should be visible already in the WMAP data only if the Void radius is at least L ≳1 Gpc/h, while it will be visible by the Planck satellite if L ≳500 Mpc/h. We also speculate that this could be linked to the high-l detection of an hemispherical power asymmetry in the sky. Moreover, there should be non-zero correlations in the non-diagonal two-point function. For the bispectrum, the effect becomes important for squeezed triangles with two very high l's: this signal can be detected by Planck if the Void radius is at least L ≳300 Mpc/h, while higher resolution experiments should be able to probe the entire parameter space. We have also estimated the contamination of the primordial non-Gaussianity f_NL due to this signal, which turns out to be negligible.

cold spot
lensing
underdensity
non-diagonal two-point function
cmb power spectrum


Constraining the Cardoso-Pani-Rico metric with future observations of SgrA^*

Abstract: SgrA^*, the supermassive black hole candidate at the center of our Galaxy, seems to be one of the most promising object to test the Kerr black hole hypothesis with near future observations. In a few years, it will hopefully be possible to measure a number of relativistic effects around this body, and the combination of different observations can be used to constrain possible deviations from the Kerr solution. In this paper, I discuss the combination of three promising techniques in the framework of the Cardoso-Pani-Rico parametrization: the observation of blobs of plasma orbiting near the innermost stable circular orbit, the detection of the black hole shadow, and timing observations of a radio pulsar in a compact orbit. The observations of blobs of plasma and of the shadow can probe the strong gravitational field around SgrA^*, while the radio pulsar would be sensitive to the weak field region at larger radii. In the case of a fast-rotating object, the combination of the three measurements could provide strong constraints on the actual nature of SgrA^*. For a non-rotating or slow-rotating object, the bounds would be weak.

future observation
degeneracy
different measurement


Searching for Cosmic Strings in New Observational Windows

Abstract: Cosmic strings are predicted in many models beyond the Standard Model of particle physics. In models which admit strings, a network of strings will inevitably be formed in a phase transition in the early universe and will persist to the present time. Strings leave behind distinctive features in cosmology. Searching for these signatures in new observational windows provides a way to constrain particle physics at the high energy scale and is thus complementary to searches for new physics at the low energy end, for example at the LHC. Specifically, I will discuss signatures of cosmic strings in cosmic microwave background polarization maps and in 21cm redshift surveys.

cosmic string
string
observational window
particle physics


Directional recoil detection

Abstract: Searches for dark matter-induced recoils have made impressive advances in the last few years. Yet the field is confronted by several outstanding problems. First, the inevitable background of solar neutrinos will soon inhibit the conclusive identification of many dark matter models. Second, and more fundamentally, current experiments have no practical way of confirming a detected signal's galactic origin. The concept of directional detection addresses both of these issues while offering opportunities to study novel dark matter and neutrino-related physics. The concept remains experimentally challenging, but gas time projection chambers are an increasingly attractive option, and when properly configured, would allow directional measurements of both nuclear and electron recoils. In this review, we reassess the required detector performance and survey relevant technologies. Fortuitously, the highly-segmented detectors required to achieve good directionality also enable several fundamental and applied physics measurements. We comment on near-term challenges and how the field could be advanced.

recoil energy
detection experiment
underground detector
isotropic background
experimental strategy


Vertical stability of circular orbits in relativistic razor-thin disks

Abstract: During the last few decades, there has been a growing interest in exact solutions of Einstein equations describing razor-thin disks. Despite the progress in the area, the analytical study of geodesic motion crossing the disk plane in these systems is not yet so developed. In the present work, we propose a definite vertical stability criterion for circular equatorial timelike geodesics in static, axially symmetric thin disks, possibly surrounded by other structures preserving axial symmetry. It turns out that the strong energy condition for the disk stress-energy content is sufficient for vertical stability of these orbits. Moreover, adiabatic invariance of the vertical action variable gives us an approximate third integral of motion for oblique orbits which deviate slightly from the equatorial plane. Such new approximate third integral certainly points to a better understanding of the analytical properties of these orbits. The results presented here, derived for static spacetimes, may be a starting point to study the motion around rotating, stationary razor-thin disks. Our results also allow us to conjecture that the strong energy condition should be sufficient to assure transversal stability of periodic orbits for any singular timelike hypersurface, provided it is invariant under the geodesic flow.

orbit
razor-thin disk
vertical stability


Slow-roll inflation with a Gauss-Bonnet correction

Abstract: We consider slow-roll inflation for a single scalar field with an arbitrary potential and an arbitrary nonminimal coupling to the Gauss-Bonnet term. By introducing a combined hierarchy of Hubble and Gauss-Bonnet flow functions, we analytically derive the power spectra of scalar and tensor perturbations. The standard consistency relation between the tensor-to-scalar ratio and the spectral index of tensor perturbations is broken. We apply this formalism to a specific model with a monomial potential and an inverse monomial Gauss-Bonnet coupling and constrain it by the 7-year Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe data. The Gauss-Bonnet term with a positive (or negative) coupling may lead to a reduction (or enhancement) of the tensor-to-scalar ratio and hence may revive the quartic potential ruled out by recent cosmological data.

tensor-to-scalar ratio
einstein-gauss-bonnet theory
slow-roll inflation
universe


Bow shocks, bow waves, and dust waves. III. Diagnostics

Abstract: Stellar bow shocks, bow waves, and dust waves all result from the action of a star's wind and radiation pressure on a stream of dusty plasma that flows past it. The dust in these bows emits prominently at mid-infrared wavelengths in the range 8 to 60 micron. We propose a novel diagnostic method, the tau-eta diagram, for analyzing these bows, which is based on comparing the fractions of stellar radiative energy and stellar radiative momentum that is trapped by the bow shell. This diagram allows the discrimination of wind-supported bow shocks, radiation-supported bow waves, and dust waves in which grains decouple from the gas. For the wind-supported bow shocks, it allows the stellar wind mass-loss rate to be determined. We critically compare our method with a previous method that has been proposed for determining wind mass-loss rates from bow shock observations. This comparison points to ways in which both methods can be improved and suggests a downward revision by a factor of two with respect to previously reported mass-loss rates. From a sample of 23 mid-infrared bow-shaped sources, we identify at least 4 strong candidates for radiation-supported bow waves, which need to be confirmed by more detailed studies, but no strong candidates for dust waves.


QUBIC Technical Design Report

Abstract: QUBIC is an instrument aiming at measuring the B mode polarisation anisotropies at medium scales angular scales (30-200 multipoles). The search for the primordial CMB B-mode polarization signal is challenging, because of many difficulties: smallness of the expected signal, instrumental systematics that could possibly induce polarization leakage from the large E signal into B, brighter than anticipated polarized foregrounds (dust) reducing to zero the initial hope of finding sky regions clean enough to have a direct primordial B-modes observation. The QUBIC instrument is designed to address all aspects of this challenge with a novel kind of instrument, a Bolometric Interferometer, combining the background-limited sensitivity of Transition-Edge-Sensors and the control of systematics allowed by the observation of interference fringe patterns, while operating at two frequencies to disentangle polarized foregrounds from primordial B mode polarization. Its characteristics are described in details in this Technological Design Report.


Baryogenesis from Mixing of Lepton Doublets

Abstract: It is shown that the mixing of lepton doublets of the Standard Model can yield sizeable contributions to the lepton asymmetry, that is generated through the decays of right-handed neutrinos at finite temperature in the early Universe. When calculating the flavour-mixing correlations, we account for the effects of Yukawa as well as of gauge interactions. We compare the freeze-out asymmetry from lepton-doublet mixing to the standard contributions from the mixing and direct decays of right-handed neutrinos. The asymmetry from lepton mixing is considerably large when the mass ratio between the right-handed neutrinos is of order of a few, while it becomes Maxwell-suppressed for larger hierarchies. For an intermediate range between the case of degenerate right-handed neutrinos (resonant Leptogenesis) and the hierarchical case, lepton mixing can yield the main contribution to the lepton asymmetry.

lepton doublet
right-handed neutrino
leptogenesis
baryogenesis


Observatory science with eXTP

Abstract: In this White Paper we present the potential of the enhanced X-ray Timing and Polarimetry (eXTP) mission for studies related to Observatory Science targets. These include flaring stars, supernova remnants, accreting white dwarfs, low and high mass X-ray binaries, radio quiet and radio loud active galactic nuclei, tidal disruption events, and gamma-ray bursts. eXTP will be excellently suited to study one common aspect of these objects: their often transient nature. Developed by an international Consortium led by the Institute of High Energy Physics of the Chinese Academy of Science, the eXTP mission is expected to be launched in the mid 2020s.


A Class of Effective Field Theory Models of Cosmic Acceleration

Abstract: We explore a class of effective field theory models of cosmic acceleration involving a metric and a single scalar field. These models can be obtained by starting with a set of ultralight pseudo-Nambu-Goldstone bosons whose couplings to matter satisfy the weak equivalence principle, assuming that one boson is lighter than all the others, and integrating out the heavier fields. The result is a quintessence model with matter coupling, together with a series of correction terms in the action in a covariant derivative expansion, with specific scalings for the coefficients. After eliminating higher derivative terms and exploiting the field redefinition freedom, we show that the resulting theory contains nine independent free functions of the scalar field when truncated at four derivatives. This is in contrast to the four free functions found in similar theories of single-field inflation, where matter is not present. We discuss several different representations of the theory that can be obtained using the field redefinition freedom. For perturbations to the quintessence field today on subhorizon lengthscales larger than the Compton wavelength of the heavy fields, the theory is weakly coupled and natural in the sense of t'Hooft. The theory admits a regime where the perturbations become modestly nonlinear, but very strong nonlinearities lie outside its domain of validity.

effective field theory
cosmic acceleration
glpv theory