Extending cosmology: the metric approach

In this chapter it is shown how the introduction of a fundamental constant of nature with dimensions of acceleration into the theory of gravity makes it possible to extend gravity in a very consistent manner.Comment: 2012, Extending Cosmology: The Metric Approach, Open Questions in Cosmology; Review article for an Intech "Open questions in cosmology" book chapter (19 pages, 3 figures). Available from: http://www.intechopen.com/books/open-questions-in-cosmology/extending-cosmology-the-metric-approac

Deflection of jets induced by jet-cloud & jet-galaxy interactions

The model first introduced by Raga & Canto (1996) in which astrophysical jets are deflected on passing through an isothermal high density region is generalised by taking into account gravitational effects on the motion of the jet as it crosses the high density cloud. The problem is also generalised for relativistic jets in which gravitational effects induced by the cloud are neglected. Two further cases, classical and relativistic, are discussed for the cases in which the jet is deflected on passing through the interstellar gas of a galaxy in which a dark matter halo dominates the gravitational potential. The criteria for the stability of jets due to the formation of internal shocks are discussed.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, Accepted for publication in MNRA

Short-lived lattice quasiparticles for strongly interacting fluids

It is shown that lattice kinetic theory based on short-lived quasiparticles proves very effective in simulating the complex dynamics of strongly interacting fluids (SIF). In particular, it is pointed out that the shear viscosity of lattice fluids is the sum of two contributions, one due to the usual interactions between particles (collision viscosity) and the other due to the interaction with the discrete lattice (propagation viscosity). Since the latter is {\it negative}, the sum may turn out to be orders of magnitude smaller than each of the two contributions separately, thus providing a mechanism to access SIF regimes at ordinary values of the collisional viscosity. This concept, as applied to quantum superfluids in one-dimensional optical lattices, is shown to reproduce shear viscosities consistent with the AdS-CFT holographic bound on the viscosity/entropy ratio. This shows that lattice kinetic theory continues to hold for strongly coupled hydrodynamic regimes where continuum kinetic theory may no longer be applicable.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figure

Physical processes behind the alignment effect

The radio/optical alignment effect for small powerful radio galaxies has been shown to be produced by shock waves formed by the interaction of the head of the jet and/or cocoon with clouds embedded in the interstellar/intergalactic medium. We present here preliminary results of analytical and numerical solutions that have been made to account for the production of implosive shock waves induced by embedding cold clouds in the radio lobe of expanding powerful radio sources.Comment: 4 pages. To be published in Multiwavelength AGN Surveys", Cozumel, Dec 8 - 12, 200