13,462 research outputs found
Spacetime algebraic skeleton
The cosmological constant Lambda, which has seemingly dominated the primaeval
Universe evolution and to which recent data attribute a significant
present-time value, is shown to have an algebraic content: it is essentially an
eigenvalue of a Casimir invariant of the Lorentz group which acts on every
tangent space. This is found in the context of de Sitter spacetimes but, as
every spacetime is a 4-manifold with Minkowski tangent spaces, the result
suggests the existence of a "skeleton" algebraic structure underlying the
geometry of general physical spacetimes. Different spacetimes come from the
"fleshening" of that structure by different tetrad fields. Tetrad fields, which
provide the interface between spacetime proper and its tangent spaces, exhibit
to the most the fundamental role of the Lorentz group in Riemannian spacetimes,
a role which is obscured in the more usual metric formalism.Comment: 13 page
Closed Expressions for Lie Algebra Invariants and Finite Transformations
A simple procedure to obtain complete, closed expressions for Lie algebra
invariants is presented. The invariants are ultimately polynomials in the group
parameters. The construction of finite group elements require the use of
projectors, whose coefficients are invariant polynomials. The detailed general
forms of these projectors are given. Closed expressions for finite Lorentz
transformations, both homogeneous and inhomogeneous, as well as for Galilei
transformations, are found as examples.Comment: 34 pages, ps file, no figure
Topics in Born-Infeld Electrodynamics
Classical version of Born-Infeld electrodynamics is recalled and its most
important properties discussed. Then we analyze possible abelian and
non-abelian generalizations of this theory, and show how certain soliton-like
configurations can be obtained. The relationship with the Standard Model of
electroweak interactions is also mentioned.Comment: (One new reference added). 15 pages, LaTeX. To be published in the
Proceedings of XXXVII Karpacz Winter School edited in the Proceedings Series
of American Mathematical Society, editors J. Lukierski and J. Rembielinsk
Kinematics of a Spacetime with an Infinite Cosmological Constant
A solution of the sourceless Einstein's equation with an infinite value for
the cosmological constant \Lambda is discussed by using Inonu-Wigner
contractions of the de Sitter groups and spaces. When \Lambda --> infinity,
spacetime becomes a four-dimensional cone, dual to Minkowski space by a
spacetime inversion. This inversion relates the four-cone vertex to the
infinity of Minkowski space, and the four-cone infinity to the Minkowski
light-cone. The non-relativistic limit c --> infinity is further considered,
the kinematical group in this case being a modified Galilei group in which the
space and time translations are replaced by the non-relativistic limits of the
corresponding proper conformal transformations. This group presents the same
abstract Lie algebra as the Galilei group and can be named the conformal
Galilei group. The results may be of interest to the early Universe Cosmology.Comment: RevTex, 7 pages, no figures. Presentation changes, including a new
Title. Version to appear in Found. Phys. Let
Cosmic microwave background constraints on the epoch of reionization
We use a compilation of cosmic microwave anisotropy data to constrain the
epoch of reionization in the Universe, as a function of cosmological
parameters. We consider spatially-flat cosmologies, varying the matter density
(the flatness being restored by a cosmological constant), the Hubble
parameter and the spectral index of the primordial power spectrum. Our
results are quoted both in terms of the maximum permitted optical depth to the
last-scattering surface, and in terms of the highest allowed reionization
redshift assuming instantaneous reionization. For critical-density models,
significantly-tilted power spectra are excluded as they cannot fit the current
data for any amount of reionization, and even scale-invariant models must have
an optical depth to last scattering of below 0.3. For the currently-favoured
low-density model with and a cosmological constant, the
earliest reionization permitted to occur is at around redshift 35, which
roughly coincides with the highest estimate in the literature. We provide
general fitting functions for the maximum permitted optical depth, as a
function of cosmological parameters. We do not consider the inclusion of tensor
perturbations, but if present they would strengthen the upper limits we quote.Comment: 9 pages LaTeX file with ten figures incorporated (uses mn.sty and
epsf). Corrects some equation typos, superseding published versio
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