A new view of k-essence

K-essence models, relying on scalar fields with non-canonical kinetic terms, have been proposed as an alternative to quintessence in explaining the observed acceleration of the Universe. We consider the use of field redefinitions to cast k-essence in a more familiar form. While k-essence models cannot in general be rewritten in the form of quintessence models, we show that in certain dynamical regimes an equivalence can be made, which in particular can shed light on the tracking behaviour of k-essence. In several cases, k-essence cannot be observationally distinguished from quintessence using the homogeneous evolution, though there may be small effects on the perturbation spectrum. We make a detailed analysis of two k-essence models from the literature and comment on the nature of the fine tuning arising in the models.Comment: 7 pages RevTeX4 file with four figures incorporate

Interacting polytropic gas model of phantom dark energy in non-flat universe

By introducing the polytropic gas model of interacting dark energy, we obtain the equation of state for the polytropic gas energy density in a non-flat universe. We show that for even polytropic index by choosing $K>Ba^{\frac{3}{n}}$, one can obtain $\omega^{\rm eff}_{\Lambda}<-1$, which corresponds to a universe dominated by phantom dark energy.Comment: 7 page

K-essence and the coincidence problem

K-essence has been proposed as a possible means of explaining the coincidence problem of the Universe beginning to accelerate only at the present epoch. We carry out a comprehensive dynamical systems analysis of the k-essence models given so far in the literature. We numerically study the basin of attraction of the tracker solutions and we highlight the behaviour of the field close to sound speed divergences. We find that, when written in terms of parameters with a simple dynamical interpretation, the basins of attraction represent only a small region of the phase space.Comment: 5 pages RevTeX4 file with two figures incorporated. Minor changes to match PRD accepted versio

HRTEM characterization of gold nanoparticles produced by wheat biomass

In this study, the bio-reduction of Au(III) to Au(0) by wheat biomass and the subsequent production of gold nanoparticles of various shapes and sizes is presented. The dry biomass was ground and sieved in order to assure a uniform particle size and having more area of biomass exposed to the gold. Wheat biomass was exposed to a 0.3mM potassium tetrachloroaurate solution at pH values of 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 for three and a half hours at room temperature. After that time, the biomass pellets were analyzed using a high resolution transmission electron microscope, JEOL-4000 EX, in order to characterize the gold nanoparticles. The results showed that wheat biomass produced nanostructures of the following morphologies: Fcc tetrahedral (T), decahedral (Dh), hexagonal (He), icosahedral multitwinned (I), irregular shape (Irr), and rod shape nanoparticles. The highest percent of the nanoparticles formed had a particle size ranging from 10-30 nm.Fil: Armendáriz, V.. University of Texas at El Paso; Estados UnidosFil: José Yacamán, Miguel. University of Texas at Austin; Estados UnidosFil: Duarte Moller, A.. University of Texas at El Paso; Estados Unidos. Centro de Investigación en Materiales Avanzados; MéxicoFil: Peralta Videa, J. R.. University of Texas at El Paso; Estados UnidosFil: Troiani, Horacio Esteban. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte; Argentina. University of Texas at Austin; Estados UnidosFil: Herrera, I.. University of Texas at El Paso; Estados UnidosFil: Gardea Torres, J. L.. University of Texas at El Paso; Estados Unido

On the Weyl - Eddington - Einstein affine gravity in the context of modern cosmology

We propose new models of an `affine' theory of gravity in $D$-dimensional space-times with symmetric connections. They are based on ideas of Weyl, Eddington and Einstein and, in particular, on Einstein's proposal to specify the space - time geometry by use of the Hamilton principle. More specifically, the connection coefficients are derived by varying a `geometric' Lagrangian that is supposed to be an arbitrary function of the generalized (non-symmetric) Ricci curvature tensor (and, possibly, of other fundamental tensors) expressed in terms of the connection coefficients regarded as independent variables. In addition to the standard Einstein gravity, such a theory predicts dark energy (the cosmological constant, in the first approximation), a neutral massive (or, tachyonic) vector field, and massive (or, tachyonic) scalar fields. These fields couple only to gravity and may generate dark matter and/or inflation. The masses (real or imaginary) have geometric origin and one cannot avoid their appearance in any concrete model. Further details of the theory - such as the nature of the vector and scalar fields that can describe massive particles, tachyons, or even `phantoms' - depend on the concrete choice of the geometric Lagrangian. In `natural' geometric theories, which are discussed here, dark energy is also unavoidable. Main parameters - mass, cosmological constant, possible dimensionless constants - cannot be predicted, but, in the framework of modern `multiverse' ideology, this is rather a virtue than a drawback of the theory. To better understand possible applications of the theory we discuss some further extensions of the affine models and analyze in more detail approximate (`physical') Lagrangians that can be applied to cosmology of the early Universe.Comment: 15 pages; a few misprints corrected, one footnote removed and two added, the formulae and results unchanged but the text somewhat edited, esp. in Sections 4,5; the reference to the RFBR grant corrected

Gold Binding by Native and Chemically Modified Hops Biomasses

Heavy metals from mining, smelting operations and other industrial processing facilities pollute wastewaters worldwide. Extraction of metals from industrial effluents has been widely studied due to the economic advantages and the relative ease of technical implementation. Consequently, the search for new and improved methodologies for the recovery of gold has increased. In this particular research, the use of cone hops biomass (Humulus lupulus) was investigated as a new option for gold recovery. The results showed that the gold binding to native hops biomass was pH dependent from pH 2 to pH 6, with a maximum percentage binding at pH 3. Time dependency studies demonstrated that Au(III) binding to native and modified cone hops biomasses was found to be time independent at pH 2 while at pH 5, it was time dependent. Capacity experiments demonstrated that at pH 2, esterified hops biomass bound 33.4 mg Au/g of biomass, while native and hydrolyzed hops biomasses bound 28.2 and 12.0 mg Au/g of biomass, respectively. However, at pH 5 the binding capacities were 38.9, 37.8 and 11.4 mg of Au per gram of native, esterified and hydrolyzed hops biomasses, respectively

OmOm Diagnostic for Dilaton Dark Energy

$Om$ diagnostic can differentiate between different models of dark energy without the accurate current value of matter density. We apply this geometric diagnostic to dilaton dark energy(DDE) model and differentiate DDE model from LCDM. We also investigate the influence of coupled parameter $\alpha$ on the evolutive behavior of $Om$ with respect to redshift $z$. According to the numerical result of $Om$, we get the current value of equation of state $\omega_{\sigma0}$=-0.952 which fits the WMAP5+BAO+SN very well.Comment: 6 pages and 6 figures

Solutions to the cosmological constant problems

We critically review several recent approaches to solving the two cosmological constant problems. The "old" problem is the discrepancy between the observed value of $\Lambda$ and the large values suggested by particle physics models. The second problem is the "time coincidence" between the epoch of galaxy formation $t_G$ and the epoch of $\Lambda$-domination t_\L. It is conceivable that the "old" problem can be resolved by fundamental physics alone, but we argue that in order to explain the "time coincidence" we must account for anthropic selection effects. Our main focus here is on the discrete-$\Lambda$ models in which $\Lambda$ can change through nucleation of branes. We consider the cosmology of this type of models in the context of inflation and discuss the observational constraints on the model parameters. The issue of multiple brane nucleation raised by Feng {\it et. al.} is discussed in some detail. We also review continuous-\L models in which the role of the cosmological constant is played by a slowly varying potential of a scalar field. We find that both continuous and discrete models can in principle solve both cosmological constant problems, although the required values of the parameters do not appear very natural. M-theory-motivated brane models, in which the brane tension is determined by the brane coupling to the four-form field, do not seem to be viable, except perhaps in a very tight corner of the parameter space. Finally, we point out that the time coincidence can also be explained in models where $\Lambda$ is fixed, but the primordial density contrast $Q=\delta\rho/\rho$ is treated as a random variable.Comment: 30 pages, 3 figures, two notes adde

The conformal frame freedom in theories of gravitation

It has frequently been claimed in the literature that the classical physical predictions of scalar tensor theories of gravity depend on the conformal frame in which the theory is formulated. We argue that this claim is false, and that all classical physical predictions are conformal-frame invariants. We also respond to criticisms by Vollick [gr-qc/0312041], in which this issue arises, of our recent analysis of the Palatini form of 1/R gravity.Comment: 9 pages, no figures, revtex; final published versio