Liberating the Inflaton from Primordial Spectrum Constraints

I discuss a mechanism that renders the spectral index of the primordial spectrum and the inflationary stage independent of each other. If a scalar field acquires an appropriate time-dependent mass, it is possible to generate an adiabatic, Gaussian scale invariant spectrum of density perturbations during any stage of inflation. As an illustration, I present a simple model where the time-dependent mass arises from the coupling of the inflaton to a second scalar. The mechanism I propose might help to implement a successful inflationary scenario in particle physics theories that do not yield slow-roll potentials.Comment: 7 two-column pages, 1 figure. Uses RevTeX

A dynamical dark energy model with a given luminosity distance

It is assumed that the current cosmic acceleration is driven by a scalar field, the Lagrangian of which is a function of the kinetic term only, and that the luminosity distance is a given function of the red-shift. Upon comparison with Baryon Acoustic Oscillations (BAOs) and Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) data the parameters of the models are determined, and then the time evolution of the scalar field is determined by the dynamics using the cosmological equations. We find that the solution is very different than the corresponding solution when the non-relativistic matter is ignored, and that the universe enters the acceleration era at larger red-shift compared to the standard $\Lambda CDM$ model.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in GER

Bayesian Limits on Primordial Isotropy Breaking

It is often assumed that primordial perturbations are statistically isotropic, which implies, among other properties, that their power spectrum is invariant under rotations. In this article, we test this assumption by placing model-independent bounds on deviations from rotational invariance of the primordial spectrum. Using five-year WMAP cosmic microwave anisotropy maps, we set limits on the overall norm and the amplitude of individual components of the primordial spectrum quadrupole. We find that there is no significant evidence for primordial isotropy breaking, and that an eventually non-vanishing quadrupole has to be subdominant.Comment: 6 double-column pages, 2 figues and 2 tables. Uses REVTeX

Logarithm of the scale factor as a generalised coordinate in a lagrangian for dark matter and dark energy

A lagrangian for the $k-$ essence field is set up with canonical kinetic terms and incorporating the scaling relation of [1]. There are two degrees of freedom, {\it viz.},$q(t)= ln\enskip a(t)$ ($a(t)$ is the scale factor) and the scalar field $\phi$, and an interaction term involving $\phi$ and $q(t)$.The Euler-Lagrange equations are solved for $q$ and $\phi$. Using these solutions quantities of cosmological interest are determined. The energy density $\rho$ has a constant component which we identify as dark energy and a component behaving as $a^{-3}$ which we call dark matter. The pressure $p$ is {\it negative} for time $t\to \infty$ and the sound velocity $c_{s}^{2}={\partial p\over\partial\rho} << 1$. When dark energy dominates, the deceleration parameter $Q\to -1$ while in the matter dominated era $Q\sim {1\over 2}$. The equation of state parameter $w={p\over \rho}$ is shown to be consistent with $w={p\over\rho}\sim -1$ for dark energy domination and during the matter dominated era we have $w\sim 0$. Bounds for the parameters of the theory are estimated from observational data. Keywords: k-essence models, dark matter, dark energy PACS No: 98.80.-kComment: 16 pages, latex, paper shortened by 2 pages for journal publicatio

A Phantom Menace? Cosmological consequences of a dark energy component with super-negative equation of state

It is extraordinary that a number of observations indicate that we live in a spatially flat, low matter density Universe, which is currently undergoing a period of accelerating expansion. The effort to explain this current state has focused attention on cosmological models in which the dominant component of the cosmic energy density has negative pressure, with an equation of state $w \ge -1$. Remarking that most observations are consistent with models right up to the $w=-1$ or cosmological constant ($\Lambda$) limit, it is natural to ask what lies on the other side, at $w<-1$. In this regard, we construct a toy model of a ``phantom'' energy component which possesses an equation of state $w<-1$. Such a component is found to be compatible with most classical tests of cosmology based on current data, including the recent type 1a SNe data as well as the cosmic microwave background anisotropy and mass power spectrum. If the future observations continue to allow $w<-1$, then barring unanticipated systematic effects, the dominant component of the cosmic energy density may be stranger than anything expected.Comment: update of original version, includes new material, matches version appearing in Phys. Lett. B, (17 pages, 7 eps figures

Haloes of k-Essence

We study gravitationally bound static and spherically symmetric configurations of k-essence fields. In particular, we investigate whether these configurations can reproduce the properties of dark matter haloes. The classes of Lagrangians we consider lead to non-isotropic fluids with barotropic and polytropic equations of state. The latter include microscopic realizations of the often-considered Chaplygin gases, which we find can cluster into dark matter halo-like objects with flat rotation curves, while exhibiting a dark energy-like negative pressure on cosmological scales. We complement our studies with a series of formal general results about the stability and initial value formulation of non-canonical scalar field theories, and we also discuss a new class of de Sitter solutions with spacelike field gradients.Comment: 34pages, single column double spacing, 7 figures, 3 Tables, RevTex4. Additional references and minor clarifications. To be submitted to JCA