Sp-brane accelerating cosmologies

We investigate time dependent solutions (S-brane solutions) for product manifolds consisting of factor spaces where only one of them is non-Ricci-flat. Our model contains minimally coupled free scalar field as a matter source. We discuss a possibility of generating late time acceleration of the Universe. The analysis is performed in conformally related Brans-Dicke and Einstein frames. Dynamical behavior of our Universe is described by its scale factor. Since the scale factors of our Universe are described by different variables in both frames, they can have different dynamics. Indeed, we show that with our S-brane ansatz in the Brans-Dicke frame the stages of accelerating expansion exist for all types of the external space (flat, spherical and hyperbolic). However, applying the same ansatz for the metric in the Einstein frame, we find that a model with flat external space and hyperbolic compactification of the internal space is the only one with the stage of the accelerating expansion. Scalar field can prevent this acceleration. It is shown that the case of hyperbolic external space in Brans-Dicke frame is the only model which can satisfy experimental bounds for the fine structure constant variations. We obtain a class of models where a pare of dynamical internal spaces have fixed total volume. It results in fixed fine structure constant. However, these models are unstable and external space is non-accelerating.Comment: 17 pages, 4 figures, accepted in PR

Acceleration from M theory and Fine-tuning

The compactification of M theory with time dependent hyperbolic internal space gives an effective scalar field with exponential potential which provides a transient acceleration in Einstein frame in four dimensions. Ordinary matter and radiation are present in addition to the scalar field coming from compactification. We find that we have to fine-tune the initial conditions of the scalar field so that our Universe experiences acceleration now. During the evolution of our Universe, the volume of the internal space increases about 12 times. The time variation of the internal space results in a large time variation of the fine structure constant which violates the observational constraint on the variation of the fine structure constant. The large variation of the fine structure constant is a generic feature of transient acceleration models.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figures, use iopart, v2; references updated, accepted for publication in Class. Quantum Gra

Variations in characteristics of the barents branch of the Atlantic Water in the Nansen Basin under the influence of atmospheric circulation over the Barents Sea

The thermohaline structure of the Arctic Basin (AB) of the Arctic Ocean (AO) is determined to a great extent by an intermediate water layer existing under ice at a depth varying from 100 to 700–1000 m. The water layer is formed by warm North Atlantic Water (AW), which enters the AB by two ways: through Fram Strait and the Barents Sea (Fig. 1). The AW arriving to the AB via Fram Strait extends further eastward along the continental slope of the Eurasian Arctic region and forms the Fram Branch (FBAW). The Barents Branch of the AW (BBAW) was formed by the North Atlantic Water entering the Barents Sea between the Spitsbergen Archipelago and the Scandinavian Peninsula. Both branches merge in the northern Kara Sea

Dynamical dark energy from extra dimensions

We consider multidimensional cosmological model with a higher-dimensional product manifold M = R x R^{d_0} x H^{d_1}/\Gamma where R^{d_0} is d_0-dimensional Ricci-flat external (our) space and H^{d_1}/\Gamma is d_1-dimensional compact hyperbolic internal space. M2-brane solution for this model has the stage of accelerating expansion of the external space. We apply this model to explain the late time acceleration of our Universe. Recent observational data (the Hubble parameter at the present time and the redshift when the deceleration parameter changes its sign) fix fully all free parameters of the model. As a result, we find that considered model has too big size of the internal space at the present time and variation of the effective four-dimensional fine structure constant strongly exceeds the observational limits.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, LaTex, a few remarks and reference adde

Models of G time variations in diverse dimensions

A review of different cosmological models in diverse dimensions leading to a relatively small time variation of the effective gravitational constant G is presented. Among them: 4-dimensional general scalar-tensor model, multidimensional vacuum model with two curved Einstein spaces, multidimensional model with multicomponent anisotropic "perfect fluid", S-brane model with scalar fields and two form field etc. It is shown that there exist different possible ways of explanation of relatively small time variation of the effective gravitational constant G compatible with present cosmological data (e.g. acceleration): 4-dimensional scalar-tensor theories or multidimensional cosmological models with different matter sources. The experimental bounds on G-dot may be satisfied ether in some restricted interval or for all allowed values of the synchronous time variable.Comment: 27 pages, Late

Modified Gravity and Cosmology

In this review we present a thoroughly comprehensive survey of recent work on modified theories of gravity and their cosmological consequences. Amongst other things, we cover General Relativity, Scalar-Tensor, Einstein-Aether, and Bimetric theories, as well as TeVeS, f(R), general higher-order theories, Horava-Lifschitz gravity, Galileons, Ghost Condensates, and models of extra dimensions including Kaluza-Klein, Randall-Sundrum, DGP, and higher co-dimension braneworlds. We also review attempts to construct a Parameterised Post-Friedmannian formalism, that can be used to constrain deviations from General Relativity in cosmology, and that is suitable for comparison with data on the largest scales. These subjects have been intensively studied over the past decade, largely motivated by rapid progress in the field of observational cosmology that now allows, for the first time, precision tests of fundamental physics on the scale of the observable Universe. The purpose of this review is to provide a reference tool for researchers and students in cosmology and gravitational physics, as well as a self-contained, comprehensive and up-to-date introduction to the subject as a whole.Comment: 312 pages, 15 figure