Symmetry relations in chemical kinetics arising from microscopic reversibility

It is shown that the kinetics of time-reversible chemical reactions having the same equilibrium constant but different initial conditions are closely related to one another by a directly measurable symmetry relation analogous to chemical detailed balance. In contrast to detailed balance, however, this relation does not require knowledge of the elementary steps that underlie the reaction, and remains valid in regimes where the concept of rate constants is ill-defined, such as at very short times and in the presence of low activation barriers. Numerical simulations of a model of isomerization in solution are provided to illustrate the symmetry under such conditions, and potential applications in protein folding-unfolding are pointed out.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure, accepted to Phys Rev Let

T-spheres as a limit of Lemaitre-Tolman-Bondi solutions

In the Tolman model there exist two quite different branches of solutions - generic Lemaitre-Tolman-Bondi (LTB) ones and T-spheres as a special case. We show that, nonetheless, T-spheres can be obtained as a limit of the class of LTB solutions having no origin and extending to infinity with the areal radius approaching constant. It is shown that all singularities of T-models are inherited from those of corresponding LBT solutions. In doing so, the disc type singularity of a T-sphere is the analog of shell-crossing.Comment: 6 pages. 1 Reference added. To appear in Phys. Rev.

Quintessence and phantom cosmology with non-minimal derivative coupling

We investigate cosmological scenarios with a non-minimal derivative coupling between the scalar field and the curvature, examining both the quintessence and the phantom cases in zero and constant potentials. In general, we find that the universe transits from one de Sitter solution to another, determined by the coupling parameter. Furthermore, according to the parameter choices and without the need for matter, we can obtain a Big Bang, an expanding universe with no beginning, a cosmological turnaround, an eternally contracting universe, a Big Crunch, a Big Rip avoidance and a cosmological bounce. This variety of behaviors reveals the capabilities of the present scenario.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figure

Energy dependence on fractional charge for strongly interacting subsystems

The energies of a pair of strongly-interacting subsystems with arbitrary noninteger charges are examined from closed and open system perspectives. An ensemble representation of the charge dependence is derived, valid at all interaction strengths. Transforming from resonance-state ionicity to ensemble charge dependence imposes physical constraints on the occupation numbers in the strong-interaction limit. For open systems, the chemical potential is evaluated using microscopic and thermodynamic models, leading to a novel correlation between ground-state charge and an electronic temperature.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figs.; as accepted (Phys. Rev. Lett.

More examples of structure formation in the Lemaitre-Tolman model

In continuing our earlier research, we find the formulae needed to determine the arbitrary functions in the Lemaitre-Tolman model when the evolution proceeds from a given initial velocity distribution to a final state that is determined either by a density distribution or by a velocity distribution. In each case the initial and final distributions uniquely determine the L-T model that evolves between them, and the sign of the energy-function is determined by a simple inequality. We also show how the final density profile can be more accurately fitted to observational data than was done in our previous paper. We work out new numerical examples of the evolution: the creation of a galaxy cluster out of different velocity distributions, reflecting the current data on temperature anisotropies of CMB, the creation of the same out of different density distributions, and the creation of a void. The void in its present state is surrounded by a nonsingular wall of high density.Comment: LaTeX 2e with eps figures. 30 pages, 11 figures, 30 figure files. Revision matches published versio

Alternative Methods of Describing Structure Formation in the Lemaitre-Tolman Model

We describe several new ways of specifying the behaviour of Lemaitre-Tolman (LT) models, in each case presenting the method for obtaining the LT arbitrary functions from the given data, and the conditions for existence of such solutions. In addition to our previously considered `boundary conditions', the new ones include: a simultaneous big bang, a homogeneous density or velocity distribution in the asymptotic future, a simultaneous big crunch, a simultaneous time of maximal expansion, a chosen density or velocity distribution in the asymptotic future, only growing or only decaying fluctuations. Since these conditions are combined in pairs to specify a particular model, this considerably increases the possible ways of designing LT models with desired properties.Comment: Accepted by Phys Rev D. RevTeX 4, 13 pages, no figures. Part of a series: gr-qc/0106096, gr-qc/0303016, gr-qc/0309119. Replacement contains very minor correction

Topological Defects in Contracting Universes

We study the behaviour and consequences of cosmic string networks in contracting universes. They approximately behave during the collapse phase as a radiation fluids. Scaling solutions describing this are derived and tested against high-resolution numerical simulations. A string network in a contracting universe, together with the gravitational radiation it generates, can affect the dynamics of the universe both locally and globally, and be an important source of radiation, entropy and inhomogeneity. We discuss possible implications for bouncing and cyclic models.Comment: Shorter version of astro-ph/0206287. To appear in Phys. Rev. Let

Can the initial singularity be detected by cosmological tests?

In the present paper we raise the question whether initial cosmological singularity can be proved from the cosmological tests. The classical general relativity predict the existence of singularity in the past if only some energy conditions are satisfied. On the other hand the latest quantum gravity applications to cosmology suggest of possibility of avoiding the singularity and replace it with the bounce. The distant type Ia supernovae data are used to constraints on bouncing evolutional scenario where square of the Hubble function $H^2$ is given by formulae $H^2=H^2_0[\Omega_{m,0}(1+z)^{m}-\Omega_{n,0}(1+z)^{n}]$, where $\Omega_{m,0}, \Omega_{n,0}>0$ are density parameters and $n>m>0$. We show that the on the base of the SNIa data standard bouncing models can be ruled out on the $4\sigma$ confidence level. If we add the cosmological constant to the standard bouncing model then we obtain as the best-fit that the parameter $\Omega_{n,0}$ is equal zero which means that the SNIa data do not support the bouncing term in the model. The bounce term is statistically insignificant the present epoch. We also demonstrate that BBN offer the possibility of obtaining stringent constraints of the extra term $\Omega_{n,0}$. The other observational test methods like CMB and the age of oldest objects in the Universe are used. We also use the Akaike informative criterion to select a model according to the goodness of fit and we conclude that this term should be ruled out by Occam's razor, which makes that the big bang is favored rather then bouncing scenario.Comment: 30 pages, 7 figures improved versio

Gravitational energy

Observers at rest in a stationary spacetime flat at infinity can measure small amounts of rest-mass+internal energies+kinetic energies+pressure energy in a small volume of fluid attached to a local inertial frame. The sum of these small amounts is the total "matter energy" for those observers. The total mass-energy minus the matter energy is the binding gravitational energy. Misner, Thorne and Wheeler evaluated the gravitational energy of a spherically symmetric static spacetime. Here we show how to calculate gravitational energy in any static and stationary spacetime for isolated sources with a set of observers at rest. The result of MTW is recovered and we find that electromagnetic and gravitational 3-covariant energy densities in conformastatic spacetimes are of opposite signs. Various examples suggest that gravitational energy is negative in spacetimes with special symmetries or when the energy-momentum tensor satisfies usual energy conditions.Comment: 12 pages. Accepted for publication in Class. Quantum Gra

Energy distribution of 2+1 dimensional black holes with nonlinear electrodynamics

The energy distributions for a black hole solution resulting from coupling electrodynamics and gravity in 2+1 dimensions are obtained. This solution considers the correction for a 2+1 static charged black hole from the first contribution of the weak field limit of one loop QED in 2+1 dimensions. The Einstein and Moller energy-momentum prescriptions are used to evaluate the energy distributions associated with the mentioned 2+1 dimensional black hole and other 2+1 black hole solutions coupled with nonlinear electrodynamics. A relation that connects the coefficients of both prescriptions is established.Comment: 10 pages, no figures, references adde