A Testable Solution of the Cosmological Constant and Coincidence Problems

We present a new solution to the cosmological constant (CC) and coincidence problems in which the observed value of the CC, $\Lambda$, is linked to other observable properties of the universe. This is achieved by promoting the CC from a parameter which must to specified, to a field which can take many possible values. The observed value of Lambda ~ 1/(9.3 Gyrs)^2$(approximately 10^(-120) in Planck units) is determined by a new constraint equation which follows from the application of a causally restricted variation principle. When applied to our visible universe, the model makes a testable prediction for the dimensionless spatial curvature of Omega_k0 = -0.0056 s_b/0.5; where s_b ~ 1/2 is a QCD parameter. Requiring that a classical history exist, our model determines the probability of observing a given Lambda. The observed CC value, which we successfully predict, is typical within our model even before the effects of anthropic selection are included. When anthropic selection effects are accounted for, we find that the observed coincidence between t_Lambda = Lambda^(-1/2) and the age of the universe, t_U, is a typical occurrence in our model. In contrast to multiverse explanations of the CC problems, our solution is independent of the choice of a prior weighting of different$\Lambda$-values and does not rely on anthropic selection effects. Our model includes no unnatural small parameters and does not require the introduction of new dynamical scalar fields or modifications to general relativity, and it can be tested by astronomical observations in the near future.Comment: 31 pages, 4 figures; v2: version accepted by Phys. Rev.

Born-Infeld type Gravity

Generalizations of gravitational Born-Infeld type lagrangians are investigated. Phenomenological constraints (reduction to Einstein-Hilbert action for small curvature, spin two ghost freedom and absence of Coulomb like Schwarschild singularity) select one effective lagrangian whose dynamics is dictated by the tensors g_{\mu\nu} and R_{\mu\nu\rho\sigma}(not R_{\mu\nu} or the scalar R).Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, revte

A Way to Dynamically Overcome the Cosmological Constant Problem

The Cosmological Constant problem can be solved once we require that the full standard Einstein Hilbert lagrangian, gravity plus matter, is multiplied by a total derivative. We analyze such a picture writing the total derivative as the covariant gradient of a new vector field (b_mu). The dynamics of this b_mu field can play a key role in the explanation of the present cosmological acceleration of the Universe.Comment: 5 page

New Velocity Distribution in the Context of the Eddington Theory

Exotic dark matter together with the vacuum energy (associated with the cosmological constant) seem to dominate the Universe. Thus its direct detection is central to particle physics and cosmology. Supersymmetry provides a natural dark matter candidate, the lightest supersymmetric particle (LSP). One essential ingredient in obtaining the direct detection rates is the density and velocity distribution of the LSP. The detection rate is proportional to this density in our vicinity. Furthermore, since this rate is expected to be very low, one should explore the two characteristic signatures of the process, namely the modulation effect, i.e. the dependence of the event rate on the Earth's motion and the correlation of the directional rate with the motion of the sun. Both of these crucially depend on the LSP velocity distribution. In the present paper we study simultaneously density profiles and velocity distributions based on the Eddington theory.Comment: 40 LaTex pages, 19 figures and one table. The previous version was expanded to include new numerical solutions to Poisson's equation. Sheduled to appear in vol. 588, ApJ, May 1, 300

The Stellar Mass Evolution of Galaxies in the NICMOS Ultra Deep Field

We measure the build-up of the stellar mass of galaxies from z=6 to z=1. Using 15 band multicolor imaging data in the NICMOS Ultra Deep Field we derive photometric redshifts and masses for 796 galaxies down to H(AB)=26.5. The derived evolution of the global stellar mass density of galaxies is consistent with previous star formation rate density measurements over the observed range of redshifts. Beyond the observed range, maintaining consistency between the global stellar mass and the observed star formation rate suggests the epoch of galaxy formation was z=16.Comment: 18 pages, 3 figures, submitted to AJ. Data at: http://orca.phys.uvic.ca/~gwyn/MMM/nicmos.htm

Direct Dark Matter Detection with Velocity Distribution in the Eddington approach

Exotic dark matter together with the vacuum energy (associated with the cosmological constant) seem to dominate the Universe. Thus its direct detection is central to particle physics and cosmology. Supersymmetry provides a natural dark matter candidate, the lightest supersymmetric particle (LSP). One essential ingredient in obtaining the direct detection rates is the density and the velocity distribution of the LSP in our vicinity. In the present paper we study simultaneously density profiles and velocity distributions in the context of the Eddington approach. In such an approach, unlike the commonly assumed Maxwell-Boltzmann (M-B) distribution, the upper bound of the velocity arises naturally from the potential.Comment: 21 LaTex pages, 27 figure

Time-Dependent Models for Dark Matter at the Galactic Center

The prospects of indirect detection of dark matter at the galactic center depend sensitively on the mass profile within the inner parsec. We calculate the distribution of dark matter on sub-parsec scales by integrating the time-dependent Fokker-Planck equation, including the effects of self-annihilations, scattering of dark matter particles by stars, and capture in the supermassive black hole. We consider a variety of initial dark matter distributions, including models with very high densities ("spikes") near the black hole, and models with "adiabatic compression" of the baryons. The annihilation signal after 10 Gyr is found to be substantially reduced from its initial value, but in dark matter models with an initial spike, order-of-magnitude enhancements can persist compared with the rate in spike-free models, with important implications for indirect dark matter searches with GLAST and Air Cherenkov Telescopes like HESS and CANGAROO.Comment: Four page

Numerical search for a fundamental theory

We propose a numerical test of fundamental physics based on the complexity measure of a general set of functions, which is directly related to the Kolmogorov (or algorithmic) complexity studied in mathematics and computer science. The analysis can be carried out for any scientific experiment and might lead to a better understanding of the underlying theory. From a cosmological perspective, the anthropic description of fundamental constants can be explicitly tested by our procedure. We perform a simple numerical search by analyzing two fundamental constants: the weak coupling constant and the Weinberg angle, and find that their values are rather atypical.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, RevTeX, expansion and clarification, references adde

Direct Detection Rates of Dark Matter Coupled to Dark Energy

We investigate the effect of a coupling between dark matter and dark energy on the rates for the direct detection of dark matter. The magnitude of the effect depends on the strength $\kappa$ of this new interaction relative to gravity. The resulting isothermal velocity distribution for dark matter in galaxy halos is still Maxwell-Boltzmann (M-B), but the characteristic velocity and the escape velocity are increased by $\sqrt{1+\kappa^2}$. We adopt a phenomenological approach and consider values of $\kappa$ near unity. For such values we find that: (i) The (time averaged) event rate increases for light WIMPs, while it is somewhat reduced for WIMP masses larger than 100 GeV. (ii) The time dependence of the rate arising from the modulation amplitude is decreased compared to the standard M-B velocity distribution. (iii) The average and maximum WIMP energy increase proportionally to $1+\kappa^2$, which, for sufficiently massive WIMPs, allows the possibility of designing experiments measuring $\gamma$ rays following nuclear de-excitation.Comment: 16 pages, 7 figure

Motion of a Vector Particle in a Curved Spacetime. II First Order Correction to a Geodesic in a Schwarzschild Background

The influence of spin on a photon's motion in a Schwarzschild and FRW spacetimes is studied. The first order correction to the geodesic motion is found. It is shown that unlike the world-lines of spinless particles, the photons world-lines do not lie in a plane.Comment: 14 pages, LaTeX2e, second paper in the series (the first one: gr-qc/0110067), replaced with typos and style corrected version, accepted in MPL