603 research outputs found
The Value of the Cosmological Constant
We make the cosmological constant, {\Lambda}, into a field and restrict the
variations of the action with respect to it by causality. This creates an
additional Einstein constraint equation. It restricts the solutions of the
standard Einstein equations and is the requirement that the cosmological wave
function possess a classical limit. When applied to the Friedmann metric it
requires that the cosmological constant measured today, t_{U}, be {\Lambda} ~
t_{U}^(-2) ~ 10^(-122), as observed. This is the classical value of {\Lambda}
that dominates the wave function of the universe. Our new field equation
determines {\Lambda} in terms of other astronomically measurable quantities.
Specifically, it predicts that the spatial curvature parameter of the universe
is {\Omega}_{k0} \equiv -k/a_(0)^(2)H^2= -0.0055, which will be tested by
Planck Satellite data. Our theory also creates a new picture of self-consistent
quantum cosmological history.Comment: 6 pages. This article received Third Prize in the 2011 Gravity
Research Foundation Awards for Essays on Gravitatio
Grand Unification as a Bridge Between String Theory and Phenomenology
In the first part of the talk, I explain what empirical evidence points to
the need for having an effective grand unification-like symmetry possessing the
symmetry SU(4)-color in 4D. If one assumes the premises of a future predictive
theory including gravity--be it string/M theory or a reincarnation--this
evidence then suggests that such a theory should lead to an effective grand
unification-like symmetry as above in 4D, near the string-GUT-scale, rather
than the standard model symmetry. Advantages of an effective supersymmetric
G(224) = SU(2) SU(2) SU(4) or SO(10) symmetry in 4D
in explaining (i) observed neutrino oscillations, (ii) baryogenesis via
leptogenesis, and (iii) certain fermion mass-relations are noted. And certain
distinguishing tests of a SUSY G(224) or SO(10)-framework involving CP and
flavor violations (as in , , edm's of the
neutron and the electron) as well as proton decay are briefly mentioned.
Recalling some of the successes we have had in our understanding of nature so
far, and the current difficulties of string/M theory as regards the large
multiplicity of string vacua, some comments are made on the traditional goal of
understanding {\em vis a vis} the recently evolved view of landscape and
anthropism.Comment: A chart showing some insights gained in the world of the very small
and that of the very large is included. A few relevant references are added.
Some clarification is made in the last section as regards the question of
understanding versus landscape and anthropis
A Finite Quantum Gravity Field Theory Model
We discuss the quantization of Delta gravity, a two symmetric tensors model
of gravity. This model, in Cosmology, shows accelerated expansion without a
cosmological constant. We present the transformation which
defines the geometry of the model. Then we show that all delta type models live
at one loop only. We apply this to General Relativity and we calculate the one
loop divergent part of the Effective Action showing its null contribution in
vacuum, implying a finite model. Then we proceed to study the existence of
ghosts in the model. Finally, we study the form of the finite quantum
corrections to the classical action of the model.Comment: Latex, 33 page
Compactification in the Lightlike Limit
We study field theories in the limit that a compactified dimension becomes
lightlike. In almost all cases the amplitudes at each order of perturbation
theory diverge in the limit, due to strong interactions among the longitudinal
zero modes. The lightlike limit generally exists nonperturbatively, but is more
complicated than might have been assumed. Some implications for the matrix
theory conjecture are discussed.Comment: 13 pages, 3 epsf figures. References and brief comments added.
Nonexistent divergent graph in 0+- model delete
Multiple universes, cosmic coincidences, and other dark matters
Even when completely and consistently formulated, a fundamental theory of
physics and cosmological boundary conditions may not give unambiguous and
unique predictions for the universe we observe; indeed inflation, string/M
theory, and quantum cosmology all arguably suggest that we can observe only one
member of an ensemble with diverse properties. How, then, can such theories be
tested? It has been variously asserted that in a future measurement we should
observe the a priori most probable set of predicted properties (the
``bottom-up'' approach), or the most probable set compatible with all current
observations (the ``top-down'' approach), or the most probable set consistent
with the existence of observers (the ``anthropic'' approach). These inhabit a
spectrum of levels of conditionalization and can lead to qualitatively
different predictions. For example, in a context in which the densities of
various species of dark matter vary among members of an ensemble of otherwise
similar regions, from the top-down or anthropic viewpoints -- but not the
bottom-up -- it would be natural for us to observe multiple types of dark
matter with similar contributions to the observed dark matter density. In the
anthropic approach it is also possible in principle to strengthen this argument
and the limit the number of likely dark matter sub-components. In both cases
the argument may be extendible to dark energy or primordial density
perturbations. This implies that the anthropic approach to cosmology,
introduced in part to explain "coincidences" between unrelated constituents of
our universe, predicts that more, as-yet-unobserved coincidences should come to
light.Comment: 18 JCAP-style pages, accepted by JCAP. Revised version adds
references and some clarification
Criticality and Bifurcation in the Gravitational Collapse of a Self-Coupled Scalar Field
We examine the gravitational collapse of a non-linear sigma model in
spherical symmetry. There exists a family of continuously self-similar
solutions parameterized by the coupling constant of the theory. These solutions
are calculated together with the critical exponents for black hole formation of
these collapse models. We also find that the sequence of solutions exhibits a
Hopf-type bifurcation as the continuously self-similar solutions become
unstable to perturbations away from self-similarity.Comment: 18 pages; one figure, uuencoded postscript; figure is also available
at http://www.physics.ucsb.edu/people/eric_hirschman
Accelerating universe emergent from the landscape
We propose that the existence of the string landscape suggests the universe
can be in a quantum glass state, where an extremely large viscosity is
generated, and long distance dynamics slows down. At the same time, the short
distance dynamics is not altered due to the separation of time scales. This
scenario can help to understand some controversies in cosmology, for example
the natural existence of slow roll inflation and dark energy in the landscape,
the apparent smallness of the cosmological constant. We see also that moduli
stabilization is no longer necessary. We further identify the glass transition
point, where the viscosity diverges, as the location of the cosmic horizon. We
try to reconstruct the geometry of the accelerating universe from the structure
of the landscape, and find that the metric should have an infinite jump when
crossing the horizon. We predict that the static coordinate metric for dS space
breaks down outside the horizon.Comment: 20 pages, no figures, harvma
Mersenne Primes, Polygonal Anomalies and String Theory Classification
It is pointed out that the Mersenne primes and associated
perfect numbers play a significant role in string
theory; this observation may suggest a classification of consistent string
theories.Comment: 10 pages LaTe
Islands in the landscape
The string theory landscape consists of many metastable de Sitter vacua,
populated by eternal inflation. Tunneling between these vacua gives rise to a
dynamical system, which asymptotically settles down to an equilibrium state. We
investigate the effects of sinks to anti-de Sitter space, and show how their
existence can change probabilities in the landscape. Sinks can disturb the
thermal occupation numbers that would otherwise exist in the landscape and may
cause regions that were previously in thermal contact to be divided into
separate, thermally isolated islands.Comment: 31 pages, 8 figure
Is There A String Theory Landscape
We examine recent claims of a large set of flux compactification solutions of
string theory. We conclude that the arguments for AdS solutions are plausible.
The analysis of meta-stable dS solutions inevitably leads to situations where
long distance effective field theory breaks down. We then examine whether these
solutions are likely to lead to a description of the real world. We conclude
that one must invoke a strong version of the anthropic principle. We explain
why it is likely that this leads to a prediction of low energy supersymmetry
breaking, but that many features of anthropically selected flux
compactifications are likely to disagree with experiment.Comment: 39 pages, Latex, ``Terminology surrounding the anthropic principle
revised to conform with accepted usage. More history of the anthropic
principle included. Various references added.
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