Present limits to cosmic bubbles from the COBE-DMR three point correlation function

The existence of large scale voids in several galaxy surveys suggests the occurence of an inflationary first order phase transition. This process generates primordial bubbles that, before evolving into the present voids, leave at decoupling a non-Gaussian imprint on the CMB. I this paper we evaluate an analytical expression of the collapsed three point correlation function from the bubble temperature fluctuations. Comparing the results with COBE-DMR measures, we obtain upper limits on the allowed non-Gaussianity and hence on the bubble parameters.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures; submitted to MNRA

Signals of primordial phase transitions on CMB maps

The analysis of the CMB anisotropies is a rich source of cosmological informations. In our study, we simulated the signals produced by the relics of a first order phase transition occured during an inflationary epoch in the early Universe. These relics are bubbles of true vacuum that leave a characteristic non-Gaussian imprint on the CMB. We use different statistical estimators in order to evaluate this non-Gaussianity. We obtain some limits on the allowed values of the bubble parameters comparing our results with the experimental data. We also predict the possibility to detect this signal with the next high resolution experiments.Comment: 2 pages, submitted to Proceedings of 9th Marcel Grossmann meetin

Cosmic microwave background: polarization and temperature anisotropies from symmetric structures

I consider the case of anisotropies in the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) from one single ordered perturbation source, or seed, existing well before decoupling between matter and radiation. Such structures could have been left by high energy symmetries breaking in the early universe. I focus on the cases of spherical and cylindrical symmetry of the seed. I give general analytic expressions for the polarization and temperature linear perturbations, factoring out of the Fourier integral the dependence on the photon propagation direction and on the geometric coordinates describing the seed. I show how the CMB perturbations manifestly reflect the symmetries of their seeds. CMB anisotropies are obtained with a line of sight integration. This treatment highlights the undulatory properties of the CMB. I show with numerical examples how the polarization and temperature perturbations propagate beyond the size of their seeds, reaching the CMB sound horizon at the time considered. Just like the waves from a pebble thrown in a pond, CMB anisotropy from a seed intersecting the last scattering surface appears as a series of temperature and polarization waves surrounding the seed, extending on the scale of the CMB sound horizon at decoupling, roughly $1^{o}$ in the sky. Each wave is characterized by its own value of the CMB perturbation, with the same mean amplitude of the signal coming from the seed interior. These waves could allow to distinguish relics from high energy processes of the early universe from point-like astrophysical sources, because of their angular extension and amplitude. Also, the marked analogy between polarization and temperature signals offers cross correlation possibilities for the future Planck Surveyor observations.Comment: 21 pages, seven postscript figures, final version accepted for publication in Phys.Rev.

Clumps into Voids

We consider a spherically symmetric distribution of dust and show that it is possible, under general physically reasonable conditions, for an overdensity to evolve to an underdensity (and vice versa). We find the conditions under which this occurs and illustrate it on a class of regular Lemaitre-Tolman-Bondi solutions. The existence of this phenomenon, if verified, would have the result that the topology of density contours, assumed fixed in standard structure formation theories, would have to change and that luminous matter would not trace the dark matter distribution so well.Comment: LaTeX, 17 pages, 4 figures. Submitted to GRG 20/4/200

Formation of cosmological mass condensation within a FRW universe: exact general relativistic solutions

Within the framework of an exact general relativistic formulation of gluing manifolds, we consider the problem of matching an inhomogeneous overdense region to a Friedmann-Robertson-Walker background universe in the general spherical symmetric case of pressure-free models. It is shown that, in general, the matching is only possible through a thin shell, a fact ignored in the literature. In addition to this, in subhorizon cases where the matching is possible, an intermediate underdense region will necessarily arise.Comment: 6 page

Sufficient conditions for curvature invariants to avoid divergencies in Hyperextended Scalar Tensor theory for Bianchi models

We look for sufficient conditions such that the scalar curvature, Ricci and Kretchmann scalars be bounded in Hyperextended Scalar Tensor theory for Bianchi models. We find classes of gravitation functions and Brans-Dicke coupling functions such that the theories thus defined avoid the singularity. We compare our results with these found by Rama in the framework of the Generalised Scalar Tensor theory for the FLRW models.Comment: 13 page

Imprints of Primordial Voids on the CMB

We generalize in several ways the results existing in the literature: a) we make use of an exact general relativistic solution for a spherical, nearly empty cavity in the matter dominated era to evaluate the null geodesics and the Sachs-Wolfe effect; b) we evaluate the magnitude of the adiabatic fluctuations of the photon-baryon plasma; c) we study the influence of the shell profile; and d) we take into account the finite thickness of the last scattering surface (LSS) and the influence of its position with respect to the void center. We find empirically an analytic approximation to the Sachs-Wolfe effect for all crossing geometries and we derive an upper limit of $\approx$ 25 $h^{-1}$ Mpc for the comoving radii of voids sitting on the LSS in order to achieve compatibility with COBE's data. As a nearly empty void has an overcomoving expansion of a factor of $\approx$ 4 between decoupling and the present, the maximum allowed size at present is $\approx$ 100 $h^{-1}$ Mpc. On the other hand, the smallness of the comoving size relative to the sound horizon reduces strongly the adiabatic effect by Silk damping and makes it negligible. Most of the signature of primordial voids comes therefore from metric effects and consists of subdegree spots blue or red depending on whether the center lies beyond or within the LSS. In conclusion we refine and confirm earlier constraints on a power law void spectrum originated in an inflationary phase transition and capable of generating the observed large scale structure.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figures, submitted to Montly Notice

Reconciling inflation with openness

It is already understood that the increasing observational evidence for an open Universe can be reconciled with inflation if our horizon is contained inside one single huge bubble nucleated during the inflationary phase transition. In this frame of ideas, we show here that the probability of living in a bubble with the right $\Omega_0$ (now the observations require $\Omega_0 \approx .2$) can be comparable with unity, rather than infinitesimally small. For this purpose we modify both quantitatively and qualitatively an intuitive toy model based upon fourth order gravity. As this scheme can be implemented in canonical General Relativity as well (although then the inflation driving potential must be designed entirely ad hoc), inferring from the observations that $\Omega_0 < 1$ not only does not conflict with the inflationary paradigm, but rather supports therein the occurrence of a primordial phase transition.Comment: 4 pages, one postscript figure, to be published on Physical Review D PACS: 98.80. C

Inflation in Multidimensional Quantum Cosmology

We extend to multidimensional cosmology Vilenkin's prescription of tunnelling from nothing for the quantum origin of the observable Universe. Our model consists of a $D+4$-dimensional spacetime of topology ${\cal R}\times {\cal S}^3 \times{\cal S}^D$, with a scalar field (``chaotic inflaton'') for the matter component. Einstein gravity and Casimir compactification are assumed. The resulting minisuperspace is 3--dimensional. Patchwise we find an approximate analytic solution of the Wheeler--DeWitt equation through which we discuss the tunnelling picture and the probability of nucleation of the classical Universe with compactifying extra dimensions. Our conclusion is that the most likely initial conditions, although they do not lead to the compactification of the internal space, still yield (power-law) inflation for the outer space. The scenario is physically acceptable because the inner space growth is limited to $\sim 10^{11}$ in 100 e-foldings of inflation, starting from the Planck scale.Comment: RevTeX, 30 pages, 4 figures available via fax on request to [email protected], submitted to Phys. Rev.

Evolution of radial profiles in regular Lemaitre-Tolman-Bondi dust models

We undertake a comprehensive and rigorous analytic study of the evolution of radial profiles of covariant scalars in regular Lemaitre-Tolman-Bondi dust models. We consider specifically the phenomenon of "profile inversions" in which an initial clump profile of density, spatial curvature or the expansion scalar, might evolve into a void profile (and vice versa). Previous work in the literature on models with density void profiles and/or allowing for density profile inversions is given full generalization, with some erroneous results corrected. We prove rigorously that if an evolution without shell crossings is assumed, then only the 'clump to void' inversion can occur in density profiles, and only in hyperbolic models or regions with negative spatial curvature. The profiles of spatial curvature follow similar patterns as those of the density, with 'clump to void' inversions only possible for hyperbolic models or regions. However, profiles of the expansion scalar are less restrictive, with profile inversions necessarily taking place in elliptic models. We also examine radial profiles in special LTB configurations: closed elliptic models, models with a simultaneous big bang singularity, as well as a locally collapsing elliptic region surrounded by an expanding hyperbolic background. The general analytic statements that we obtain allow for setting up the right initial conditions to construct fully regular LTB models with any specific qualitative requirements for the profiles of all scalars and their time evolution. The results presented can be very useful in guiding future numerical work on these models and in revising previous analytic work on all their applications.Comment: Final version to appear in Classical and Quantum Gravity. Readers eager to know the results and implications without having to go through the technical detail are recommended to go directly to the summary and discussion in the final section (section 11). Typos have been corrected and an important reference has been adde