Polytropic equation of state and primordial quantum fluctuations

We study the primordial Universe in a cosmological model where inflation is driven by a fluid with a polytropic equation of state $p = \alpha\rho + k\rho^{1 + 1/n}$. We calculate the dynamics of the scalar factor and build a Universe with constant density at the origin. We also find the equivalent scalar field that could create such equation of state and calculate the corresponding slow-roll parameters. We calculate the scalar perturbations, the scalar power spectrum and the spectral index.Comment: 16 pages, 4 figure

No-horizon theorem for spacetimes with spacelike G1 isometry groups

We consider four-dimensional spacetimes $(M,{\mathbf g})$ which obey the Einstein equations ${\mathbf G}={\mathbf T}$, and admit a global spacelike $G_{1}={\mathbb R}$ isometry group. By means of dimensional reduction and local analyis on the reduced (2+1) spacetime, we obtain a sufficient condition on ${\mathbf T}$ which guarantees that $(M,{\mathbf g})$ cannot contain apparent horizons. Given any (3+1) spacetime with spacelike translational isometry, the no-horizon condition can be readily tested without the need for dimensional reduction. This provides thus a useful and encompassing apparent horizon test for $G_{1}$-symmetric spacetimes. We argue that this adds further evidence towards the validity of the hoop conjecture, and signals possible violations of strong cosmic censorship.Comment: 8 pages, LaTeX, uses IOP package; published in Class. Quantum Gra

Gluon saturation and the Froissart bound: a simple approach

At very high energies we expect that the hadronic cross sections satisfy the Froissart bound, which is a well-established property of the strong interactions. In this energy regime we also expect the formation of the Color Glass Condensate, characterized by gluon saturation and a typical momentum scale: the saturation scale $Q_s$. In this paper we show that if a saturation window exists between the nonperturbative and perturbative regimes of Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD), the total cross sections satisfy the Froissart bound. Furthermore, we show that our approach allows us to describe the high energy experimental data on $pp/p\bar{p}$ total cross sections.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures. Includes additional figures, discussion and reference

Gluon saturation and Feynman scaling in leading neutron production

In this paper we extend the color dipole formalism to the study of leading neutron production in $e + p \rightarrow e + n + X$ collisions at high energies and estimate the related observables, which were measured at HERA and may be analysed in future electron-proton ($ep$) colliders. In particular, we calculate the Feynman $x_F$ distribution of leading neutrons, which is expressed in terms of the pion flux and the photon-pion total cross section. In the color dipole formalism, the photon-pion cross section is described in terms of the dipole-pion scattering amplitude, which contains information about the QCD dynamics at high energies and gluon saturation effects. We consider different models for the scattering amplitude, which have been used to describe the inclusive and diffractive $ep$ HERA data. Moreover, the model dependence of our predictions with the description of the pion flux is analysed in detail. We show that the recently released H1 leading neutron spectra can be reproduced using the color dipole formalism and that these spectra could help us to observe more clearly gluon saturation effects in future $ep$ colliders.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figure

A note on the cylindrical collapse of counter-rotating dust

We find analytical solutions describing the collapse of an infinitely long cylindrical shell of counter-rotating dust. We show that--for the classes of solutions discussed herein--from regular initial data a curvature singularity inevitably develops, and no apparent horizons form, thus in accord with the spirit of the hoop conjecture.Comment: 8 pages, LaTeX, ijmpd macros (included), 1 eps figure; accepted for publication in Int. J. Mod. Phys.

Tetraquark Production in Double Parton Scattering

We develop a model to study tetraquark production in hadronic collisions. We focus on double parton scattering and formulate a version of the color evaporation model for the production of the $X(3872)$ and of the $T_{4c}$ tetraquark, a state composed by the $c \bar{c} c \bar{c}$ quarks. We find that the production cross section grows rapidly with the collision energy $\sqrt{s}$ and make predictions for the forthcoming higher energy data of the LHC.Comment: 13 pages, 3 figures. Corrections in the text and reference

Generalized Chaplygin gas with α=0\alpha = 0 and the ΛCDM\Lambda CDM cosmological model

The generalized Chaplygin gas model is characterized by the equation of state $p = - \frac{A}{\rho^\alpha}$. It is generally stated that the case $\alpha = 0$ is equivalent to a model with cosmological constant and dust ($\Lambda CDM$). In this work we show that, if this is true for the background equations, this is not true for the perturbation equations. Hence, the mass spectrum predicted for both models may differ.Comment: Latex file, 4 pages, 2 figures in eps forma

Different faces of the phantom

The SNe type Ia data admit that the Universe today may be dominated by some exotic matter with negative pressure violating all energy conditions. Such exotic matter is called {\it phantom matter} due to the anomalies connected with violation of the energy conditions. If a phantom matter dominates the matter content of the universe, it can develop a singularity in a finite future proper time. Here we show that, under certain conditions, the evolution of perturbations of this matter may lead to avoidance of this future singularity (the Big Rip). At the same time, we show that local concentrations of a phantom field may form, among other regular configurations, black holes with asymptotically flat static regions, separated by an event horizon from an expanding, singularity-free, asymptotically de Sitter universe.Comment: 6 pages, presented at IRGAC 2006, Barcelona, 11-15 July 200