4,069 research outputs found
Cosmic microwave background constraints on cosmological models with large-scale isotropy breaking
Several anomalies appear to be present in the large-angle cosmic microwave
background (CMB) anisotropy maps of WMAP, including the alignment of
large-scale multipoles. Models in which isotropy is spontaneously broken (e.g.,
by a scalar field) have been proposed as explanations for these anomalies, as
have models in which a preferred direction is imposed during inflation. We
examine models inspired by these, in which isotropy is broken by a
multiplicative factor with dipole and/or quadrupole terms. We evaluate the
evidence provided by the multipole alignment using a Bayesian framework,
finding that the evidence in favor of the model is generally weak. We also
compute approximate changes in estimated cosmological parameters in the
broken-isotropy models. Only the overall normalization of the power spectrum is
modified significantly.Comment: Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.
Chaotic Inflation with Time-Variable Space Dimensions
Assuming the space dimension is not constant but decreases during the
expansion of the Universe, we study chaotic inflation with the potential
. Our investigations are based on a model Universe with variable
space dimensions. We write down field equations in the slow-roll approximation,
and define slow-roll parameters by assuming the number of space dimensions
decreases continuously as the Universe expands. The dynamical character of the
space dimension shifts the initial and final value of the inflaton field to
larger values. We obtain an upper limit for the space dimension at the Planck
length. This result is in agreement with previous works for the effective time
variation of the Newtonian gravitational constant in a model Universe with
variable space dimensions.Comment: 19 pages, To be published in Int.J.Mod.Phys.D. Minor changes to match
accepted versio
Observational constraints on the spectral index of the cosmological curvature perturbation
We evaluate the observational constraints on the spectral index , in the
context of the CDM hypothesis which represents the simplest viable
cosmology. We first take to be practically scale-independent. Ignoring
reionization, we find at a nominal 2- level . If
we make the more realisitic assumption that reionization occurs when a fraction
to 1 of the matter has collapsed, the 2- lower bound is
unchanged while the 1- bound rises slightly. These constraints are
compared with the prediction of various inflation models. Then we investigate
the two-parameter scale-dependent spectral index, predicted by running-mass
inflation models, and find that present data allow significant scale-dependence
of , which occurs in a physically reasonable regime of parameter space.Comment: ReVTeX, 15 pages, 5 figures and 3 tables, uses epsf.sty Improved
treatment of reionization and small bug fixed in the constant n case; more
convenient parameterization and better treatment of the n dependence in the
CMB anisotropy for the running mass case; conclusions basically unchanged;
references adde
Detectability of Microwave Background Polarization
[NOTE: Previous versions of this paper (both on astro-ph and published in
Phys. Rev. D) contain results that are in error. The power spectra C_l were
normalized incorrectly by a factor of 2 pi. All observing times in
detector-years in those versions are too large by a factor of 2 pi. The main
place these numbers appear is on the vertical axes of Figures 4 and 5. Note
that because all calculations were based on the same power spectra, all
conclusions pertaining to comparisons of different techniques remain unchanged.
This error has been corrected in the present version of the paper. An erratum
is being sent to Phys. Rev. D. I apologize for the error.]
Using a Fisher-matrix formalism, we calculate the required sensitivities and
observing times for an experiment to measure the amplitudes of both E and B
components as a function of sky coverage, taking full account of the fact that
the two components cannot be perfectly separated in an incomplete sky map. We
also present a simple approximation scheme that accounts for mixing of E and B
components in computing predicted errors in the E-component power spectrum
amplitude. In an experiment with small sky coverage, mixing of the two
components increases the difficulty of detecting the subdominant B component by
a factor of two or more in observing time; however, for larger survey sizes the
effect of mixing is less pronounced. Surprisingly, mixing of E and B components
can enhance the detectability of the E component by increasing the effective
number of independent modes that probe this componentComment: Previous versions of this paper contained results that were in error.
The present version on astro-ph has been corrected, and an erratum is being
submitted. See abstract for detail
Frequentist Estimation of Cosmological Parameters from the MAXIMA-1 Cosmic Microwave Background Anisotropy Data
We use a frequentist statistical approach to set confidence intervals on the
values of cosmological parameters using the MAXIMA-1 and COBE measurements of
the angular power spectrum of the cosmic microwave background. We define a
statistic, simulate the measurements of MAXIMA-1 and COBE,
determine the probability distribution of the statistic, and use it and the
data to set confidence intervals on several cosmological parameters. We compare
the frequentist confidence intervals to Bayesian credible regions. The
frequentist and Bayesian approaches give best estimates for the parameters that
agree within 15%, and confidence interval-widths that agree within 30%. The
results also suggest that a frequentist analysis gives slightly broader
confidence intervals than a Bayesian analysis. The frequentist analysis gives
values of \Omega=0.89{+0.26\atop -0.19}, \Omega_{\rm B}h^2=0.026{+0.020\atop
-0.011} and n=1.02{+0.31\atop -0.10}, and the Bayesian analysis gives values of
\Omega=0.98{+0.14\atop -0.19}, \Omega_{\rm B}h^2=0.0.029{+0.015\atop-0.010},
and , all at the 95% confidence level.Comment: 10 pages, 9 Postscript figures, changes made to reflect published
versio
Preheating in Supersymmetric Hybrid Inflation
We study preheating in a general class of supersymmetric hybrid inflation
model. Supersymmetry leads to only one coupling constant in the potential and
thus only one natural frequency of oscillation for the homogeneous fields,
whose classical evolution consequently differs from that of a general
(non-supersymmetric) hybrid model. We emphasise the importance of mixing
effects in these models which can significantly change the rate of production
of particles. We perform a general study of the rate of production of the
particles associated with the homogeneous fields, and show how preheating is
efficient in producing these quanta. Preheating of other particle species will
be model dependent, and in order to investigate this we consider a realistic
working model of supersymmetric hybrid inflation which solves the strong-CP
problem via an approximate Peccei-Quinn symmetry, which was proposed by us
previously. We study axion production in this model and show that properly
taking into account the mixing between the fields suppresses the axion
production, yet enhances the production of other particles. Finally we
demonstrate the importance of backreaction effects in this model which have the
effect of shutting off axion production, leaving the axion safely within
experimental bounds.Comment: 37 pages, Latex, 11 eps figures, 14 ps (colour) figure
How Anisotropic is our Universe?
Large-scale cosmic microwave background anisotropies in homogeneous, globally
anisotropic cosmologies are investigated. We perform a statistical analysis in
which the four-year data from the Cosmic Background Explorer satellite is
searched for the specific anisotropy patterns predicted by these models and
thereby set definitive upper limits on the amount of shear, and
vorticity, , which are orders of magnitude stronger than previous
constraints. We comment on how these results might impact our understanding of
primordial global anisotropy.Comment: 12 pages (1 figure), uses RevTex and psfig, submitted to PR
Inverting the Sachs-Wolfe Formula: an Inverse Problem Arising in Early-Universe Cosmology
The (ordinary) Sachs-Wolfe effect relates primordial matter perturbations to
the temperature variations in the cosmic microwave background
radiation; can be observed in all directions around us. A standard
but idealised model of this effect leads to an infinite set of moment-like
equations: the integral of with respect to k ()
is equal to a given constant, , for . Here, P is the
power spectrum of the primordial density variations, is a spherical
Bessel function and y is a positive constant. It is shown how to solve these
equations exactly for ~. The same solution can be recovered, in
principle, if the first ~m equations are discarded. Comparisons with classical
moment problems (where is replaced by ) are made.Comment: In Press Inverse Problems 1999, 15 pages, 0 figures, Late
Measuring the cosmological lepton asymmetry through the CMB anisotropy
A large lepton asymmetry in the Universe is still a viable possibility and
leads to many interesting phenomena such as gauge symmetry nonrestoration at
high temperature. We show that a large lepton asymmetry changes the predicted
cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropy and that any degeneracy in the
relic neutrino sea will be measured to a precision of 1% or better when the CMB
anisotropy is measured at the accuracy expected to result from the planned
satellite missions MAP and Planck. In fact, the current measurements already
put an upper limit on the lepton asymmetry of the Universe which is stronger
than the one coming from considerations of primordial nucleosynthesis and
structure formation.Comment: 4 pagex LaTex, 1 color postscript figure, uses epsf. Version
submitted to PRL. (Bug in code fixed, new figure, conclusions unchanged
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