360 research outputs found
A terrestrial search for dark contents of the vacuum, such as dark energy, using atom interferometry
We describe the theory and first experimental work on our concept for
searching on earth for the presence of dark content of the vacuum (DCV) using
atom interferometry. Specifically, we have in mind any DCV that has not yet
been detected on a laboratory scale, but might manifest itself as dark energy
on the cosmological scale. The experimental method uses two atom
interferometers to cancel the effect of earth's gravity and diverse noise
sources. It depends upon two assumptions: first, that the DCV possesses some
space inhomogeneity in density, and second that it exerts a sufficiently strong
non-gravitational force on matter. The motion of the apparatus through the DCV
should then lead to an irregular variation in the detected matter-wave phase
shift. We discuss the nature of this signal and note the problem of
distinguishing it from instrumental noise. We also discuss the relation of our
experiment to what might be learned by studying the noise in gravitational wave
detectors such as LIGO.The paper concludes with a projection that a future
search of this nature might be carried out using an atom interferometer in an
orbiting satellite. The apparatus is now being constructed
The most storage economical Runge-Kutta methods for the solution of large systems of coupled first-order differential equations
AbstractIt is shown how the attainable minimum for the memory requirements of Runge-Kutta methods can be realised for methods of the third order. These economisable third order methods belong to a one parameter sub-family from which two particular members with low error bound are selected
Correspondence between Electro-Magnetic Field and other Dark Energies in Non-linear Electrodynamics
In this work, we have considered the flat FRW model of the universe filled
with electro-magnetic field. First, the Maxwell's electro-magnetic field in
linear form has been discussed and after that the modified Lagrangian in
non-linear form for accelerated universe has been considered. The corresponding
energy density and pressure for non-linear electro-magnetic field have been
calculated. We have found the condition such that the electro-magnetic field
generates dark energy. The correspondence between the electro-magnetic field
and the other dark energy candidates namely tachyonic field, DBI-essence,
Chaplygin gas, hessence dark energy, k-essenece and dilaton dark energy have
been investigated. We have also reconstructed the potential functions and the
scalar fields in this scenario.Comment: 11 pages, 7 figure
Is Cosmology Solved?
We have fossil evidence from the thermal background radiation that our
universe expanded from a considerably hotter denser state. We have a well
defined and testable description of the expansion, the relativistic
Friedmann-Lemaitre model. Its observational successes are impressive but I
think hardly enough for a convincing scientific case. The lists of
observational constraints and free hypotheses within the model have similar
lengths. The scorecard on the search for concordant measures of the mass
density parameter and the cosmological constant shows that the high density
Einstein-de Sitter model is challenged, but that we cannot choose between low
density models with and without a cosmological constant. That is, the
relativistic model is not strongly overconstrained, the usual test of a mature
theory. Work in progress will greatly improve the situation and may at last
yield a compelling test. If so, and the relativistic model survives, it will
close one line of research in cosmology: we will know the outlines of what
happened as our universe expanded and cooled from high density. It will not end
research: some of us will occupy ourselves with the details of how galaxies and
other large-scale structures came to be the way they are, others with the issue
of what our universe was doing before it was expanding. The former is being
driven by rapid observational advances. The latter is being driven mainly by
theory, but there are hints of observational guidance.Comment: 13 pages, 3 figures. To be published in PASP as part of the
proceedings of the Smithsonian debate, Is Cosmology Solved
The Adventures of the Rocketeer: Accelerated Motion Under the Influence of Expanding Space
It is well known that interstellar travel is bounded by the finite speed of
light, but on very large scales any rocketeer would also need to consider the
influence of cosmological expansion on their journey. This paper examines
accelerated journeys within the framework of Friedmann-
Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker universes, illustrating how the duration of a fixed
acceleration sharply divides exploration over interstellar and intergalactic
distances. Furthermore, we show how the universal expansion increases the
difficulty of intergalactic navigation, with small uncertainties in
cosmological parameters resulting in significantly large deviations. This paper
also shows that, contrary to simplistic ideas, the motion of any rocketeer is
indistinguishable from Newtonian gravity if the acceleration is kept small.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in PAS
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, , 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\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.
Particle decays and stability on the de Sitter universe
We study particle decay in de Sitter space-time as given by first order
perturbation theory in a Lagrangian interacting quantum field theory. We study
in detail the adiabatic limit of the perturbative amplitude and compute the
"phase space" coefficient exactly in the case of two equal particles produced
in the disintegration. We show that for fields with masses above a critical
mass there is no such thing as particle stability, so that decays
forbidden in flat space-time do occur here. The lifetime of such a particle
also turns out to be independent of its velocity when that lifetime is
comparable with de Sitter radius. Particles with mass lower than critical have
a completely different behavior: the masses of their decay products must obey
quantification rules, and their lifetime is zero.Comment: Latex, 38 pages, 1 PostScript figure; added references, minor
corrections and remark
Accurate Measurement in the Field of the Earth of the General-Relativistic Precession of the LAGEOS II Pericenter and New Constraints on Non-Newtonian Gravity
The pericenter shift of a binary system represents a suitable observable to
test for possible deviations from the Newtonian inverse-square law in favor of
new weak interactions between macroscopic objects. We analyzed 13 years of
tracking data of the LAGEOS satellites with GEODYN II software but with no
models for general relativity. From the fit of LAGEOS II pericenter residuals
we have been able to obtain a 99.8% agreement with the predictions of
Einstein's theory. This result may be considered as a 99.8% measurement in the
field of the Earth of the combination of the {\gamma} and {\beta} parameters of
general relativity, and it may be used to constrain possible deviations from
the inverse-square law in favor of new weak interactions parametrized by a
Yukawa-like potential with strength {\alpha} and range {\lambda}. We obtained
|{\alpha}|\lesssim1\times10-11, a huge improvement at a range of about 1 Earth
radius
Classification of multifluid CP world models
Various classification schemes exist for homogeneous and isotropic (CP) world
models, which include pressureless matter (so-called dust) and Einstein's
cosmological constant Lambda. We here classify the solutions of more general
world models consisting of up to four non-interacting fluids, each with
pressure P, energy density epsilon and an equation of state P = (gamma - 1)
epsilon with 0 <= gamma <= 2.
In addition to repulsive fluids with negative pressure and positive energy
density, which generalize the classical repulsive (positive) Lambda component,
we consider fluids with negative energy density as well. The latter generalize
a negative Lambda component. This renders possible new types of models that do
not occur among the classical classifications of world models. Singularity-free
periodic solutions as well as further `hill-type', `hollow-type' and
`shifting-type' models are feasible.
However, if one only allows for three components (dust, radiation and one
repulsive component) in a spatially flat universe the repulsive classical
Lambda fluid (with Lambda > 0) tends to yield the smoothest fits of the
Supernova Ia data from Perlmutter et al. (1999). Adopting the SN Ia
constraints, exotic negative energy density components can be fittingly
included only if the universe consists of four or more fluids.Comment: 12 pages, 11 figures, latex, A&A in pres
Topological Lensing in Spherical Spaces
This article gives the construction and complete classification of all
three-dimensional spherical manifolds, and orders them by decreasing volume, in
the context of multiconnected universe models with positive spatial curvature.
It discusses which spherical topologies are likely to be detectable by
crystallographic methods using three-dimensional catalogs of cosmic objects.
The expected form of the pair separation histogram is predicted (including the
location and height of the spikes) and is compared to computer simulations,
showing that this method is stable with respect to observational uncertainties
and is well suited for detecting spherical topologies.Comment: 32 pages, 26 figure
- …