Delicate f(R) gravity models with disappearing cosmological constant and observational constraints on the model parameters

We study the $f(R)$ theory of gravity using metric approach. In particular we investigate the recently proposed model by Hu-Sawicki, Appleby $-$ Battye and Starobinsky. In this model, the cosmological constant is zero in flat space time. The model passes both the Solar system and the laboratory tests. But the model parameters need to be fine tuned to avoid the finite time singularity recently pointed in the literature. We check the concordance of this model with the $H(z)$ and baryon acoustic oscillation data. We find that the model resembles the $\Lambda$CDM at high redshift. However, for some parameter values there are variations in the expansion history of the universe at low redshift.Comment: 16 pages and 9 figures, typos corrected, few references and minor clarifications added, revised version to appera in PR

Black holes vs. naked singularities formation in collapsing Einstein's clusters

Non-static, spherically symmetric clusters of counter-rotating particles, of the type first introduced by Einstein, are analysed here. The initial data space can be parameterized in terms of three arbitrary functions, namely; initial density, velocity and angular momentum profiles. The final state of collapse, black hole or naked singularity, turns out to depend on the order of the first non-vanishing derivatives of such functions at the centre. The work extends recent results by Harada, Iguchi and Nakao.Comment: 13 pages, LaTeX format. To appear in Physical Review

Spherical Dust Collapse in Higher Dimensions

We consider here the question if it is possible to recover cosmic censorship when a transition is made to higher dimensional spacetimes, by studying the spherically symmetric dust collapse in an arbitrary higher spacetime dimension. It is pointed out that if only black holes are to result as end state of a continual gravitational collapse, several conditions must be imposed on the collapsing configuration, some of which may appear to be restrictive, and we need to study carefully if these can be suitably motivated physically in a realistic collapse scenario. It would appear that in a generic higher dimensional dust collapse, both black holes and naked singularities would develop as end states as indicated by the results here. The mathematical approach developed here generalizes and unifies the earlier available results on higher dimensional dust collapse as we point out. Further, the dependence of black hole or naked singularity end states as collapse outcomes, on the nature of the initial data from which the collapse develops, is brought out explicitly and in a transparent manner as we show here. Our method also allows us to consider here in some detail the genericity and stability aspects related to the occurrence of naked singularities in gravitational collapse.Comment: Revtex4, Title changed, To appear in Physical Review

The spectrum of endstates of gravitational collapse with tangential stresses

The final state--black hole or naked singularity--of the gravitational collapse of a marginally bound matter configuration in the presence of tangential stresses is classified, in full generality, in terms of the initial data and equation of state. If the tangential pressure is sufficiently strong, configurations that would otherwise evolve to a spacelike singularity, result in a locally naked singularity, both in the homogeneous and in the general, inhomogeneous density case.Comment: 9 pages, revtex4; accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.

Gauge Problem in the Gravitational Self-Force II. First Post Newtonian Force under Regge-Wheeler Gauge

We discuss the gravitational self-force on a particle in a black hole space-time. For a point particle, the full (bare) self-force diverges. It is known that the metric perturbation induced by a particle can be divided into two parts, the direct part (or the S part) and the tail part (or the R part), in the harmonic gauge, and the regularized self-force is derived from the R part which is regular and satisfies the source-free perturbed Einstein equations. In this paper, we consider a gauge transformation from the harmonic gauge to the Regge-Wheeler gauge in which the full metric perturbation can be calculated, and present a method to derive the regularized self-force for a particle in circular orbit around a Schwarzschild black hole in the Regge-Wheeler gauge. As a first application of this method, we then calculate the self-force to first post-Newtonian order. We find the correction to the total mass of the system due to the presence of the particle is correctly reproduced in the force at the Newtonian order.Comment: Revtex4, 43 pages, no figure. Version to be published in PR

Cosmological dynamics in six-order gravity

We consider cosmological dynamics in generalized modified gravity theory with the $R\Box R$ term added to the action of the form $R+R^N$. Influence of $R \Box R$ term to the known solutions of modified gravity is described. We show that in particular case of $N=3$ these two non-Einstein terms are equally important on power-law solutions. These solutions and their stability have been studied using dynamical system approach. Some results for the case of $N \ne 3$ (including stability of de Sitter solution in the theory under investigation) have been found using other methods

Power, energy, and spectrum of a naked singularity explosion

Naked singularity occurs in the gravitational collapse of an inhomogeneous dust ball from an initial density profile which is physically reasonable. We show that explosive radiation is emitted during the formation process of the naked singularity. The energy flux is proportional to $(t_{\rm CH}-t)^{-3/2}$ for a minimally coupled massless scalar field, while is proportional to $(t_{\rm CH}-t)^{-1}$ for a conformally coupled massless scalar field, where $t_{\rm CH}-t$ is the `remained time' until the distant observer could observe the singularity if the naked singularity was formed. As a consequence, the radiated energy grows unboundedly for both scalar fields. The amount of the power and the energy depends on parameters which characterize the initial density profile but do not depend on the gravitational mass of the cloud. In particular, there is characteristic frequency $\nu_{s}$ of singularity above which the divergent energy is radiated. The energy flux is dominated by particles of which the wave length is about $t_{\rm CH}-t$ at each moment. The observed total spectrum is nonthermal, i.e., $\nu dN/d\nu \sim (\nu/\nu_{s})^{-1}$ for $\nu>\nu_{s}$. If the naked singularity formation could continue until a considerable fraction of the total energy of the dust cloud is radiated, the radiated energy would reach about $10^{54}(M/M_{\odot})$ erg. The calculations are based on the geometrical optics approximation which turns out to be consistent as a rough order estimate. The analysis does not depend on whether or not the naked singularity occurs in its exact meaning. This phenomenon may provide a new candidate for a source of ultra high energy cosmic rays or a central engine of gamma ray bursts.Comment: 34 pages, 13 postscript figures included, to appear in Phys. Rev. D, grammatical errors correcte

Spherical Universes with Anisotropic Pressure

Einstein's equations are solved for spherically symmetric universes composed of dust with tangential pressure provided by angular momentum, L(R), which differs from shell to shell. The metric is given in terms of the shell label, R, and the proper time, tau, experienced by the dust particles. The general solution contains four arbitrary functions of R - M(R), L(R), E(R) and r(0,R). The solution is described by quadratures, which are in general elliptic integrals. It provides a generalization of the Lemaitre-Tolman-Bondi solution. We present a discussion of the types of solution, and some examples. The relationship to Einstein clusters and the significance for gravitational collapse is also discussed.Comment: 24 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication in Classical and Quantum Gravit

Astrophysical S_{17}(0) factor from a measurement of d(7Be,8B)n reaction at E_{c.m.} = 4.5 MeV

Angular distribution measurements of $^2$H($^7$Be,$^7$Be)$^2$H and $^2$H($^7$Be,$^8$B)$n$ reactions at $E_{c.m.}\sim$~4.5 MeV were performed to extract the astrophysical $S_{17}(0)$ factor using the asymptotic normalization coefficient (ANC) method. For this purpose a pure, low emittance $^7$Be beam was separated from the primary $^7$Li beam by a recoil mass spectrometer operated in a novel mode. A beam stopper at 0$^{\circ}$ allowed the use of a higher $^7$Be beam intensity. Measurement of the elastic scattering in the entrance channel using kinematic coincidence, facilitated the determination of the optical model parameters needed for the analysis of the transfer data. The present measurement significantly reduces errors in the extracted $^7$Be(p,$\gamma$) cross section using the ANC method. We get $S_{17}$~(0)~=~20.7~$\pm$~2.4 eV~b.Comment: 15 pages including 3 eps figures, one figure removed and discussions updated. Version to appear in Physical Review

Final fate of the spherically symmetric collapse of a perfect fluid

The final fate of the spherically symmetric collapse of a perfect fluid which follows the $\gamma$-law equation of state and adiabatic condition is investigated. Full general relativistic hydrodynamics is solved numerically using a retarded time coordinate, the so-called observer time coordinate. Thanks to this coordinate, the causal structure of the resultant space-time is automatically constructed. Then, it is found that a globally naked, shell-focusing singularity can occur at the center from relativistically high-density, isentropic and time symmetric initial data if \gamma \alt 1.01 within the numerical accuracy. The result is free from the assumption of self-similarity. The upper limit of $\gamma$ with which a naked singularity can occur from generic initial data is consistent with the result of Ori and Piran based on the assumption of self-similarity.Comment: 17 pages, including 21 ps figures. Accepted for publication in Physical Review D, Typos corrected, References update