996 research outputs found
Observables in theories with a varying fine structure constant
We show how two seemingly different theories with a scalar multiplicative
coupling to electrodynamics are actually two equivalent parametrisations of the
same theory: despite some differences in the interpretation of some
phenemenological aspects of the parametrisations, they lead to the same
physical observables. This is illustrated on the interpretation of observations
of the Cosmic Microwave Background.Comment: 14 pages, matched published versio
Breaking of the equivalence principle in the electromagnetic sector and its cosmological signatures
This paper proposes a systematic study of cosmological signatures of
modifications of gravity via the presence of a scalar field with a
multiplicative coupling to the electromagnetic Lagrangian. We show that, in
this framework, variations of the fine structure constant, violations of the
distance duality relation, evolution of the cosmic microwave background (CMB)
temperature and CMB distortions are intimately and unequivocally linked. This
enables one to put very stringent constraints on possible violations of the
distance duality relation, on the evolution of the CMB temperature and on
admissible CMB distortions using current constraints on the fine structure
constant. Alternatively, this offers interesting possibilities to test a wide
range of theories of gravity by analysing several datasets concurrently. We
discuss results obtained using current data as well as some forecasts for
future data sets such as those coming from EUCLID or the SKA.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figures, matched published version. Note: title changed
upon suggestion of PRD editor
Weak gravitational lensing of finite beams
The standard theory of weak gravitational lensing relies on the infinitesimal
light beam approximation. In this context, images are distorted by convergence
and shear, the respective sources of which unphysically depend on the
resolution of the distribution of matter---the so-called Ricci-Weyl problem. In
this letter, we propose a strong-lensing-inspired formalism to describe the
lensing of finite beams. We address the Ricci-Weyl problem by showing
explicitly that convergence is caused by the matter enclosed by the beam,
regardless of its distribution. Furthermore, shear turns out to be
systematically enhanced by the finiteness of the beam. This implies, in
particular, that the Kaiser-Squires relation between shear and convergence is
violated, which could have profound consequences on the interpretation of weak
lensing surveys.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures, v2: matches published version, some typos
correcte
The theory of stochastic cosmological lensing
On the scale of the light beams subtended by small sources, e.g. supernovae,
matter cannot be accurately described as a fluid, which questions the
applicability of standard cosmic lensing to those cases. In this article, we
propose a new formalism to deal with small-scale lensing as a diffusion
process: the Sachs and Jacobi equations governing the propagation of narrow
light beams are treated as Langevin equations. We derive the associated
Fokker-Planck-Kolmogorov equations, and use them to deduce general analytical
results on the mean and dispersion of the angular distance. This formalism is
applied to random Einstein-Straus Swiss-cheese models, allowing us to: (1) show
an explicit example of the involved calculations; (2) check the validity of the
method against both ray-tracing simulations and direct numerical integrations
of the Langevin equation. As a byproduct, we obtain a
post-Kantowski-Dyer-Roeder approximation, accounting for the effect of tidal
distortions on the angular distance, in excellent agreement with numerical
results. Besides, the dispersion of the angular distance is correctly
reproduced in some regimes.Comment: 37+13 pages, 8 figures. A few typos corrected. Matches published
versio
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