Quintessence and Gravitational Waves

We investigate some aspects of quintessence models with a non-minimally coupled scalar field and in particular we show that it can behave as a component of matter with $-3 \lesssim P/\rho \lesssim 0$. We study the properties of gravitational waves in this class of models and discuss their energy spectrum and the cosmic microwave background anisotropies they induce. We also show that gravitational waves are damped by the anisotropic stress of the radiation and that their energy spectrum may help to distinguish between inverse power law potential and supergravity motivated potential. We finish by a discussion on the constraints arising from their density parameter \Omega_\GW.Comment: 21 pages, 18 figures, fianl version, accepted for publication in PR

Holographic Dark Energy in Brans-Dicke Theory

In this paper, the holographic dark energy model is considered in Brans-Dicke theory where the holographic dark energy density $\rho_{\Lambda} =3c^2 M^{2}_{pl} L^{-2}$ is replaced with $\rho_{h}=3c^2 \Phi(t)L^{-2}$. Here $\Phi(t)=\frac{1}{8\pi G}$ is a time variable Newton constant. With this replacement, it is found that no accelerated expansion universe will be achieved when the Hubble horizon is taken as the role of IR cut-off. When the event horizon is adopted as the IR cut-off, an accelerated expansion universe is obtained. In this case, the equation of state of holographic dark energy $w_h$ takes a modified form $w_h=-{1/3}(1+\alpha+\frac{2}{c}\sqrt{\Omega_{h}})$. In the limit $\alpha\to 0$, the 'standard' holographic dark energy is recovered. In the holographic dark energy dominated epoch, power-law and de Sitter time-space solutions are obtained.Comment: 7 pages, 1 figure, match the published versio

Tracking Extended Quintessence

We study the cosmological role of a Tracking Field $\phi$ in Extended Quintessence scenarios (TEQ), where the dynamical vacuum energy driving the acceleration of the universe today is coupled with the Ricci scalar, $R$, with a term of the form $F(\phi)R/2$, where $F(\phi) = 1/8\pi G+\xi(\phi^{2}-\phi_{0}^{2})$. Tracker solutions for these NMC models, with inverse power-law potentials, possess an initial enhancement of the scalar field dynamics, named $R$-boost, caused by the Ricci scalar in the Klein-Gordon equation. During this phase the field performs a "gravitational" slow rolling which we model analytically, with energy density scaling as $(1+z)^{2}$. We evolve linear perturbations in TEQ models assuming Gaussian scale-invariant initial spectrum. We obtain significant changes in the Integrated Sachs Wolfe effect and in the acoustic peaks locations on the Cosmic Microwave Background, as well as in the turnover on the matter power spectrum. All these corrections may assume positive as well as negative values, depending on the sign of the NMC parameter $\xi$. We give analytical formulas describing all these effects. We show that they can be as large as $10 - 30$ with respect to equivalent cosmological constant and ordinary tracking Quintessence models, respecting all the existing experimental constraints on scalar-tensor theories of gravity. These results demonstrate that the next decade data will provide deep constraints on the nature of the dark energy in the Universe, as well as the structure of the theory of gravity.Comment: 24 pages including 8 figures, final version to be published in Phys.Rev.

Domestic Violence and Health Care: Opening Pandora¿s Box ¿ Challenges and Dilemmas

In this article we take a critical stance toward the rational progressive narrative surrounding the integration of domestic violence within health care. Whilst changes in recent UK policy and practice have resulted in several tangible benefits, it is argued that there may be hidden dilemmas and challenges. We suggest that the medical model of care and its discursive practices position women as individually accountable for domestic violence-related symptoms and injuries. This may not only be ineffective in terms of service provision but could also have the potential to reduce the political significance of domestic violence as an issue of concern for all women. Furthermore, it is argued that the use of specific metaphors enables practitioners to distance themselves from interactions that may prove to be less comfortable and provide less than certain outcomes. Our analysis explores the possibilities for change that might currently be available. This would appear to involve a consideration of alternative discourses and the reformulation of power relations and subject positions in health care

Executive summary, overview, conclusions and recommendations

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