1,267 research outputs found
Cosmological perturbations of a perfect fluid and noncommutative variables
We describe the linear cosmological perturbations of a perfect fluid at the
level of an action, providing thus an alternative to the standard approach
based only on the equations of motion. This action is suited not only to
perfect fluids with a barotropic equation of state, but also to those for which
the pressure depends on two thermodynamical variables. By quantizing the system
we find that (1) some perturbation fields exhibit a noncommutativity quite
analogous to the one observed for a charged particle moving in a strong
magnetic field, (2) local curvature and pressure perturbations cannot be
measured simultaneously, (3) ghosts appear if the null energy condition is
violated.Comment: 4 pages, uses RevTeX. Title modified, references and comments added
Cosmological perturbation in f(R,G) theories with a perfect fluid
In order to classify modified gravity models according to their physical
properties, we analyze the cosmological linear perturbations for f(R,G)
theories (R being the Ricci scalar and G, the Gauss-Bonnet term) with a
minimally coupled perfect fluid. For the scalar type perturbations, we identify
in general six degrees of freedom. We find that two of these physical modes
obey the same dispersion relation as the one for a non-relativistic de Broglie
wave. This means that spacetime is either highly unstable or its fluctuations
undergo a scale-dependent super-luminal propagation. Two other modes correspond
to the degrees of freedom of the perfect fluid, and propagate with the sound
speed of such a fluid. The remaining two modes correspond to the entropy and
temperature perturbations of the perfect fluid, and completely decouple from
the other modes for a barotropic equation of state. We then provide a concise
condition on f(R,G) theories, that both f(R) and R+f(G) do fulfill, to avoid
the de Broglie type dispersion relation. For the vector type perturbation, we
find that the perturbations decay in time. For the tensor type perturbation,
the perturbations can be either super-luminal or sub-luminal, depending on the
model. No-ghost conditions are also obtained for each type of perturbation.Comment: 12 pages, uses RevTe
Scattering of Gravitational Waves by the Weak Gravitational Fields of Lens Objects
We consider the scattering of the gravitational waves by the weak
gravitational fields of lens objects. We obtain the scattered gravitational
waveform by treating the gravitational potential of the lens to first order,
i.e. using the Born approximation. We find that the effect of scattering on the
waveform is roughly given by the Schwarzschild radius of the lens divided by
the wavelength of gravitational wave for a compact lens object. If the lenses
are smoothly distributed, the effect of scattering is of the order of the
convergence field along the line of sight to the source. In the short
wavelength limit, the amplitude is magnified by , which is consistent
with the result in weak gravitational lensing.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, A&A Letters, in press, minor changes, references
adde
Hidden Universality in the Merger Rate Distribution in the Primordial Black Hole Scenario
It has been proposed that primordial black holes (PBHs) form binaries in the radiation dominated era. Once formed, some fraction of them may merge within the age of the universe by gravitational radiation reaction. We investigate the merger rate of the PBH binaries when the PBHs have a distribution of masses around O(10) M-circle dot, which is a generalization of the previous studies where the PBHs are assumed to have the same mass. After deriving a formula for the merger time probability distribution in the PBH mass plane, we evaluate it under two different approximations. We identify a quantity constructed from the mass distribution of the merger rate density per unit cosmic time and comoving volume R (m(1), m(2)), alpha = -(m(1)+ m(2))(2)partial derivative(2) In R/partial derivative m(1)partial derivative m(2),which universally satisfies 0.97 less than or similar to alpha less than or similar to 1.05 for all binary masses independently of the PBH mass function. This result suggests that the measurement of this quantity is useful for testing the PBH scenario
Higher Order Corrections to the Primordial Gravitational Wave Spectrum and its Impact on Parameter Estimates for Inflation
We study the impact of the use of the power series expression for the
primordial tensor spectrum on parameter estimation from future direct detection
gravitational wave experiments. The spectrum approximated by the power series
expansion may give large deviation from the true (fiducial) value when it is
normalized at CMB scale because of the large separation between CMB and direct
detection scales. We derive the coefficients of the higher order terms of the
expansion up to the sixth order within the framework of the slow-roll
approximation and investigate how well the inclusion of higher order terms
improves the analytic prediction of the spectrum amplitude by comparing with
numerical results. Using the power series expression, we consider future
constraints on inflationary parameters expected from direct detection
experiments of the inflationary gravitational wave background and show that the
truncation of the higher order terms can lead to incorrect evaluation of the
parameters. We present two example models; a quadratic chaotic inflation model
and mixed inflaton and curvaton model with a quartic inflaton potential.Comment: 25 pages, 7 figures, revised version accepted by JCA
Closed String Tachyons and Semi-Classical Instabilities
We conjecture that the end point of bulk closed string tachyon decay at any
non-zero coupling, is the annihilation of space time by Witten's bubble of
nothing, resulting in a topological phase of the theory. In support of this we
present a variety of situations in which there is a correspondence between the
existence of perturbative tachyons in one regime and the semi-classical
annihilation of space-time. Our discussion will include many recently
investigated scenarios in string theory including Scherk-Schwarz
compactifications, Melvin magnetic backgrounds, and noncompact orbifolds. We
use this conjecture to investigate a possible web of dualities relating the
eleven-dimensional Fabinger-Horava background with nonsupersymmetric string
theories. Along the way we point out where our conjecture resolves some of the
puzzles associated with bulk closed string tachyon condensation.Comment: 31 pages, 5 figures 3 figures added, typos corrected and references
added. Discussion of Type 0/Heterotic s-duality extended and some other
points clarified Revision of discussion on Fabinger-Horava string
descendents, section on Scherk-Schwarz compactification of Horava-Witten
removed, some references adde
High Precision CTE-Measurement of SiC-100 for Cryogenic Space-Telescopes
We present the results of high precision measurements of the thermal
expansion of the sintered SiC, SiC-100, intended for use in cryogenic
space-telescopes, in which minimization of thermal deformation of the mirror is
critical and precise information of the thermal expansion is needed for the
telescope design. The temperature range of the measurements extends from room
temperature down to 10 K. Three samples, #1, #2, and #3 were
manufactured from blocks of SiC produced in different lots. The thermal
expansion of the samples was measured with a cryogenic dilatometer, consisting
of a laser interferometer, a cryostat, and a mechanical cooler. The typical
thermal expansion curve is presented using the 8th order polynomial of the
temperature. For the three samples, the coefficients of thermal expansion
(CTE), \bar{\alpha}_{#1}, \bar{\alpha}_{#2}, and \bar{\alpha}_{#3} were
derived for temperatures between 293 K and 10 K. The average and the dispersion
(1 rms) of these three CTEs are 0.816 and 0.002 (/K),
respectively. No significant difference was detected in the CTE of the three
samples from the different lots. Neither inhomogeneity nor anisotropy of the
CTE was observed. Based on the obtained CTE dispersion, we performed an
finite-element-method (FEM) analysis of the thermal deformation of a 3.5 m
diameter cryogenic mirror made of six SiC-100 segments. It was shown that the
present CTE measurement has a sufficient accuracy well enough for the design of
the 3.5 m cryogenic infrared telescope mission, the Space Infrared telescope
for Cosmology and Astrophysics (SPICA).Comment: in press, PASP. 21 pages, 4 figure
Non-Gaussianity from Symmetry
We point out that a light scalar field fluctuating around a symmetry-enhaced
point can generate large non-Gaussianity in density fluctuations. We name such
a particle as an "ungaussiton", a scalar field dominantly produced by the
quantum fluctuations,generating sizable non-Gaussianity in the density
fluctuations. We derive a consistency relation between the bispectrum and the
trispectrum, tau_NL = 10^3 f_NL^(4/3), which can be extended to arbitrary high
order correlation functions. If such a relation is confirmed by future
observations, it will strongly support this mechanism.Comment: 26 pages, 1 figure;v2 discussion and references added. To appear in
JCA
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