56 research outputs found
Testing an exact -gravity model at Galactic and local scales
The weak field limit for a pointlike source of a -gravity model is studied. We aim to show the viability of such a model
as a valid alternative to GR + dark matter at Galactic and local scales.
Without considering dark matter, within the weak field approximation, we find
general exact solutions for gravity with standard matter, and apply them to
some astrophysical scales, recovering the consistency of the same
-gravity model with cosmological results.}{In particular, we show that it
is possible to obtain flat rotation curves for galaxies, [and consistency with]
Solar System tests, as in the so-called "Chameleon Approach". In fact, the
peripheral velocity is shown to be expressed as , so that the Tully-Fisher relation is recovered. The results
point out the possibility of achieving alternative theories of gravity in which
exotic ingredients like dark matter and dark energy are not necessary, while
their coarse-grained astrophysical and cosmological effects can be related to a
geometric origin.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures, accepted in Astron. & Astrop
Noether symmetry approach in phantom quintessence cosmology
In the framework of phantom quintessence cosmology, we use the Noether
Symmetry Approach to obtain general exact solutions for the cosmological
equations. This result is achieved by the quintessential (phantom) potential
determined by the existence of the symmetry itself. A comparison between the
theoretical model and observations is worked out. In particular, we use type Ia
supernovae and large scale structure parameters determined from the 2-degree
Field Galaxy Redshift Survey (2dFGRS)and from the Wide part of the VIMOS-VLT
Deep Survey (VVDS). It turns out that the model is compatible with the
presently available observational data. Moreover we extend the approach to
include radiation. We show that it is compatible with data derived from
recombination and it seems that quintessence do not affect nucleosynthesis
results.Comment: 26 pages, 13 figure
IDIOPATHIC PARTIAL EPILEPSY WITH AUDITORY FEATURES (IPEAF): A CLINICAL AND GENETIC STUDY OF 53 SPORADIC CASES
The purpose of our study was to describe the clinical characteristics of sporadic
(S) cases of partial epilepsy with auditory features (PEAF) and pinpoint
clinical, prognostic and genetic differences with respect to previously reported
familial (F) cases of autosomal dominant partial epilepsy with auditory features
(ADPEAF). We analysed 53 patients (24 females and 29 males) with PEAF diagnosed
according to the following criteria: partial epilepsy with auditory symptoms,
negative family history for epilepsy and absence of cerebral lesions on NMR
study. All patients underwent a full clinical, neuroradiological and
neurophysiological examination. Forty patients were screened for mutations in
LGI1/epitempin, which is involved in ADPEAF. Age at onset ranged from 6 to 39
years (average 19 years). Secondarily generalized seizures were the most common
type of seizures at onset (79%). Auditory auras occurred either in isolation
(53%) or associated with visual, psychic or aphasic symptoms. Low seizure
frequency at onset and good drug responsiveness were common, with 51% of patients
seizure-free. Seizures tended to recur after drug withdrawal. Clinically, no
major differences were found between S and F patients with respect to age at
onset, seizure frequency and response to therapy. Analysis of LGI1/epitempin
exons failed to disclose mutations. Our data support the existence of a peculiar
form of non-lesional temporal lobe epilepsy closely related to ADPEAF but without
a positive family history. This syndrome, here named IPEAF, has a benign course
in the majority of patients and could be diagnosed by the presence of auditory
aura. Although LGI1 mutations have been excluded, genetic factors may play an
aetiopathogenetic role in at least some of these S cases
The Accelerated expansion of the Universe as a crossover phenomenon
We show that the accelerated expansion of the Universe can be viewed as a
crossover phenomenon where the Newton constant and the Cosmological constant
are actually scaling operators, dynamically evolving in the attraction basin of
a non-Gaussian infrared fixed point, whose existence has been recently
discussed. By linearization of the renormalized flow it is possible to evaluate
the critical exponents, and it turns out that the approach to the fixed point
is ruled by a marginal and a relevant direction. A smooth transition between
the standard Friedmann--Lemaitre--Robertson--Walker (FLRW) cosmology and the
observed accelerated expansion is then obtained, so that at late times.Comment: 12 pages, latex, use bibtex. In the final version, the presentation
has been improved, and new references have been adde
Slott-Agape Project
SLOTT-AGAPE (Systematic Lensing Observation at Toppo Telescope - Andromeda
Gravitational Amplification Pixel Lensing Experiment) is a new collaboration
project among international partners from England, France, Germany, Italy and
Switzerland that intends to perform microlensing observation by using M31 as
target. The MACHOs search is made thanks to the pixel lensing technique.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, proceeding of XLIII Congresso della Societa'
Astronomica Italiana, Napoli, 4-8 Maggio, 199
One-loop f(R) Gravitational Modified Models
The one-loop quantisation of a general class of modified gravity models
around a classical de Sitter background is presented. Application to the
stability of the models is addressed.Comment: Latex, 8 pages, no figures. To appear in Journal of Physics A. Two
references adde
Self-accelerating solutions of scalar-tensor gravity
Scalar-tensor gravity is the simplest and best understood modification of
general relativity, consisting of a real scalar field coupled directly to the
Ricci scalar curvature. Models of this type have self-accelerating solutions.
In an example inspired by string dilaton couplings, scalar-tensor gravity
coupled to ordinary matter exhibits a de Sitter type expansion, even in the
presence of a {\it negative} cosmological constant whose magnitude exceeds that
of the matter density. This unusual behavior does not require phantoms, ghosts
or other exotic sources. More generally, we show that any expansion history can
be interpreted as arising partly or entirely from scalar-tensor gravity. To
distinguish any quintessence or inflation model from its scalar-tensor
variants, we use the fact that scalar-tensor models imply deviations of the
post-Newtonian parameters of general relativity, and time variation of the
Newton's gravitational coupling . We emphasize that next-generation probes
of modified GR and the time variation of are an essential complement to
dark energy probes based on luminosity-distance measurements.Comment: 14 pages, 3 figure
Spacelike distance from discrete causal order
Any discrete approach to quantum gravity must provide some prescription as to
how to deduce continuum properties from the discrete substructure. In the
causal set approach it is straightforward to deduce timelike distances, but
surprisingly difficult to extract spacelike distances, because of the unique
combination of discreteness with local Lorentz invariance in that approach. We
propose a number of methods to overcome this difficulty, one of which
reproduces the spatial distance between two points in a finite region of
Minkowski space. We provide numerical evidence that this definition can be used
to define a `spatial nearest neighbor' relation on a causal set, and conjecture
that this can be exploited to define the length of `continuous curves' in
causal sets which are approximated by curved spacetime. This provides evidence
in support of the ``Hauptvermutung'' of causal sets.Comment: 32 pages, 16 figures, revtex4; journal versio
Equivalence of three-dimensional spacetimes
A solution to the equivalence problem in three-dimensional gravity is given
and a practically useful method to obtain a coordinate invariant description of
local geometry is presented. The method is a nontrivial adaptation of Karlhede
invariant classification of spacetimes of general relativity. The local
geometry is completely determined by the curvature tensor and a finite number
of its covariant derivatives in a frame where the components of the metric are
constants. The results are presented in the framework of real two-component
spinors in three-dimensional spacetimes, where the algebraic classifications of
the Ricci and Cotton-York spinors are given and their isotropy groups and
canonical forms are determined. As an application we discuss Goedel-type
spacetimes in three-dimensional General Relativity. The conditions for local
space and time homogeneity are derived and the equivalence of three-dimensional
Goedel-type spacetimes is studied and the results are compared with previous
works on four-dimensional Goedel-type spacetimes.Comment: 13 pages - content changes and corrected typo
Cosmology with exponential potentials
We examine in the context of general relativity the dynamics of a spatially
flat Robertson-Walker universe filled with a classical minimally coupled scalar
field \phi of exponential potential ~ e^{-\mu\phi} plus pressureless baryonic
matter. This system is reduced to a first-order ordinary differential equation,
providing direct evidence on the acceleration/deceleration properties of the
system. As a consequence, for positive potentials, passage into acceleration
not at late times is generically a feature of the system, even when the
late-times attractors are decelerating. Furthermore, the structure formation
bound, together with the constraints on the present values of \Omega_{m},
w_{\phi} provide, independently of initial conditions and other parameters,
necessary conditions on \mu. Special solutions are found to possess intervals
of acceleration. For the almost cosmological constant case w_{\phi} ~ -1, as
well as, for the generic late-times evolution, the general relation
\Omega_{\phi}(w_{\phi}) is obtained.Comment: RevTex4, 9 pages, 2 figures, References adde
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