514 research outputs found
A terrestrial search for dark contents of the vacuum, such as dark energy, using atom interferometry
We describe the theory and first experimental work on our concept for
searching on earth for the presence of dark content of the vacuum (DCV) using
atom interferometry. Specifically, we have in mind any DCV that has not yet
been detected on a laboratory scale, but might manifest itself as dark energy
on the cosmological scale. The experimental method uses two atom
interferometers to cancel the effect of earth's gravity and diverse noise
sources. It depends upon two assumptions: first, that the DCV possesses some
space inhomogeneity in density, and second that it exerts a sufficiently strong
non-gravitational force on matter. The motion of the apparatus through the DCV
should then lead to an irregular variation in the detected matter-wave phase
shift. We discuss the nature of this signal and note the problem of
distinguishing it from instrumental noise. We also discuss the relation of our
experiment to what might be learned by studying the noise in gravitational wave
detectors such as LIGO.The paper concludes with a projection that a future
search of this nature might be carried out using an atom interferometer in an
orbiting satellite. The apparatus is now being constructed
Correspondence between Electro-Magnetic Field and other Dark Energies in Non-linear Electrodynamics
In this work, we have considered the flat FRW model of the universe filled
with electro-magnetic field. First, the Maxwell's electro-magnetic field in
linear form has been discussed and after that the modified Lagrangian in
non-linear form for accelerated universe has been considered. The corresponding
energy density and pressure for non-linear electro-magnetic field have been
calculated. We have found the condition such that the electro-magnetic field
generates dark energy. The correspondence between the electro-magnetic field
and the other dark energy candidates namely tachyonic field, DBI-essence,
Chaplygin gas, hessence dark energy, k-essenece and dilaton dark energy have
been investigated. We have also reconstructed the potential functions and the
scalar fields in this scenario.Comment: 11 pages, 7 figure
Experimental Designs for Binary Data in Switching Measurements on Superconducting Josephson Junctions
We study the optimal design of switching measurements of small Josephson
junction circuits which operate in the macroscopic quantum tunnelling regime.
Starting from the D-optimality criterion we derive the optimal design for the
estimation of the unknown parameters of the underlying Gumbel type
distribution. As a practical method for the measurements, we propose a
sequential design that combines heuristic search for initial estimates and
maximum likelihood estimation. The presented design has immediate applications
in the area of superconducting electronics implying faster data acquisition.
The presented experimental results confirm the usefulness of the method. KEY
WORDS: optimal design, D-optimality, logistic regression, complementary log-log
link, quantum physics, escape measurement
A Testable Solution of the Cosmological Constant and Coincidence Problems
We present a new solution to the cosmological constant (CC) and coincidence
problems in which the observed value of the CC, , is linked to other
observable properties of the universe. This is achieved by promoting the CC
from a parameter which must to specified, to a field which can take many
possible values. The observed value of Lambda ~ 1/(9.3 Gyrs)^2\Lambda$-values
and does not rely on anthropic selection effects. Our model includes no
unnatural small parameters and does not require the introduction of new
dynamical scalar fields or modifications to general relativity, and it can be
tested by astronomical observations in the near future.Comment: 31 pages, 4 figures; v2: version accepted by Phys. Rev.
Conservation laws and scattering for de Sitter classical particles
Starting from an intrinsic geometric characterization of de Sitter timelike
and lightlike geodesics we give a new description of the conserved quantities
associated with classical free particles on the de Sitter manifold. These
quantities allow for a natural discussion of classical pointlike scattering and
decay processes. We also provide an intrinsic definition of energy of a
classical de Sitter particle and discuss its different expressions in various
local coordinate systems and their relations with earlier definitions found in
the literature.Comment: 25 pages, 1 figur
Deforming the Maxwell-Sim Algebra
The Maxwell alegbra is a non-central extension of the Poincar\'e algebra, in
which the momentum generators no longer commute, but satisfy
. The charges commute with the momenta,
and transform tensorially under the action of the angular momentum generators.
If one constructs an action for a massive particle, invariant under these
symmetries, one finds that it satisfies the equations of motion of a charged
particle interacting with a constant electromagnetic field via the Lorentz
force. In this paper, we explore the analogous constructions where one starts
instead with the ISim subalgebra of Poincar\'e, this being the symmetry algebra
of Very Special Relativity. It admits an analogous non-central extension, and
we find that a particle action invariant under this Maxwell-Sim algebra again
describes a particle subject to the ordinary Lorentz force. One can also deform
the ISim algebra to DISim, where is a non-trivial dimensionless
parameter. We find that the motion described by an action invariant under the
corresponding Maxwell-DISim algebra is that of a particle interacting via a
Finslerian modification of the Lorentz force.Comment: Appendix on Lifshitz and Schrodinger algebras adde
Topological Lensing in Spherical Spaces
This article gives the construction and complete classification of all
three-dimensional spherical manifolds, and orders them by decreasing volume, in
the context of multiconnected universe models with positive spatial curvature.
It discusses which spherical topologies are likely to be detectable by
crystallographic methods using three-dimensional catalogs of cosmic objects.
The expected form of the pair separation histogram is predicted (including the
location and height of the spikes) and is compared to computer simulations,
showing that this method is stable with respect to observational uncertainties
and is well suited for detecting spherical topologies.Comment: 32 pages, 26 figure
Accurate Measurement in the Field of the Earth of the General-Relativistic Precession of the LAGEOS II Pericenter and New Constraints on Non-Newtonian Gravity
The pericenter shift of a binary system represents a suitable observable to
test for possible deviations from the Newtonian inverse-square law in favor of
new weak interactions between macroscopic objects. We analyzed 13 years of
tracking data of the LAGEOS satellites with GEODYN II software but with no
models for general relativity. From the fit of LAGEOS II pericenter residuals
we have been able to obtain a 99.8% agreement with the predictions of
Einstein's theory. This result may be considered as a 99.8% measurement in the
field of the Earth of the combination of the {\gamma} and {\beta} parameters of
general relativity, and it may be used to constrain possible deviations from
the inverse-square law in favor of new weak interactions parametrized by a
Yukawa-like potential with strength {\alpha} and range {\lambda}. We obtained
|{\alpha}|\lesssim1\times10-11, a huge improvement at a range of about 1 Earth
radius
Revisiting Weyl's calculation of the gravitational pull in Bach's two-body solution
When the mass of one of the two bodies tends to zero, Weyl's definition of
the gravitational force in an axially symmetric, static two-body solution can
be given an invariant formulation in terms of a force four-vector. The norm of
this force is calculated for Bach's two-body solution, that is known to be in
one-to-one correspondence with Schwarzschild's original solution when one of
the two masses l, l' is made to vanish. In the limit when, say, l' goes to
zero, the norm of the force divided by l' and calculated at the position of the
vanishing mass is found to coincide with the norm of the acceleration of a test
body kept at rest in Schwarzschild's field. Both norms happen thus to grow
without limit when the test body (respectively the vanishing mass l') is kept
at rest in a position closer and closer to Schwarzschild's two-surface.Comment: 11 pages, 2 figures. Text to appear in Classical and Quantum Gravit
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