78 research outputs found
Observational constraints on braneworld inflation: the effect of a Gauss-Bonnet term
High-energy modifications to general relativity introduce changes to the
perturbations generated during inflation, and the latest high-precision
cosmological data can be used to place constraints on such modified inflation
models. Recently it was shown that Randall-Sundrum type braneworld inflation
leads to tighter constraints on quadratic and quartic potentials than in
general relativity. We investigate how this changes with a Gauss-Bonnet
correction term, which can be motivated by string theory. Randall-Sundrum
models preserve the standard consistency relation between the tensor spectral
index and the tensor-to-scalar ratio. The Gauss-Bonnet term breaks this
relation, and also modifies the dynamics and perturbation amplitudes at high
energies. We find that the Gauss-Bonnet term tends to soften the
Randall-Sundrum constraints. The observational compatibility of the quadratic
potential is strongly improved. For a broad range of energy scales, the quartic
potential is rescued from marginal rejection. Steep inflation driven by an
exponential potential is excluded in the Randall-Sundrum case, but the
Gauss-Bonnet term leads to marginal compatibility for sufficient e-folds.Comment: 10 pages, 10 figures, version to appear in Physical Review
Avoidance of future singularities in loop quantum cosmology
We consider the fate of future singularities in the effective dynamics of
loop quantum cosmology. Non-perturbative quantum geometric effects which lead
to modification of the Friedmann equation at high energies result in
generic resolution of singularities whenever energy density diverges at
future singularities of Friedmann dynamics. Such quantum effects lead to the
avoidance of a Big Rip, which is followed by a recollapsing universe stable
against perturbations. Resolution of sudden singularity, the case when pressure
diverges but energy density approaches a finite value depends on the ratio of
the latter to a critical energy density of the order of Planck. If the value of
this ratio is greater than unity, the universe escapes the sudden future
singularity and becomes oscillatory.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figure
A symmetry for vanishing cosmological constant
Two different realizations of a symmetry principle that impose a zero
cosmological constant in an extra-dimensional set-up are studied. The symmetry
is identified by multiplication of the metric by minus one. In the first
realization of the symmetry this is provided by a symmetry transformation that
multiplies the coordinates by the imaginary number i. In the second realization
this is accomplished by a symmetry transformation that multiplies the metric
tensor by minus one. In both realizations of the symmetry the requirement of
the invariance of the gravitational action under the symmetry selects out the
dimensions given by D = 2(2n+1), n=0,1,2,... and forbids a bulk cosmological
constant. Another attractive aspect of the symmetry is that it seems to be more
promising for quantization when compared to the usual scale symmetry. The
second realization of the symmetry is more attractive in that it is posible to
make a possible brane cosmological constant zero in a simple way by using the
same symmetry, and the symmetry may be identified by reflection symmetry in
extra dimensions.Comment: Talk in the conference IRGAC 2006, 2nd International Conference on
Quantum Theories and Renormalization Group in Gravity and Cosmology,
Barcelon
String-inspired cosmology: Late time transition from scaling matter era to dark energy universe caused by a Gauss-Bonnet coupling
The Gauss-Bonnet (GB) curvature invariant coupled to a scalar field
can lead to an exit from a scaling matter-dominated epoch to a late-time
accelerated expansion, which is attractive to alleviate the coincident problem
of dark energy. We derive the condition for the existence of cosmological
scaling solutions in the presence of the GB coupling for a general scalar-field
Lagrangian density , where is a kinematic
term of the scalar field. The GB coupling and the Lagrangian density are
restricted to be in the form and , respectively, where is a constant and is an
arbitrary function. We also derive fixed points for such a scaling Lagrangian
with a GB coupling and clarify the conditions
under which the scaling matter era is followed by a de-Sitter solution which
can appear in the presence of the GB coupling. Among scaling models proposed in
the current literature, we find that the models which allow such a cosmological
evolution are an ordinary scalar field with an exponential potential and a
tachyon field with an inverse square potential, although the latter requires a
coupling between dark energy and dark matter.Comment: 18 pages, 4 figures, version to appear in JCA
Cosmological constraints from Gauss-Bonnet braneworld with large-field potentials
We calculate the spectral index and tensor-to-scalar ratio for patch
inflation defined by and ,
using the slow-roll expansion. The patch cosmology arisen from the Gauss-Bonnet
braneworld consists of Gauss-Bonnet (GB), Randall-Sundrum (RS), and 4D general
relativistic (GR) cosmological models. In this work, we choose large-field
potentials of to compare with the observational data. Since
second-order corrections are rather small in the slow-roll limit, the
leading-order calculation is sufficient to compare with the data. Finally, we
show that it is easier to discriminate between quadratic potential and quartic
potential in the GB cosmological model rather than the GR or RS cosmological
models.Comment: 13 pages, title changed, version to appear in JCA
Quintessential Inflation on the Brane and the Relic Gravity Wave Background
Quintessential inflation describes a scenario in which both inflation and
dark energy (quintessence) are described by the same scalar field. In
conventional braneworld models of quintessential inflation gravitational
particle production is used to reheat the universe. This reheating mechanism is
very inefficient and results in an excessive production of gravity waves which
violate nucleosynthesis constraints and invalidate the model. We describe a new
method of realizing quintessential inflation on the brane in which inflation is
followed by `instant preheating' (Felder, Kofman & Linde 1999). The larger
reheating temperature in this model results in a smaller amplitude of relic
gravity waves which is consistent with nucleosynthesis bounds. The relic
gravity wave background has a `blue' spectrum at high frequencies and is a
generic byproduct of successful quintessential inflation on the brane.Comment: 9 pages, 5 eps figures. Discussion and one eps figure summarizing the
GB correction to steep brane world inflation added, typos corrected and
references added; final version to appear in PR
On compatibility of string effective action with an accelerating universe
In this paper, we fully investigate the cosmological effects of the moduli
dependent one-loop corrections to the gravitational couplings of the string
effective action to explain the cosmic acceleration problem in early (and/or
late) universe. These corrections comprise a Gauss-Bonnet (GB) invariant
multiplied by universal non-trivial functions of the common modulus
and the dilaton . The model exhibits several features of cosmological
interest, including the transition between deceleration and acceleration
phases. By considering some phenomenologically motivated ansatzs for one of the
scalars and/or the scale factor (of the universe), we also construct a number
of interesting inflationary potentials. In all examples under consideration, we
find that the model leads only to a standard inflation () when the
numerical coefficient associated with modulus-GB coupling is positive,
while the model can lead also to a non-standard inflation (), if
is negative. In the absence of (or trivial) coupling between the GB term and
the scalars, there is no crossing between the phases, while
this is possible with non-trivial GB couplings, even for constant dilaton phase
of the standard picture. Within our model, after a sufficient amount of e-folds
of expansion, the rolling of both fields and can be small. In
turn, any possible violation of equivalence principle or deviations from the
standard general relativity may be small enough to easily satisfy all
astrophysical and cosmological constraints.Comment: 30 pages, 8 figures; v2 significant changes in notations, appendix
and refs added; v3 significant revisions, refs added; v4 appendix extended,
new refs, published versio
Dark energy generated from a (super)string effective action with higher order curvature corrections and a dynamical dilaton
We investigate the possibility of a dark energy universe emerging from an
action with higher-order string loop corrections to Einstein gravity in the
presence of a massless dilaton. These curvature corrections (up to order)
are different depending upon the type of (super)string model which is
considered. We find in fact that Type II, heterotic, and bosonic strings
respond differently to dark energy. A dark energy solution is shown to exist in
the case of the bosonic string, while the other two theories do not lead to
realistic dark energy universes. Detailed analysis of the dynamical stability
of the de-Sitter solution is presented for the case of a bosonic string. A
general prescription for the construction of a de-Sitter solution for the
low-energy (super)string effective action is also indicated. Beyond the
low-energy (super)string effective action, when the higher-curvature correction
coefficients depend on the dilaton, the reconstruction of the theory from the
universe expansion history is done with a corresponding prescription for the
scalar potentials.Comment: 15 pages, 7 eps figures, minor corrections, published versio
The thawing dark energy dynamics: Can we detect it?
We consider different classes of scalar field models including quintessence,
and tachyon scalar fields with a variety of generic potential belonging to
thawing type. Assuming the scalar field is initially frozen at , we
evolve the system until the present time. We focus on observational quantities
like Hubble parameter, luminosity distance as well as quantities related to the
Baryon Acoustic Oscillation measurement. Our study shows that with present
state of observations, one can not distinguish amongst various models which in
turn can not be distinguished from cosmological constant. This lead us to a
conclusion that there is a thin chance to observe the dark energy metamorphosis
in near future.Comment: 7 pages, Revtex Style, 6 eps figures, replaced with revised version,
some figures are modified, minor changes, conclusions remain the same,
Accepted for publication in Physics Letters
Aspects of Scalar Field Dynamics in Gauss-Bonnet Brane Worlds
The Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet equations projected from the bulk to brane lead to
a complicated Friedmann equation which simplifies to in the
asymptotic regimes. The Randall-Sundrum (RS) scenario corresponds to
whereas & give rise to high energy Gauss-Bonnet (GB) regime and
the standard GR respectively. Amazingly, while evolving from RS regime to high
energy GB limit, one passes through a GR like region which has important
implications for brane world inflation. For tachyon GB inflation with
potentials investigated in this paper, the scalar to
tensor ratio of perturbations is maximum around the RS region and is
generally suppressed in the high energy regime for the positive values of .
The ratio is very low for at all energy scales relative to GB inflation
with ordinary scalar field. The models based upon tachyon inflation with
polynomial type of potentials with generic positive values of turn out to
be in the observational contour bound at all energy scales varying
from GR to high energy GB limit. The spectral index improves for the
lower values of and approaches its scale invariant limit for in the
high energy GB regime. The ratio also remains small for large negative
values of , however, difference arises for models close to scale invariance
limit. In this case, the tensor to scale ratio is large in the GB regime
whereas it is suppressed in the intermediate region between RS and GB. Within
the frame work of patch cosmologies governed by , the behavior
of ordinary scalar field near cosmological singularity and the nature of
scaling solutions are distinguished for the values of .Comment: 15 pages, 10 eps figures; appendix on various scales in GB brane
world included and references updated; final version to appear in PR
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