Holonomy corrections to the cosmological primordial tensor power spectrum

Loop quantum gravity is one of the leading candidate theory to non-perturbatively quantize gravity. In this framework, holonomy corrections to the equation of propagation of gravitons in a FLRW background have been derived. We investigate the consequences of those corrections on the tensor power spectrum in de-Sitter and slow-roll inflations, for n=-1/2. Depending on the value of the Barbero-Immirzi parameter, several observational features could be expected.Comment: 5 pages, Proc. of the 43rd Rencontres de Moriond "Cosmology 2008

Detecting chiral gravity with the pure pseudospectrum reconstruction of the cosmic microwave background polarized anisotropies

We consider the possible detection of parity violation at the linear level in gravity using polarized anisotropies of the cosmic microwave background. Since such a parity violation would lead to non-zero TB and EB correlations, this makes those odd-parity angular power spectra a potential probe of parity violation in the gravitational sector. These spectra are modeled incorporating the impact of lensing and we explore their possible detection in the context of small-scale (balloon-borne or ground-based) experiments and a future satellite mission dedicated to B-mode detection. We assess the statistical uncertainties on their reconstruction using mode-counting and a (more realistic) pure pseudospectrum estimator approach. Those uncertainties are then translated into constraints on the level of parity asymmetry. We found that detecting chiral gravity is impossible for ongoing small-scale experiments. However, for a satellite-like mission, a parity asymmetry of at least 50% could be detected at 68% of confidence level, and a parity asymmetry of 100% is measurable with at least a confidence level of 95%. We also assess the impact of a possible miscalibration of the orientation of the polarized detectors, leading to spurious TB and EB cross-correlations. We show that in the context of pseudospectrum estimation of the angular power spectra, self-calibration of this angle could significantly reduce the statistical significance of the measured level of parity asymmetry (by e.g. a factor ~2.4 for a miscalibration angle of 1 degree). For chiral gravity and assuming a satellite mission dedicated to primordial B-mode, a non detection of the TB and EB correlation would translate into an upper bound on parity violation of 39% at 95% confidence level for a tensor-to-scalar ratio of 0.2, excluding values of the (imaginary) Barbero-Immirzi parameter comprised between 0.2 and 4.9 at 95% CL.Comment: 21 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. D (typos and references corrected

Phenomenology of black hole evaporation with a cosmological constant

In this brief note, we investigate some possible experimental consequences of the de-Sitter or Anti-de-Sitter background spacetime structure for d-dimensional evaporating black holes. Possible observational signatures in Large Hadron Collider (LHC) events are considered in the framework of the Arkani-Hamed-Dimopoulos-Dvali (ADD) braneworld model. Lower bounds on the value of the bulk cosmological constant required to produce visible effects are derived thanks to a dynamical Monte-Carlo simulation. This preliminary study has to be refined by the accurate computation of the greybody factors. It opens a new way to investigate the structure of non-asymptotically flat higher-dimensional spacetimes.Comment: Proceedings of the HEP2005 conference. Related greybody factors for evaporating black holes available at : http://lpsc.in2p3.fr/ams/greybody

Very high energy gamma-rays and the Hubble parameter

A new method, based on the absorption of very high-energy gamma-rays by the cosmic infrared background, is proposed to constrain the value of the Hubble constant. As this value is both fundamental for cosmology and still not very well measured, it is worth developing such alternative methods. Our lower limit at the 68% confidence level is H0 > 74 km/s/Mpc, leading, when combined with the HST results, to H0 ~ 76 km/s/Mpc. Interestingly, this value, which is significantly higher than the usually considered one, is in exact agreement with other independent approaches based on baryonic acoustic oscillations and X-ray measurements. Forthcoming data from the experiments HESS-2 and CTA should help improving those results. Finally, we briefly mention a plausible correlation between absorption by the extragalactic background light and the absence of observation of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) at very high energies.Comment: Proc. of the 12th Marcel Grossmann meeting on general relativity. 3 pages, 1 figur

Astrophysical Production of Microscopic Black Holes in a Low Planck-scale World

In the framework of brane-world models lowering the Planck scale to the TeV range, it has recently been pointed out that small black holes could be formed at particle colliders or by neutrinos interactions in the atmosphere. This article aims at reviewing other places and epochs where microscopic black holes could be formed : the interstellar medium and the early Universe. The related decay channels and the propagation of the emitted particles are studied to conclude that, in spite of the large creation rate for such black holes, the amount of produced particles do not conflict with experimental data. This shows, from the astronomical viewpoint, that models with large extra dimensions making the gravity scale much lower are compatible with observations.Comment: To appear in Ap

Observational issues in loop quantum cosmology

Quantum gravity is sometimes considered as a kind of metaphysical speculation. In this review, we show that, although still extremely difficult to reach, observational signatures can in fact be expected. The early universe is an invaluable laboratory to probe "Planck scale physics". Focusing on Loop Quantum Gravity as one of the best candidate for a non-perturbative and background-independant quantization of gravity, we detail some expected features.Comment: 75 pages, invited topical review for Classical and Quantum Gravit

Modular multilevel converter with modified half-bridge submodule and arm filter for dc transmission systems with DC fault blocking capability

Although a modular multilevel converter (MMC) is universally accepted as a suitable converter topology for the high voltage dc transmission systems, its dc fault ride performance requires substantial improvement in order to be used in critical infrastructures such as transnational multi-terminal dc (MTDC) networks. Therefore, this paper proposes a modified submodule circuit for modular multilevel converter that offers an improved dc fault ride through performance with reduced semiconductor losses and enhanced control flexibility compared to that achievable with full-bridge submodules. The use of the proposed submodules allows MMC to retain its modularity; with semiconductor loss similar to that of the mixed submodules MMC, but higher than that of the half-bridge submodules. Besides dc fault blocking, the proposed submodule offers the possibility of controlling ac current in-feed during pole-to-pole dc short circuit fault, and this makes such submodule increasingly attractive and useful for continued operation of MTDC networks during dc faults. The aforesaid attributes are validated using simulations performed in MATLAB/SIMULINK, and substantiated experimentally using the proposed submodule topology on a 4-level small-scale MMC prototype

Quantum Bound States Around Black Holes

Quantum mechanics around black holes has shown to be one of the most fascinating fields of theoretical physics. It involves both general relativity and particle physics, opening new eras to establish the groundings of unified theories. In this article, we show that quantum bound states with no classical equivalent -- as it can easily be seen at the dominant monopolar order -- should be formed around black holes for massive scalar particles. We qualitatively investigate some important physical consequences, in particular for the Hawking evaporation mechanism and the associated greybody factors

Comparison of primordial tensor power spectra from the deformed algebra and dressed metric approaches in loop quantum cosmology

Loop quantum cosmology tries to capture the main ideas of loop quantum gravity and to apply them to the Universe as a whole. Two main approaches within this framework have been considered to date for the study of cosmological perturbations: the dressed metric approach and the deformed algebra approach. They both have advantages and drawbacks. In this article, we accurately compare their predictions. In particular, we compute the associated primordial tensor power spectra. We show -- numerically and analytically -- that the large scale behavior is similar for both approaches and compatible with the usual prediction of general relativity. The small scale behavior is, the other way round, drastically different. Most importantly, we show that in a range of wavenumbers explicitly calculated, both approaches do agree on predictions that, in addition, differ from standard general relativity and do not depend on unknown parameters. These features of the power spectrum at intermediate scales might constitute a universal loop quantum cosmology prediction that can hopefully lead to observational tests and constraints. We also present a complete analytical study of the background evolution for the bouncing universe that can be used for other purposes.Comment: 15 pages, 7 figure

Semiclassical scalar propagators in curved backgrounds: formalism and ambiguities

The phenomenology of quantum systems in curved space-times is among the most fascinating fields of physics, allowing --often at the gedankenexperiment level-- constraints on tentative theories of quantum gravity. Determining the dynamics of fields in curved backgrounds remains however a complicated task because of the highly intricate partial differential equations involved, especially when the space metric exhibits no symmetry. In this article, we provide --in a pedagogical way-- a general formalism to determine this dynamics at the semiclassical order. To this purpose, a generic expression for the semiclassical propagator is computed and the equation of motion for the probability four-current is derived. Those results underline a direct analogy between the computation of the propagator in general relativistic quantum mechanics and the computation of the propagator for stationary systems in non-relativistic quantum mechanics. A possible application of this formalism to curvature-induced quantum interferences is also discussed.Comment: New materials on gravitationally-induced quantum interferences has been adde