arXiv subjects

A. L. Maroto

Publications and source records attributed to A. L. Maroto.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2013

Isotropy theorem for cosmological Yang-Mills theories

We consider homogeneous non-abelian vector fields with general potential terms in an expanding universe. We find a mechanical analogy with a system of N interacting particles (with N the dimension of the gauge group) moving in three dimensions under the action of a central potential. In the case of bounded and rapid evolution compared to the rate of expansion, we show by making use of a generalization of the virial theorem that for arbitrary potential and polarization pattern, the average energy-momentum tensor is always diagonal and isotropic despite the intrinsic anisotropic evolution of the vector field. We consider also the case in which a gauge-fixing term is introduced in the action and show that the average equation of state does not depend on such a term. Finally, we extend the results to arbitrary background geometries and show that the average energy-momentum tensor of a rapidly evolving Yang-Mills fields is always isotropic and has the perfect fluid form for any locally inertial observer.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2012

Isotropy theorem for cosmological vector fields

We consider homogeneous abelian vector fields in an expanding universe. We find a mechanical analogy in which the system behaves as a particle moving in three dimensions under the action of a central potential. In the case of bounded and rapid evolution compared to the rate of expansion, we show by making use of the virial theorem that for arbitrary potential and polarization pattern, the average energy-momentum tensor is always diagonal and isotropic despite the intrinsic anisotropic evolution of the vector field. For simple power-law potentials of the form V=λ(A^μA_μ)^n, the average equation of state is found to be w=(n-1)/(n+1). This implies that vector coherent oscillations could act as natural dark matter or dark energy candidates. Finally, we show that under very general conditions, the average energy-momentum tensor of a rapidly evolving bounded vector field in any background geometry is always isotropic and has the perfect fluid form for any locally inertial observer.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2012

Dark matter origin of the gamma ray emission from the galactic center observed by HESS

We show that the gamma ray spectrum observed with the HESS array of Cherenkov telescopes coming from the Galactic Center (GC) region and identified with the source HESS J1745-290, is well fitted by the secondary photons coming from dark matter (DM) annihilation over a diffuse power-law background. The amount of photons and morphology of the signal localized within a region of few parsecs, require compressed DM profiles as those resulting from baryonic contraction, which offer $\sim 10^3$ enhancements in the signal over DM alone simulations. The fitted background from HESS data is consistent with recent Fermi-LAT observations of the same region.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2012

Indirect constraints to branon dark matter

If the present dark matter in the Universe annihilates into Standard Model particles, it must contribute to the gamma ray fluxes detected on the Earth. Here we briefly review the present constraints for the detection of gamma ray photons produced in the annihilation of branon dark matter. We show that observations of dwarf spheroidal galaxies and the galactic center by EGRET, Fermi-LAT or MAGIC are below the sensitivity limits for branon detection. However,future experiments such as CTA could be able to detect gamma-ray photons from annihilating branons of masses above 150 GeV.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2011

Detection of branon dark matter with gamma ray telescopes

Branons are new degrees of freedom that appear in flexible brane-world models corresponding to brane fluctuations. These new fields can behave as standard weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) with a significant associated thermal relic density. We analyze the present constraints from their spontaneous annihilations into photons for EGRET, Fermi-LAT and MAGIC, and the prospects for detection in future Cherenkov telescopes. In particular, we focus on possible signals coming from the Galactic Center and different dwarf spheroidals, such as Draco, Sagittarius, Canis Major and SEGUE 1. We conclude that for those targets, present observations are below the sensitivity limits for branon detection by assuming standard dark matter distributions and no additional boost factors. However, future experiments such as CTA could be able to detect gamma-ray photons coming from the annihilation of branons with masses higher than 150 GeV.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2010

Photon spectra from quark generation by WIMPs

In this work we provide the fitting formula valid for the simulated photon spectra from WIMP annihilation into light quark-anti quark (qq-) channels in a wide range of WIMP masses. We illustrate our results for the cc- channel.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2010

Photon spectra from WIMP annihilation

If the present dark matter in the Universe annihilates into Standard Model particles, it must contribute to the fluxes of cosmic rays that are detected on the Earth, and in particular, to the observed gamma ray fluxes. The magnitude of such contribution depends on the particular dark matter candidate, but certain features of the produced photon spectra may be analyzed in a rather model-independent fashion. In this work we provide the complete photon spectra coming from WIMP annihilation into Standard Model particle-antiparticle pairs obtained by extensive Monte Carlo simulations. We present results for each individual annihilation channel and provide analytical fitting formulae for the different spectra for a wide range of WIMP masses.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2009

Black Holes in f(R) theories

In the context of $f(R)$ theories of gravity, we address the problem of finding static and spherically symmetric black hole solutions. Several aspects of constant curvature solutions with and without electric charge are discussed. We also study the general case (without imposing constant curvature). Following a perturbative approach around the Einstein-Hilbert action, it is found that only solutions of the Schwarzschild-(anti) de Sitter type are present up to second order in perturbations. Explicit expressions for the effective cosmological constant are obtained in terms of the $f(R)$ function. Finally, we have considered the thermodynamics of black holes in anti-de Sitter space-time and found that this kind of solutions can only exist provided the theory satisfies $R_0+f(R_0)<0$. Interestingly, this expression is related to the condition which guarantees the positivity of the effective Newton's constant in this type of theories. In addition, it also ensures that the thermodynamical properties in $f(R)$ gravities are qualitatively similar to those of standard General Relativity.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2009

Comment on "Viable singularity-free f(R) gravity without a cosmological constant" [arXiv:0905.1941]

A modified f(R) gravity model has been recently proposed in Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, 221101 (2009) [arXiv:0905.1941] whose cosmological behaviour is clearly distinguishable from LCDM. Contrary to previous opinions which consider that self-consistent f(R) gravity models distinct from LCDM are almost ruled out, the authors claim that the proposed model is cosmologically viable. Here we show that although the model satisfies some consistency conditions, precisely because of its departure from LCDM behaviour, it does not satisfy local gravity constraints and, in addition, the predicted matter power spectrum conflicts with SDSS data.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2008

Cosmological density perturbations in modified gravity theories

In the context of f(R) theories of gravity, we study the cosmological evolution of scalar perturbations by using a completely general procedure. We find that the exact fourth-order differential equation for the matter density perturbations in the longitudinal gauge, reduces to a second-order equation for sub-Hubble modes. This simplification is compared with the standard (quasi-static) equation used in the literature. We show that for general f(R) functions the quasi-static approximation is not justified. However for those f(R) adequately describing the present phase of accelerated expansion and satisfying local gravity tests, it does give a correct description for the evolution of perturbations.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2008

Is the CMB cold spot a gate to extra dimensions?

One of the most striking features found in the cosmic microwave background data is the presence of an anomalous Cold Spot (CS) in the temperature maps made by the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP). This CS has been interpreted as the result of the presence of a collapsing texture, perhaps coming from some early universe Grand Unified Theory (GUT) phase transition. In this work we propose an alternative explanation based on a completely different kind of texture which appears in a natural way in a broad class of brane-world models. This type of textures known as brane-skyrmions can be understood as holes in the brane which make possible to pass through them along the extra-dimensional space. The typical scales needed for the proposed brane-skyrmions to correctly describe the observed CS can be as low as the electroweak scale.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2008

On the evolution of density perturbations in f(R) theories of gravity

In the context of $f(R)$ theories of gravity, we study the evolution of scalar cosmological perturbations in the metric formalism. Using a completely general procedure, we find the exact fourth-order differential equation for the matter density perturbations in the longitudinal gauge. In the case of sub-Hubble modes, the expression reduces to a second-order equation which is compared with the standard (quasi-static) equation used in the literature. We show that for general $f(R)$ functions the quasi-static approximation is not justified. However, for those functions adequately describing the present phase of accelerated expansion and satisfying local gravity tests, it provides a correct description for the evolution of perturbations.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

Catching photons from extra dimensions

In extra-dimensional brane-world models with low tension, brane excitations provide a natural WIMP candidate for dark matter. Taking into account the various constraints coming from colliders, precision observables and direct search, we explore the possibilities for indirect search of the galactic halo branons through their photon producing annihilations in experiments such as EGRET, HESS or AMS2.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

Some model-independent phenomenological consequences of flexible brane worlds

In this work we will review the main properties of brane-world models with low tension. Starting from very general principles, it is possible to obtain an effective action for the relevant degrees of freedom at low energies (branons). Using the cross sections for high-energy processes involving branons, we set bounds on the different parameters appearing in these models. We also show that branons provide a WIMP candidate for dark matter in a natural way. We consider cosmological constraints on its thermal and non-thermal relic abundances. We derive direct detection limits and compare those limits with the preferred parameter region in the case in which the EGRET excess in the diffuse galactic gamma rays is due to dark matter annihilation. Finally we will discuss the constraints coming from the precision tests of the Standard Model and the muon anomalous magnetic moment.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2006

Confronting quintessence models with recent high-redshift supernovae data

We confront the predictions of different quintessence models with recent measurements of the luminosity distance from two sets of supernovae type Ia. In particular, we consider the 157 SNe Ia in the Gold dataset with z<1.7, and the more recent data containing 71 supernovae obtained by the Supernova Legacy Survey (SNLS) with z<1. We numerically solve the evolution equations for the Ratra-Peebles inverse power law model, the double exponential and the hyperbolic cosine quintessence models. We obtain confidence regions from the two datasets in the Ω_M-αand Ω_M-w_ϕplanes for the different models and compare their predictions with dark energy models with constant equation of state.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

Moving dark energy and the CMB dipole

We explore the possibility that the rest frames of CMB, matter and dark energy differ one from another, i.e. they do not converge on very large scales. In such a case, the usual interpretation of the CMB dipole as being due to the relative motion of the observer with respect to the CMB rest frame is not appropriate. Instead, we find that the measured dipole is due to the observer motion relative to the cosmic center of mass rest frame. This means, in particular, that even an observer at rest with respect to the CMB radiation could measure a non-vanishing dipole anisotropy, provided dark energy is moving with respect to the CMB. We also consider the consequences of moving dark energy for the determination of cosmic bulk flows.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2005

Branon Phenomenology

In brane-world models with low tension, the fluctuations of the brane along the extra dimensions (branons) are the only relevant new low-energy modes. Such branon fields are in general massive, stable and weakly interacting, and accordingly they are natural candidates to explain the universe missing mass problem. On the other hand, the branon phenomenology is very rich because they couple to all the Standard Model particles. Distinctive branon signals could be observed in next colliders and in dark matter searches.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2005

Branon radiative corrections to collider physics and precision observables

In the context of brane-world scenarios, we study the effects produced by the exchange of virtual massive branons. A one-loop calculation is performed which generates higher-dimensional operators involving SM fields suppressed by powers of the brane tension scale. We discuss constraints on this scenario from colliders such as HERA, LEP and Tevatron and prospects for future detections at LHC or ILC. The most interesting phenomenology comes from new four-particles vertices induced by branon radiative corrections, mainly from four fermion interactions. The presence of flexible branes modifies also the muon anomalous magnetic moment and the electroweak precision observables.

hep-ph↗