arXiv subjects

A. Tartaglia

Publications and source records attributed to A. Tartaglia.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2014

A ring-lasers array for fundamental physics

After reviewing the importance of light as a probe for testing the structure of space-time, we describe the GINGER project. GINGER will be a three-dimensional array of large size ring-lasers able to measure the de Sitter and Lense-Thirring effects. The instrument will be located at the underground laboratory of GranSasso, in Italy. We describe the preliminary actions and measurements already under way and present the full road map to GINGER. The intermediate apparatuses GP2 and GINGERino are described. GINGER is expected to be fully operating in few years.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2014

Sagnac effect and pure geometry

We show that the Sagnac effect is not necessarily due to the presence of a rotating observer, but rather to the closed path of light in space and an even inertial relative motion between the observer and the physical device forcing light to move along a closed path.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2012

Dark energy as an elastic strain fluid

The origin of the accelerated expansion of the universe is still unclear and new physics is needed on cosmological scales. We propose and test a novel interpretation of dark energy as originated by an elastic strain due to a cosmic defect in an otherwise Euclidean space-time. The strain modifies the expansion history of the universe. This new effective contribution tracks radiation at early times and mimics a cosmological constant at late times. The theory is tested against observations, from nucleosynthesis to the cosmic microwave background and formation and evolution of large scale structure to supernovae. Data are very well reproduced with Lamé parameters of the order of 10^{-52} m^{-2}.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2012

Spherical symmetry in a dark energy permeated space-time

The properties of a spherically symmetric static space-time permeated of dark energy are worked out. Dark energy is viewed as the strain energy of an elastically deformable four dimensional manifold. The metric is worked out in the vacuum region around a central spherical mass/defect in the linear approximation. We discuss analogies and differences with the analogue in the de Sitter space time and how these competing scenarios could be differentiated on an observational ground. The comparison with the tests at the solar system scale puts upper limits to the parameters of the theory, consistent with the values obtained applying the classical cosmological tests.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2011

Measuring Gravito-magnetic Effects by Multi Ring-Laser Gyroscope

We propose an under-ground experiment to detect the general relativistic effects due to the curvature of space-time around the Earth (de Sitter effect) and to rotation of the planet (dragging of the inertial frames or Lense-Thirring effect). It is based on the comparison between the IERS value of the Earth rotation vector and corresponding measurements obtained by a tri-axial laser detector of rotation. The proposed detector consists of six large ring-lasers arranged along three orthogonal axes. In about two years of data taking, the 1% sensitivity required for the measurement of the Lense-Thirring drag can be reached with square rings of 6 $m$ side, assuming a shot noise limited sensitivity ($ 20 prad/s/\sqrt{Hz}$). The multi-gyros system, composed of rings whose planes are perpendicular to one or the other of three orthogonal axes, can be built in several ways. Here, we consider cubic and octahedron structures. The symmetries of the proposed configurations provide mathematical relations that can be used to study the stability of the scale factors, the relative orientations or the ring-laser planes, very important to get rid of systematics in long-term measurements, which are required in order to determine the relativistic effects.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2011

Cosmological constraints for the Cosmic Defect theory

The Cosmic Defect theory has been confronted with four observational constraints: primordial nuclear species abundances emerging from the big bang nucleosynthesis; large scale structure formation in the universe; cosmic microwave background acoustic scale; luminosity distances of type Ia supernovae. The test has been based on a statistical analysis of the a posteriori probabilities for three parameters of the theory. The result has been quite satisfactory and such that the performance of the theory is not distinguishable from the one of the Lambda-CDM theory. The use of the optimal values of the parameters for the calculation of the Hubble constant and the age of the universe confirms the compatibility of the Cosmic Defect approach with observations.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2010

A laser gyroscope system to detect the Gravito-Magnetic effect on Earth

Large scale square ring laser gyros with a length of four meters on each side are approaching a sensitivity of 1x10^-11 rad/s/sqrt(Hz). This is about the regime required to measure the gravitomagnetic effect (Lense Thirring) of the Earth. For an ensemble of linearly independent gyros each measurement signal depends upon the orientation of each single axis gyro with respect to the rotational axis of the Earth. Therefore at least 3 gyros are necessary to reconstruct the complete angular orientation of the apparatus. In general, the setup consists of several laser gyroscopes (we would prefer more than 3 for sufficient redundancy), rigidly referenced to each other. Adding more gyros for one plane of observation provides a cross-check against intra-system biases and furthermore has the advantage of improving the signal to noise ratio by the square root of the number of gyros. In this paper we analyze a system of two pairs of identical gyros (twins) with a slightly different orientation with respect to the Earth axis. The twin gyro configuration has several interesting properties. The relative angle can be controlled and provides a useful null measurement. A quadruple twin system could reach a 1% sensitivity after 3:2 years of data, provided each square ring has 6 m length on a side, the system is shot noise limited and there is no source for 1/f- noise.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2009

Emission coordinates for the navigation in space

A general approach to the problem of positioning by means of pulsars or other pulsating sources located at infinity is described. The counting of the pulses for a set of different sources whose positions in the sky and periods are assumed to be known, is used to provide null emission, or light, coordinates for the receiver. The measurement of the proper time intervals between successive arrivals of the signals from the various sources is used to give the final localization of the receiver, within an accuracy controlled by the precision of the onboard clock. The deviation from the flat case is discussed, separately considering the different possible causes: local gravitational potential, finiteness of the distance of the source, proper motion of the source, period decay, proper acceleration due to non-gravitational forces. Calculations turn out to be simple and the result is highly positive. The method can also be applied to a constellation of satellites orbiting the Earth.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2008

Defects in Four-Dimensional Continua: A Paradigm for the Expansion of the Universe?

The presence of defects in material continua is known to produce internal permanent strained states. Extending the theory of defects to four dimensions and allowing for the appropriate signature, it is possible to apply these concepts to space-time. In this case a defect would induce a non-trivial metric tensor, which can be interpreted as a gravitational field. The image of a defect in space-time can be applied to the description of the Big Bang. A review of the four-dimensional generalisation of defects and an application to the expansion of the universe will be presented.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2008

Fitting the luminosity data from type Ia supernovae in the frame of the Cosmic Defect theory

The Cosmic Defect (CD) theory is reviewed and used to fit the data for the accelerated expansion of the universe, obtained from the apparent luminosity of 192 SnIa's. The fit from CD is compared with the one obtained by means of $Λ$CDM. The results from both theories are in good agreement and the fits are satisfactory. The correspondence between both approaches is discussed and interpreted.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2008

Effect of a possible cosmological time dependence of the gravitational parameter G on the peak luminosity of type Ia supernovae

The cosmological expansion of the universe affects the behaviour of all physical systems and, in the case of gravitationally bound ones, could correspond to or mimic a time dependent Newton's constant. Here we discuss the case of a locally spherical mass distribution embedded in a generic Robertson Walker universe. Choosing the most appropriate metric tensor for the problem and assuming that the local time scale is much much lower than the cosmic one, we show that G is practically unaffected thus leaving the absolute magnitude of type Ia supernovae unaltered at all epochs.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

Analytic approximations, perturbation methods, and their applications

The paper summarizes the parallel session B3 {\em Analytic approximations, perturbation methods, and their applications} of the GR18 conference. The talks in the session reported notably recent advances in black hole perturbations and post-Newtonian approximations as applied to sources of gravitational waves.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2007

Vector field theories in cosmology

Recently proposed theories based on the cosmic presence of a vectorial field are compared and contrasted. In particular the so called Einstein aether theory is discussed in parallel with a recent proposal of a strained space-time theory (Cosmic Defect theory). We show that the latter fits reasonably well the cosmic observed data with only one, or at most two, adjustable parameters, whilst other vector theories use much more. The Newtonian limits are also compared. Finally we show that the CD theory may be considered as a special case of the aether theories, corresponding to a more compact and consistent paradigm.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2007

A darkless space-time

In cosmology it has become usual to introduce new entities as dark matter and dark energy in order to explain otherwise unexplained observational facts. Here, we propose a different approach treating spacetime as a continuum endowed with properties similar to the ones of ordinary material continua, such as internal viscosity and strain distributions originated by defects in the texture. A Lagrangian modeled on the one valid for simple dissipative phenomena in fluids is built and used for empty spacetime. The internal "viscosity" is shown to correspond to a four-vector field. The vector field is shown to be connected with the displacement vector field induced by a point defect in a four-dimensional continuum. Using the known symmetry of the universe, assuming the vector field to be divergenceless and solving the corresponding Euler-Lagrange equation, we directly obtain inflation and a phase of accelerated expansion of spacetime. The only parameter in the theory is the "strength" of the defect. We show that it is possible to fix it in such a way to also quantitatively reproduce the acceleration of the universe. We have finally verified that the addition of ordinary matter does not change the general behaviour of the model.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2003

Gravitomagnetic measurement of the angular momentum of celestial bodies

The asymmetry in the time delay for light rays propagating on opposite sides of a spinning body is analyzed. A frequency shift in the perceived signals is found. A practical procedure is proposed for evidencing the asymmetry, allowing for a measurement of the specific angular momentum of the rotating mass. Orders of magnitude are considered and discussed.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2002

Space time and rotations

The paper considers the problem of finding the metric of space time around a rotating, weakly gravitating body. Both external and internal metric tensors are consistently found, together with an appropriate source tensor. All tensors are calculated at the lowest meaningful approximation in a power series. The two physical parameters entering the equations (the mass and the angular momentum per unit mass) are assumed to be such that the mass effects are negligible with respect to the rotation effects. A non zero Riemann tensor is obtained. The order of magnitude of the effects at the laboratory scale is such as to allow for experimental verification of the theory.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2002

Angular momentum effects in weak gravitational fields

It is shown that, contrary to what is normally expected, it is possible to have angular momentum effects on the geometry of space time at the laboratory scale, much bigger than the purely Newtonian effects. This is due to the fact that the ratio between the angular momentum of a body and its mass, expressed as a length, is easily greater than the mass itself, again expressed as a length.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2001

Testing angular momentum effects on the space time

The paper contains a proposed experiment for testing the angular momentum effect on the propagation of light around a rotating mass. The idea is to use a rotating spherical laboratory-scale shell, around which two mutually orthogonal light guides are wound acting as the arms of an interferometer. Numerical estimates show that time of flight differences between the equatorial and polar guides could be in the order of $\sim 10^{-20}$ s per loop. Using a few thousands loops the time difference is brought in the range of feasible interference measurements.

gr-qc↗