arXiv subjects

Alexander Vilenkin

Publications and source records attributed to Alexander Vilenkin.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

arXiv2000

Gravitational wave bursts from cosmic strings

Cusps of cosmic strings emit strong beams of high-frequency gravitational waves (GW). As a consequence of these beams, the stochastic ensemble of gravitational waves generated by a cosmological network of oscillating loops is strongly non Gaussian, and includes occasional sharp bursts that stand above the rms GW background. These bursts might be detectable by the planned GW detectors LIGO/VIRGO and LISA for string tensions as small as $G μ\sim 10^{-13}$. The GW bursts discussed here might be accompanied by Gamma Ray Bursts.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2000

Gravity of higher-dimensional global defects

Solutions of Einstein's equations are found for global defects in a higher-dimensional spacetime with a nonzero cosmological constant Lambda. The defect has a (p-1)-dimensional core (brane) and a `hedgehog' scalar field configuration in the n extra dimensions. For Lambda = 0 and n > 2, the solutions are characterized by a flat brane worldsheet and a solid angle deficit in the extra dimensions. For Lambda > 0, one class of solutions describes spherical branes in an inflating higher-dimensional universe. Instantons obtained by a Euclidean continuation of such solutions describe quantum nucleation of the entire inflating brane-world, or of a spherical brane in an inflating higher-dimensional universe. For Lambda < 0, one class of solutions exhibits an exponential warp factor. It is similar to spacetimes previously discussed by Randall and Sundrum for n = 1 and by Gregory for n = 2.

hep-th↗

arXiv1999

Eternal inflation and the present universe

Eternally inflating universes can contain thermalized regions with different values of the cosmological parameters. In particular, the spectra of density fluctuations should be different, because of the different realizations of quantum fluctuations of the inflaton field. I discuss a general method for calculating probability distributions for such variable parameters and analyse the density fluctuation spectrum as a specific application.

gr-qc↗

arXiv1999

Predictability crisis in inflationary cosmology and its resolution

Models of inflationary cosmology can lead to variation of observable parameters ("constants of Nature") on extremely large scales. The question of making probabilistic predictions for today's observables in such models has been investigated in the literature. Because of the infinite thermalized volume resulting from eternal inflation, it has proven difficult to obtain a meaningful and unambiguous probability distribution for observables, in particular due to the gauge dependence. In the present paper, we further develop the gauge-invariant procedure proposed in a previous work for models with a continuous variation of "constants". The recipe uses an unbiased selection of a connected piece of the thermalized volume as sample for the probability distribution. To implement the procedure numerically, we develop two methods applicable to a reasonably wide class of models: one based on the Fokker-Planck equation of stochastic inflation, and the other based on direct simulation of inflationary spacetime. We present and compare results obtained using these methods.

gr-qc↗

arXiv1999

The cosmological constant and the time of its dominance

We explore a model in which the cosmological constant $Λ$ and the density contrast at the time of recombination $σ_{rec}$ are random variables, whose range and {\it a priori} probabilities are determined by the laws of physics. (Such models arise naturally in the framework of inflationary cosmology.) Based on the assumption that we are typical observers, we show that the order of magnitude coincidence among the three timescales: the time of galaxy formation, the time when the cosmological constant starts to dominate the cosmic energy density, and the present age of the universe, finds a natural explanation. We also discuss the probability distribution for $σ_{rec}$, and find that it is peaked near the observationally suggested values, for a wide class of {\it a priori} distributions.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1999

The density parameter and the Anthropic Principle

In the context of open inflation, we calculate the probability distribution for the density parameter $Ω$. A large class of two field models of open inflation do not lead to infinite open universes, but to an ensemble of inflating islands of finite size, or ``quasi-open'' universes, where the density parameter takes a range of values. Assuming we are typical observers, the models make definite predictions for the value $Ω$ we are most likely to observe. When compared with observations, these predictions can be used to constrain the parameters of the models. We also argue that obsevers should not be surprised to find themselves living at the time when curvature is about to dominate.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1999

Charged Vacuum Condensate Near a Superconducting Cosmic String

A charged superconductiong cosmic string produces an extremely large electric field in its vicinity. This leads to vacuum instability and to the formation of a charged vacuum condensate which screens the electric charge of the string. We analyze the structure of this condensate using the Thomas-Fermi method.

hep-th↗

arXiv1999

On the factor ordering problem in stochastic inflation

The stochastic approach to inflation suffers from ambiguities due to the arbitrary choice of the time variable and due to the choice of the factor ordering in the corresponding Fokker-Planck equation. Here it is shown that both ambiguities can be removed if we require that the factor ordering should be set in such a way that physical results are invariant with respect to time reparametrizations. This requirement uniquely selects the so-called Ito factor ordering. Additional ambiguities associated with non-trivial kinetic terms of the scalar fields are also discussed, as well as ways of constraining these ambiguities.

gr-qc↗

arXiv1998

The quantum cosmology debate

I review the tunneling, Hartle-Hawking and Linde proposals for the wave function of the universe and comment on the recent work on quantum creation of open universes.

gr-qc↗

arXiv1998

Vacuum defects without a vacuum

Topological defects can arise in symmetry breaking models where the scalar field potential $V(ϕ)$ has no minima and is a monotonically decreasing function of $|ϕ|$. The properties of such vacuumless defects are quite different from those of the ``usual'' strings and monopoles. In some models such defects can serve as seeds for structure formation, or produce an appreciable density of mini-black holes.

hep-th↗

arXiv1998

Unambiguous probabilities in an eternally inflating universe

``Constants of Nature'' and cosmological parameters may in fact be variables related to some slowly-varying fields. In models of eternal inflation, such fields will take different values in different parts of the universe. Here I show how one can assign probabilities to values of the ``constants'' measured by a typical observer. This method does not suffer from ambiguities previously discussed in the literature.

hep-th↗

arXiv1998

Gravitational field of vacuumless defects

It has been recently shown that topological defects can arise in symmetry breaking models where the scalar field potential $V(ϕ)$ has no minima and is a monotonically decreasing function of $|ϕ|$. Here we study the gravitational fields produced by such vacuumless defects in the cases of both global and gauge symmetry breaking. We find that a global monopole has a strongly repulsive gravitational field, and its spacetime has an event horizon similar to that in de Sitter space. A gauge monopole spacetime is essentially that of a magnetically charged black hole. The gravitational field of a global string is repulsive and that of a gauge string is attractive at small distances and repulsive at large distances. Both gauge and global string spacetimes have singularities at a finite distance from the string core.

gr-qc↗

arXiv1998

"Lattice-Free" Simulations of Topological Defect Formation

We examine simulations of the formation of domain walls, cosmic strings, and monopoles on a cubic lattice, in which the topological defects are assumed to lie at the zeros of a piecewise constant 1, 2, or 3 component Gaussian random field, respectively. We derive analytic expressions for the corresponding topological defect densities in the continuum limit and show that they fail to agree with simulation results, even when the fields are smoothed on small scales to eliminate lattice effects. We demonstrate that this discrepancy, which is related to a classic geometric fallacy, is due to the anisotropy of the cubic lattice, which cannot be eliminated by smoothing. This problem can be resolved by linearly interpolating the field values on the lattice, which gives results in good agreement with the continuum predictions. We use this procedure to obtain a lattice-free estimate (for Gaussian smoothing) of the fraction of the total length of string in the form of infinite strings: $f_\infty = 0.716 \pm 0.015$.

hep-ph↗

arXiv1998

Neutrino transport: no asymmetry in equilibrium

A small asymmetry in the flux of neutrinos emitted by a hot newly-born neutron star could explain the observed motions of pulsars. However, even in the presence of parity-violating processes with anisotropic scattering amplitudes, no asymmetry is generated in thermal equilibrium. We explain why this no-go theorem stymies some of the proposed explanations for the pulsar ``kick'' velocities.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1998

Open universes, inflation, and the anthropic principle

Models of open inflation with a variable density parameter $Ω$ provide the most natural way to reconcile an open universe with inflation. The use of anthropic principle is essential to derive observational predictions of such models. I discuss how this principle can be used in a quantitative way to determine the most probable value of $Ω$. I also comment on recent work by Hawking and Turok on quantum creation of open universes from nothing.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1998

The wave function discord

Linde's proposal of a Euclidean path integral with the ``wrong'' sign of Euclidean action is often identified with the tunneling proposal for the wave function of the universe. However, the two proposals are in fact quite different. I illustrate the difference and point out that recent criticism by Hawking and Turok does not apply to the tunneling proposal.

gr-qc↗

arXiv1998

Singular instantons and creation of open universes

Singular instantons of the type introduced by Hawking and Turok (hep-th/9802030) lead to unacceptable physical consequences and cannot, therefore, be used to describe the creation of open universes.

hep-th↗

arXiv1997

Spacetime structure of an inflating global monopole

The evolution of a global monopole with an inflating core is investigated. An analytic expression for the exterior metric at large distances from the core is obtained. The overall spacetime structure is studied numerically, both in vacuum and in a radiation background.

gr-qc↗