arXiv subjects

Daniel Sudarsky

Publications and source records attributed to Daniel Sudarsky.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

arXiv2007

The Neutron as an Alternative Explanation for the Trans GZK Cosmic Rays

We consider the possibility that the particles in the Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays arriving to Earth might be neutrons instead of protons. We stress that in such case the argument for the GZK cutoff is weaker and that it is conceivable that neutrons would not be affected by it. This scenario would require the neutron to start with an energy larger than the observed one, in order to be able to travel the distances involved, within its proper life-time. It must then loose most of the extra energy through interaction with the galactic dark matter or some other matter in the intergalactic medium.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2007

A signature of quantum gravity at the source of the seeds of cosmic structure?

This article reviews a recent work by a couple of colleagues and myself about the shortcomings of the standard explanations of the quantum origin of cosmic structure in the inflationary scenario, and a proposal to address them. The point it that in the usual accounts the inhomogeneity and anisotropy of our universe seem to emerge from an exactly homogeneous and isotropic initial state through processes that do not break those symmetries. We argued that some novel aspect of physics must be called upon to able to address the problem in a fully satisfactory way. The proposed approach is inspired on Penrose's ideas regarding an quantum gravity induced, real and dynamical collapse of the wave function.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2006

The Seeds of Cosmic structure as a door to New Physics

There is something missing in our understanding of the origin of the seeds of Cosmic Structuture. The fact that the fluctuation spectrum can be extracted from the inflationary scenario through an analysis that involves quantum field theory in curved space-time, and that it coincides with the observational data has lead to a certain complacency in the community, which prevents the critical analysis of the obscure spots in the derivation. The point is that the inhomogeneity and anisotropy of our universe seem to emerge from an exactly homogeneous and isotropic initial state through processes that do not break those symmetries. This article gives a brief recount of the problems faced by the arguments based on established physics, which comprise the point of view held by a large majority of researchers in the field. The conclusion is that we need some new physics to be able to fully address the problem. The article then exposes one avenue that has been used to address the central issue and elaborates on the degree to which, the new approach makes different predictions from the standard analyses. The approach is inspired on Penrose's proposals that Quantum Gravity might lead to a real, dynamical collapse of the wave function, a process that we argue has the properties needed to extract us from the theoretical impasse described above.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2006

Lorentz Invariance Violation and its Role in Quantum Gravity Phenomenology

The notion that gravitation might lead to a breakdown of standard space-time structure at small distances, and that this might affect the propagation of ordinary particles has led to a program to search for violations of Lorentz invariance as a probe of quantum gravity. Initially it was expected that observable macroscopic effects caused by microscopic violations of Lorentz invariance would necessarily be suppressed by at least one power of the small ratio between the Planck length and macroscopic lengths. Here we discuss the implications of the fact that this expectation is in contradiction with standard properties of radiative corrections in quantum field theories. In normal field theories, radiative corrections in the presence of microscopic Lorentz violation give macroscopic Lorentz violation that is suppressed only by the size of Standard Model couplings, in clear conflict with observation. In general, this conclusion can only be avoided by extreme fine tuning of the parameters of the theory.

hep-th↗

arXiv2006

On the quantum origin of the seeds of cosmic structure

The current understanding of the quantum origin of cosmic structure is discussed critically. We point out that in the existing treatments a transition from a symmetric quantum state to an (essentially classical) non-symmetric state is implicitly assumed, but not specified or analyzed in any detail. In facing the issue we are led to conclude that new physics is required to explain the apparent predictive power of the usual schemes. Furthermore we show that the novel way of looking at the relevant issues opens new windows from where relevant information might be extracted regarding cosmological issues and perhaps even clues about aspects of quantum gravity.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2005

Perspectives on Quantum Gravity Phenomenology

The idea that quantum gravity manifestations would be associated with a violation of Lorentz invariance is very strongly bounded and faces serious theoretical challenges. Other related ideas seem to be drowning in interpretational quagmires. This leads us to consider alternative lines of thought for such phenomenological search. We discuss the underlying viewpoints and briefly mention their possible connections with other current theoretical ideas.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2005

Towards a new approach to quantum gravity phenomenology

The idea that quantum gravity manifestations would be associated with a violation of Lorentz invariance is very strongly bounded and faces serious theoretical challenges. This leads us to consider an alternative line of thought for such phenomenological search. We discuss the underlying viewpoint and briefly mention its possible connections with current theoretical ideas. We also outline the challenges that the experimental search of the effects would seem to entail.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2005

The coplanarity of planetary orbits places bounds on dynamical aether

OBITUARY The Article and we have been friends for more than half a year. With it, we shared many experiences, both in planetary dynamics and field theory. This research is something I shall always remember with a smile on my face, and a pain in my heart. Today is a day of sadness and mourning for the loss of our ill-born Article. After more thorough medical examination we came to the conclusion that the precession of planetary orbits cannot be used to bound anything except human fantasy. Yet it can also be viewed as a day of celebration! Why? Because without it, we would never have been touched by the shared experiences on physics's eventful journey. Whilst it will now forever be absent in Arxive, it will be with us always in spirit. As it might have said, "I have a long journey to take, and must bid the company farewell" (Sir Walter Raleigh). I say three things: Gone? - Yes! Forgotten? - Never! Remembered? - Always! by K.G.Z.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2004

Lorentz invariance and quantum gravity: an additional fine-tuning problem?

Trying to combine standard quantum field theories with gravity leads to a breakdown of the usual structure of space-time at around the Planck length, 1.6*10^{-35} m, with possible violations of Lorentz invariance. Calculations of preferred-frame effects in quantum gravity have further motivated high precision searches for Lorentz violation. Here, we explain that combining known elementary particle interactions with a Planck-scale preferred frame gives rise to Lorentz violation at the percent level, some 20 orders of magnitude higher than earlier estimates, unless the bare parameters of the theory are unnaturally strongly fine-tuned. Therefore an important task is not just the improvement of the precision of searches for violations of Lorentz invariance, but also the search for theoretical mechanisms for automatically preserving Lorentz invariance.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2004

The violation of the weak energy condition, Is it generic of spontaneous scalarization ?

It was recently shown by Whinnett & Torres \cite{WT} that the phenomenon of spontaneous scalarization (SC) in compact objects (polytropes) was accompanied also by a {\it spontaneous violation of the weak energy condition} (WEC). Notably, by the encounter of negative-energy densities at several star places as measured by a static observer. Here we argue that the negativeness of such densities is not generic of scalar tensor theories of gravity (STT). We support this conclusion by numerical results within a class of STT and by using three realistic models of dense matter. However, we show that the ``angular parts'' of the additional conditions for the WEC to hold $ρ_{\rm eff} + T^{i ({\rm eff})}_{i} \geq 0$ tend to be ``slightly violated'' at the outskirts of the star.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2004

On a debate about cosmic censor violation

We review the arguments and counter arguments about the recent proposal for generic censorship violation. In particular the argument made in gr-qc/0405050 against our proposal for a possible expanding domain wall that could encompass a large black hole, is shown to have a serious flaw. Other problems of the original idea are also discussed.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2004

A unified Scenario for modeling the Galactic and Cosmological Dark Matter Components

In this work we analyze the viability of use a particular models of scalar fields in the context of the galactic dark matter problem. These models are based on a single scalar field, minimally coupled to the gravity in a asymptotically flat or asymptotically deSitter spacetime. We discuss the opening possibility of constructing a unified model for both the cosmological and the galactic dark matter.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2004

The cosmic censor conjecture: Is it generically violated?

It has been recently argued by Hertog, Horowitz and Maeda, that generic reasonable initial data in asymptotically anti deSitter, spherically symmetric, space-times within an Einstein-Higgs theory, will evolve toward a naked singularity, in clear violation of the cosmic censor conjecture. We will argue that there is a logical and physically plausible loophole in the argument and that the numerical evidence in a related problem suggests that this loophole is in fact employed by physics.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2003

Non-minimally coupled scalar fields and isolated horizons

The isolated horizon framework is extended to include non-minimally coupled scalar fields. As expected from the analysis based on Killing horizons, entropy is no longer given just by (a quarter of) the horizon area but also depends on the scalar field. In a subsequent paper these results will serve as a point of departure for a statistical mechanical derivation of entropy using quantum geometry.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2003

Comments on Challenges for Quantum Gravity

We examine radiative corrections arising from Lorentz violating dimension five operators presumably associated with Planck scale physics as recently considered by Myers and Pospelov. We find that observational data result in bounds on the dimensionless parameters of the order $10^{-15}$. These represent the most stringent bounds on Lorentz violation to date.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2003

Bounds on Stringy Quantum Gravity from Low Energy Existing Data

We show that existing low energy experiments, searching for the breaking of local Lorentz invariance, set bounds upon string theory inspired quantum gravity models that induce corrections to the propagation of fields. In the D-particle recoil model we find M > 1.2 x 10^5 M_P and v < 2 x 10^{-27}c for the mass and recoil speed of the D-particle, respectively. These bounds are \~10^8 times stronger than the latest astrophysical bounds. These results indicate that the stringy scenario for modified dispersion relations is as vulnerable to these types of tests as the loop quantum gravity schemes.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2003

On Black Hole Scalar Hair in Asymptotically Anti de Sitter Spacetimes

The unexpected discovery of hairy black hole solutions in theories with scalar fields simply by considering asymptotically Anti de-Sitter, rather than asymptotically flat, boundary conditions is analyzed in a way that exhibits in a clear manner the differences between the two situations. It is shown that the trivial Schwarzschild Anti de Sitter becomes unstable in some of these situations, and the possible relevance of this fact for the ADS/CFT conjecture is pointed out.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2002

New Observational Bounds to Quantum Gravity Signals

We consider a new set of effects arising from the quantum gravity corrections to the propagation of fields, associated with fluctuations of the spacetime geometry. Using already existing experimental data, we can put bounds on these effects that are more stringent by several orders of magnitude than those expected to be obtained in astrophysical observations. In fact these results can be already interpreted as questioning the whole scenario of linear (in $l_P$) corrections to the dispersion relations for free fields in Lorentz violating theories.

gr-qc↗