arXiv subjects

David F. Mota

Publications and source records attributed to David F. Mota.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2025

Anisotropic universe with anisotropic dark energy

We investigate the anisotropic parameterization of the dark energy equation of state within the framework of an axisymmetric (planar) Bianchi-I universe. Using the latest Pantheon+ Type Ia Supernova dataset, augmented by SH0ES Cepheid distance calibrators, we constrain both the equation of state for anisotropic dark energy and other standard cosmological parameters. Additionally, we examine the presence of an underlying anisotropic axis. Our analysis yields a mean anisotropic dark energy equation of state of $\bar{w} = -0.86^{+0.15}_{-0.11}$ and a difference in the equation of states in and perpendicular to the plane of the axisymmetric Bianchi-I spacetime of $δ_w = -0.129^{+0.090}_{-0.064}$. We also identify an axis of anisotropy at approximately $(272^{\circ}, 21^{\circ})$ in galactic coordinates. Through a comparative study of different cosmological models, we find that the data favor a Bianchi-I universe with anisotropic dark energy, where the equation of state deviates from ``-1'' along the axis of anisotropy (the $w_b$CDM model), over both other anisotropic models considered and the standard flat $Λ$CDM or $w$CDM models.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2025

Lorentz Violation with Gravitational Waves: Constraints from NANOGrav and IPTA Data

We explore a theoretical framework in which Lorentz symmetry is explicitly broken by incorporating derivative terms of the extrinsic curvature into the gravitational action. These modifications introduce a scale-dependent damping effect in the propagation of gravitational waves (GWs), governed by a characteristic energy scale denoted as $M_{LV}$ . We derive the modified spectral energy density of GWs within this model and confront it with recent observational data from the NANOGrav 15-year dataset and the second data release of the International Pulsar Timing Array (IPTA). Our analysis yields a lower bound on the Lorentz-violating energy scale, finding $M_{LV} > 10^{-19}$ GeV at 68\% confidence level. This result significantly improves upon previous constraints derived from LIGO/VIRGO binary merger observations. Our findings demonstrate the potential of pulsar timing arrays to probe fundamental symmetries of spacetime and offer new insights into possible extensions of general relativity.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2025

Probing the cold nature of dark matter

A pressureless dark matter component fits well with several cosmological observations. However, there are indications that cold dark matter may encounter challenges in explaining observations at small scales, particularly at galactic scales. Observational data suggest that dark matter models incorporating a pressure component could provide solutions to these small-scale problems. In this work, we investigate the possibility that present-day dark matter may result from a decaying non-cold dark matter sector transitioning into the dark energy sector. As the sensitivity of astronomical surveys rapidly increases, we explore an interacting scenario between dark energy and non-cold dark matter, where dark energy has a constant equation of state ($w_{\rm de}$), and dark matter, being non-cold, also has a constant (non-zero) equation of state ($w_{\rm dm}$). Considering the phantom and quintessence nature of dark energy, characterized by its equation of state, we separately analyze interacting phantom and interacting quintessence scenarios. We constrain these scenarios using Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) measurements and their combination with external probes, such as DESI-BAO and PantheonPlus. From our analyses, we find that a very mild preference for non-cold dark matter cannot be excluded based on the employed datasets. Additionally, for some datasets, there is a pronounced preference for the presence of an interaction at more than 95\% confidence level (CL). Moreover, when the dark energy equation of state lies in the phantom regime, the $S_8$ tension can be alleviated. This study suggests that cosmological models incorporating a non-cold dark matter component should be considered as viable scenarios with novel phenomenological implications, as reflected in the present work.

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arXiv2025

An emulation-based model for the projected correlation function

Data from the ongoing \textit{Euclid} survey will map out billions of galaxies in the Universe, covering more than a third of the sky. This data will provide a wealth of information about the large-scale structure (LSS) of the Universe and will have a significant impact on cosmology in the coming years. In this paper, we introduce an emulator-based halo model approach to forward model the relationship between cosmological parameters and the projected galaxy-galaxy two-point correlation function (2PCF). Utilizing the large \textsc{AbacusSummit} simulation suite, we emulate the 2PCF by generating mock-galaxy catalogues within the Halo Occupation Distribution (HOD) framework. Our emulator is designed to predict the 2PCF over scales $0.1 \leq r / (h^{-1}\text{Mpc}) \leq 105$, from which we derive the projected correlation function, independent of redshift space distortions. We demonstrate that the emulator accurately predicts the projected correlation function over scales $0.5 \leq r_\perp/(h^{-1}\text{Mpc}) \leq 40$, given a set of cosmological and HOD parameters. This model is then employed in a parameter inference analysis, showcasing its ability to constrain cosmological parameters. Our findings indicate that while the projected correlation function places weak constraints on several cosmological parameters due to its intrinsic lack of information, additional clustering statistics are necessary to better probe the underlying cosmology. Despite the simplified covariance matrix used in the likelihood model, the posterior distributions of several cosmological parameters remain broad, underscoring the need for a more comprehensive approach.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2025

Environmental cosmic acceleration from a phase transition in the dark sector

A new degravitation mechanism within the framework of scalar tensor gravity is postulated and included by prescription. The mechanism eliminates all constant contributions from the potential to the Friedmann equation, leaving only the kinematic and the dynamic terms of the potential to drive cosmic acceleration. We explore a scenario involving a density-triggered phase transition in the late-time universe, and argue that the resulting effective energy density and equation of state parameter can explain late-time cosmology when extrapolated to a region of the parameter space.

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arXiv2024

asimulation: Domain formation and impact on observables in resolved cosmological simulations of the (a)symmetron

The symmetron is a dark energy and dark matter candidate that forms topological defects in the late-time universe and holds the promise of resolving some of the cosmological tensions. We performed high-resolution simulations of the dynamical and non-linear (a)symmetron using the recently developed relativistic N-body code asevolution. By extensively testing the temporal and spatial convergence of domain decompositioning and domain wall stability, we determined criteria and physical intuition for the convergence. We applied the resolution criteria to run five high-resolution simulations with 1280^3 grids and a box size of 500 Mpc/h of the (a)symmetron. We considered the behaviour of the scalar field and the domain walls in each scenario. We find the effect on the matter power spectra, the HMFs, and observables computed over the past light cone of an observer, such as the integrated Sachs-Wolfe and non-linear Rees-Sciama effect and the lensing, compared to LCDM. We show local oscillations of the fifth force strength and the formation of planar structures in the density field. The dynamics of the field was visualised in animations with high resolution in time. The simulation code is made publicly available.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2024

Generic Predictions for Primordial Perturbations and their implications

We introduce a novel framework for studying small-scale primordial perturbations and their cosmological implications. The framework uses a deep reinforcement learning to generate scalar power spectrum profiles that are consistent with current observational constraints. The framework is shown to predict the abundance of primordial black holes and the production of secondary induced gravitational waves. We demonstrate that the set up under consideration is capable of generating predictions that are beyond the traditional model-based approaches.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2024

Gravitational wave probes of Barrow cosmology with LISA standard sirens

We study the Barrow cosmological model, which proposes that quantum gravity effects create a complex, fractal structure for the universe's apparent horizon. We leverage the thermodynamics - gravity conjecture. By applying the Clausius relation to the apparent horizon of the Friedmann - Lemaître - Robertson - Walker universe within this framework, we derive modified field equations where the Barrow entropy is linked to the horizon. We assess the Barrow cosmology against current observations - cosmic microwave background , supernovae , and baryon acoustic oscillations data - and include projections for future Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) standard sirens (SS). Our numerical results suggest a modest improvement in the Hubble tension for Barrow cosmology with phantom dark energy behavior, compared to the standard cosmological model. Furthermore, incorporating simulated LISA SS data alongside existing observational constraints tightens the limitations on cosmological parameters, particularly the deformation exponent.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2024

Gravitational wave pulse and memory effects for hairy Kiselev black hole and its analogy with Bondi-Sachs formalism

The investigation of non-vacuum cosmological backgrounds containing black holes is greatly enhanced by the Kiselev solution. This solution plays a crucial role in understanding the properties of the background and its relationship with the features of the black hole. Consequently, the gravitational memory effects at large distances from the black hole offer a valuable means of obtaining information about the surrounding field parameter N and parameters related to the hair of the hairy Kiselev Black hole. This paper investigates the gravitational memory effects in the context of the Kiselev solution through two distinct approaches. At first, the gravitational memory effect at null infinity is explored by utilizing the Bondi-Sachs formalism by introducing a gravitational wave (GW) pulse to the solution. The resulting Bondi mass is then analyzed to gain further insight. Therefore, the Kiselev solution is being examined to determine the variations in Bondi mass caused by the pulse of GWs. The study of changes in Bondi mass is motivated by the fact that it is dynamic and time-dependent, and it measures mass on an asymptotically null slice or the densities of energy on celestial spheres. In the second approach, the investigation of displacement and velocity memory effects is undertaken in relation to the deviation of two neighboring geodesics and the deviation of their derivative influenced by surrounding field parameter N and the hair of hairy Kiselev black hole. This analysis is conducted within the context of a gravitational wave pulse present in the background of a hairy Kiselev black hole surrounded by a field parameter N.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2023

Evidence of dynamical dark energy in a non-flat universe: current and future observations

We investigate the dark energy phenomenology in an extended parameter space where we allow the curvature density of our universe as a free-to-vary parameter. The inclusion of the curvature density parameter is motivated from the recently released observational evidences indicating the closed universe model at many standard deviations. Here we assume that the dark energy equation-of-state follows the PADE approximation, a generalized parametrization that may recover a variety of existing dark energy models. Considering three distinct PADE parametrizations, labeled as PADE-I, SPADE-I and PADE-II, we first constrain the cosmological scenarios driven by them using the joint analyses of a series of recently available cosmological probes, namely, Pantheon sample of Supernovae Type Ia, baryon acoustic oscillations, big bang nucleosynthesis, Hubble parameter measurements from cosmic chronometers, cosmic microwave background distance priors from Planck 2018 and then we include the future Gravitational Waves standard sirens (GWSS) data from the Einstein telescope with the combined analyses of these current cosmological probes. We find that the current cosmological probes indicate a very strong evidence of a dynamical dark energy at more than 99\% CL in both PADE-I, and PADE-II, but no significant evidence for the non-flat universe is found in any of these parametrizations. Interestingly, when the future GWSS data from the Einstein telescope are included with the standard cosmological probes an evidence of a non-flat universe is found in all three parametrizations together with a very strong preference of a dynamical dark energy at more than 99\% CL in both PADE-I, and PADE-II. Although from the information criteria analysis, namely, AIC, BIC, DIC, the non-flat $Λ$-Cold Dark Matter model remains the best choice, however, in the light of DIC, PADE parametrizations are still appealing.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2023

Harvesting energy driven by Comisso-Asenjo process from Kerr-MOG black holes

Magnetic reconnection is a process that plays a critical role in plasma astrophysics by converting magnetic energy into plasma particle energy. Recently, Comisso and Asenjo demonstrated that rapid magnetic reconnection within a black hole's ergosphere can efficiently extract energy from a rotating black hole. In this paper, by considering a Kerr black hole in the MOdified gravity (MOG) framework, we investigate the impact of the MOG parameter $α$ on the rotational energy extraction via the Comisso-Asenjo process (CAP). To model energy extraction from supermassive black holes located in the center of galaxies, we set the value of $α$ within the range inferred from the recent observation of Sgr A* by the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT). Our results indicate that the Kerr-MOG black hole is a more efficient host for CAP-based rotational energy extraction compared to the Kerr black hole, since it amplifies the power of energy extraction and efficiency of the plasma energization process. We show that, from the energy extraction viewpoint, the CAP is more efficient than the Blandford-Znajek process (BZP). The latter is another magnetic field-based energy extraction model which is widely believed to be an engine for powering the high-energy astrophysics jets emerging from the supermassive black holes at active galactic nuclei. In particular, we show that the ratio of the energy extraction power of CAP to BZP in the presence of the MOG parameter is greater than that of the Kerr black hole. Our results promise this phenomenological message that the MOG-induced correction on the Kerr black hole background plays an important role in favor of energy extraction via the CAP.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2023

IWDM: The fate of an interacting non-cold dark matter $-$ vacuum scenario

In most cosmological models, the equation of state of the dark matter is assumed to be zero, which means that the dark matter is pressure-less or cold. While this hypothesis is based on the abundance of cold dark matter in the universe, however, there is no compelling reason to assume that the equation of state of dark matter is exactly zero. A more general approach would be to allow for a range of values for the dark matter equation of state and use the observational data to determine which values are most likely. With the increasing accuracy of experimental data, we have chosen to explore the possibility of interacting non-cold dark matter $-$ vacuum scenario, where the equation of state of the dark matter is constant but can take different values within a specific range. Using the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) anisotropies and the CMB lensing reconstruction from the Planck legacy release, plus other non-CMB measurements, namely, the baryon acoustic oscillations distance measurements, and the Pantheon catalogue from Type Ia Supernovae, we have analyzed this scenario and found that a non-zero value for the dark matter equation of state is preferred with a confidence level of over 68\%. While this is not significant by itself, however, it does suggest that investigating the possibility of non-cold dark matter in the universe is worth exploring further to gain a better understanding of the nature of dark matter.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2023

Astrophysics with the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna

The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) will be a transformative experiment for gravitational wave astronomy, and, as such, it will offer unique opportunities to address many key astrophysical questions in a completely novel way. The synergy with ground-based and space-born instruments in the electromagnetic domain, by enabling multi-messenger observations, will add further to the discovery potential of LISA. The next decade is crucial to prepare the astrophysical community for LISA's first observations. This review outlines the extensive landscape of astrophysical theory, numerical simulations, and astronomical observations that are instrumental for modeling and interpreting the upcoming LISA datastream. To this aim, the current knowledge in three main source classes for LISA is reviewed; ultracompact stellar-mass binaries, massive black hole binaries, and extreme or intermediate mass ratio inspirals. The relevant astrophysical processes and the established modeling techniques are summarized. Likewise, open issues and gaps in our understanding of these sources are highlighted, along with an indication of how LISA could help making progress in the different areas. New research avenues that LISA itself, or its joint exploitation with upcoming studies in the electromagnetic domain, will enable, are also illustrated. Improvements in modeling and analysis approaches, such as the combination of numerical simulations and modern data science techniques, are discussed. This review is intended to be a starting point for using LISA as a new discovery tool for understanding our Universe.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2023

Modified Gravity and Cosmology: An Update by the CANTATA Network

General Relativity and the $Λ$CDM framework are currently the standard lore and constitute the concordance paradigm. Nevertheless, long-standing open theoretical issues, as well as possible new observational ones arising from the explosive development of cosmology the last two decades, offer the motivation and lead a large amount of research to be devoted in constructing various extensions and modifications. All extended theories and scenarios are first examined under the light of theoretical consistency, and then are applied to various geometrical backgrounds, such as the cosmological and the spherical symmetric ones. Their predictions at both the background and perturbation levels, and concerning cosmology at early, intermediate and late times, are then confronted with the huge amount of observational data that astrophysics and cosmology are able to offer recently. Theories, scenarios and models that successfully and efficiently pass the above steps are classified as viable and are candidates for the description of Nature. This work is a Review of the recent developments in the fields of gravity and cosmology, presenting the state of the art, high-lighting the open problems, and outlining the directions of future research. Its realization was performed in the framework of the COST European Action ``Cosmology and Astrophysics Network for Theoretical Advances and Training Actions''.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2023

asevolution: a relativistic N-body implementation of the (a)symmetron

We present asevolution, a cosmological N-body code developed based on gevolution, which consistently solves for the (a)symmetron scalar field and metric potentials within the weak-field approximation. In asevolution, the scalar field is dynamic and can form non-linear structures. A cubic term is added in the symmetron potential to make the symmetry-broken vacuum expectation values different, which is motivated by observational tensions in the late-time universe. To study the effects of the scalar field dynamics, we also implement a constraint solver making use of the quasi-static approximation, and provide options for evaluating the background evolution, including using the full energy density averaged over the simulation box within the Friedmann equation. The asevolution code is validated by comparison with the Newtonian N-body code ISIS that makes use of the quasi-static approximation. There is found a very small effect of including relativistic and weak-field corrections in our small test simulations; it is seen that for small masses, the field is dynamic and can not be accurately solved for using the quasi-static approximation; and we observe the formation of unstable domain walls and demonstrate a useful way to identify them within the code. A first consideration indicates that the domain walls are more unstable in the asymmetron scenario.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2023

Prospects of Probing Dark Matter Condensates with Gravitational Waves

The Lambda-Cold Dark Matter model explains cosmological observations most accurately till date. However, it is still plagued with various shortcomings at galactic scales. Models of dark matter such as superfluid dark matter, Bose-Einstein Condensate(BEC) dark matter and fuzzy dark matter have been proposed to overcome some of these drawbacks. In this work, we probe these models using the current constraint on the gravitational wave (GW) propagation speed coming from the binary neutron star GW170817 detection by LIGO-Virgo detector network and use it to study the allowed parameter space for these three models for Advanced LIGO+Virgo, LISA, IPTA and SKA detection frequencies. The speed of GW has been shown to depend upon the refractive index of the medium, which in turn, depends on the dark matter model parameters through the density profile of the galactic halo. We constrain the parameter space for these models using the bounds coming from GW speed measurement and the Milky Way radius bound. Our findings suggest that with Advanced LIGO-Virgo detector sensitivity, the three models considered here remain unconstrained. A meaningful constraint can only be obtained for detection frequencies $\leq 10^{-9}$ Hz, which falls in the detection range of radio telescopes such as IPTA and SKA. Considering this best possible case, we find that out of the three condensate models, the fuzzy dark matter model is the most feasible scenario to be falsified/ validated in near future.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2022

No slip gravity in light of LISA standard sirens

Standard sirens (SS) are the gravitational wave analog of the astronomical standard candles, and can provide powerful information about the dynamics of the Universe up to very high $z$ values. In this work, we generate three mock SS catalogs based on the merger of massive black hole binaries which are expected to be observed in the LISA operating frequency band. Then, we perform an analysis to test modifications of general relativity (GR) inspired by the No Slip gravity framework. We find that in the best scenarios, we can constrain the free parameters which quantify deviations from GR to 21\% accuracy, while the Hubble parameter can be simultaneously fit to 6\% accuracy. In combination with CMB information, we find a 15\% accuracy on the modified gravity free parameters and 0.7\% accuracy on the Hubble parameter. The SS events at very large cosmological distances to be observed in LISA band will provide a unique way to test nature of gravity, but in the context of the analysis performed here, it will not be possible to distinguish the No Slip gravity from GR.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2022

Cosmological direct detection of dark energy: non-linear structure formation signatures of dark energy scattering with visible matter

We consider the recently proposed possibility that dark energy (DE) and baryons may scatter through a pure momentum exchange process, leaving the background evolution unaffected. Earlier work has shown that, even for barn-scale cross-sections, the imprints of this scattering process on linear cosmological observables is too tiny to be observed. We therefore turn our attention to non-linear scales, and for the first time investigate the signatures of DE-baryon scattering on the non-linear formation of cosmic structures, by running a suite of large N-body simulations. The observables we extract include the non-linear matter power spectrum, halo mass function, and density and baryon fraction profiles of halos. We find that in the non-linear regime the signatures of DE-baryon scattering are significantly larger than their linear counterparts, due to the important role of angular momentum in collapsing structures, and potentially observable. The most promising observables in this sense are the baryon density and baryon fraction profiles of halos, which can potentially be constrained by a combination of kinetic Sunyaev-Zeldovich (SZ), thermal SZ, and weak lensing measurements. Overall, our results indicate that future prospects for cosmological and astrophysical direct detection of non-gravitational signatures of dark energy are extremely bright.

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