arXiv subjects

E. Babichev

Publications and source records attributed to E. Babichev.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Caustic formation in DBI models: Wave propagation on planar domain walls

We investigate propagation of generic waves on thin planar domain walls effectively described by the scalar Dirac-Born-Infeld model (DBI). We pay a particular attention to the possibility of caustic formation - the process, which may lead to intensive particle emission by domain walls. It is demonstrated that no singularities arise in DBI in 2D flat spacetime in the hyperbolic case, if one starts from smooth initial conditions. Technically, this happens because the same family characteristics of the relevant partial differential equation remain parallel at all the times, albeit not being straight lines generically. Crucially, characteristic curves cease to be parallel beyond the simplified setup of DBI in 2D flat spacetime. In particular, this is shown to be the case in $D>2$ for spherical waves, in an expanding Universe, and in the case of a minimal deformation of DBI necessary for avoiding the domain wall problem in cosmology. However, we prove that DBI remains caustic free in the hyperbolic case in all these physically relevant situations. This strongly suggests that caustics can form on planar domain walls only due to the loss of hyperbolicity, and they have a cusp profile. We demonstrate, how the non-trivial structure of DBI characteristics beyond the 2D flat spacetime setup uncovered in this work can significantly affect cusp formation.

hep-th↗

arXiv2025

Cosmic domain walls on a lattice: illusive effects of initial conditions

Evolution of cosmic domain walls (DWs) settles to the scaling solution, which is often assumed to be independent of initial conditions. However, lattice simulations performed in this work reveal a clear dependence of the scaling DW area on the initial configuration of the sourcing scalar field, specifically, its infrared (IR) properties. Namely, the DW area grows as one suppresses IR modes in the initial scalar field spectrum. This growth is saturated, when the area parameter $ξ$ commonly used in the literature reaches the value $ξ_{max} \approx 1.2$. The dependence of $ξ$ on IR modes is argued to be of non-physical origin: it is likely to be due to effects of the lattice boundary. Assuming that physically the memory of initial conditions is erased, one recognizes $ξ\approx 1.2$ obtained in the situation with maximally suppressed IR modes as a genuine universal value of the area parameter in the scaling regime. We demonstrate that ignorance about initial conditions may affect predictions for the energy density of gravitational waves by the factor five. The spectral shape of gravitational waves is also affected by the choice of initial conditions, most notably in the low-frequency part. Likewise, we revisit annihilation of DWs under the influence of a potential bias. It has been previously found in Ref. [19] that the annihilation happens significantly earlier compared to the estimate based on the simple balance between the potential bias and surface energy density. We further support this observation and show that the tendency towards an earlier annihilation gets even stronger upon removing IR modes in simulations.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2025

Biased domain walls: faster annihilation, weaker gravitational waves

We study the evolution of domain wall networks and their phenomenological implications in a model of a real scalar $χ$, where a $Z_2$-symmetry is slightly broken by a potential bias $V_{bias}$. It is demonstrated that the latter triggers domain wall annihilation considerably earlier than previously thought. Namely, we observe that the scaling relation $t_{ann} \propto 1/V^{2/3}_{bias}$ for the annihilation time $t_{ann}$ fits to the simulation data better than a commonly assumed $t_{ann} \propto 1/V_{bias}$. As a result, the energy density of gravitational waves produced by the network of biased domain walls, for a given tiny $V_{bias}$, is suppressed compared to naive expectations. The spectral shape of gravitational waves is similar to that resulting from unbiased domain walls, but with more power in the close-to-maximum ultraviolet part. In the far ultraviolet region, the spectrum of gravitational waves becomes nearly flat; such a plateau has been recognised earlier in the case of unbiased walls. In our investigation we mainly focus on the symmetry breaking potential $V_{breaking} \propto χ^3$, and argue that no significant modifications of the domain walls evolution take place if one includes higher powers of $χ$.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2025

Numerical analysis of melting domain walls and their gravitational waves

We study domain walls (DWs) arising in field theories where $Z_2$-symmetry is spontaneously broken by a scalar expectation value decreasing proportionally to the Universe temperature. The energy density of such melting DWs redshifts sufficiently fast not to overclose the Universe. For the first time, evolution of melting DWs and the resulting gravitational waves (GWs) is investigated numerically using lattice simulations. We show that formation of closed melting DWs during radiation domination is much more efficient compared to the scenario with constant tension DWs. This suggests that it can be the main mechanism responsible for reaching the scaling regime similarly to the case of cosmic strings. However, the scaling behaviour of melting DWs is observed, provided only that the initial scalar field fluctuations are not very large. Otherwise, simulations reveal violation of the scaling law, potentially of the non-physical origin. The spectrum of GWs emitted by melting DWs is also significantly different from that of constant tension DWs. Whether the system has reached scaling or not, the numerical study reveals a GW spectrum described in the infrared by the spectral index $n \approx 1.6$ followed by the causality tail. We attribute the difference from the value $n=2$ predicted in our previous studies to a finite lifetime of the DW network. Notably, the updated index is still in excellent agreement with the recent findings by pulsar timing arrays, which confirms that melting DWs can be responsible for the observed (GW) signal. We also point out that results for evolution of melting DWs in the radiation-dominated Universe are applicable to constant tension DW evolution in the flat spacetime.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2024

Revisiting evolution of domain walls and their gravitational radiation with CosmoLattice

Employing the publicly available CosmoLattice code, we conduct numerical simulations of a domain wall network and the resulting gravitational waves (GWs) in a radiation-dominated Universe in the $Z_2$-symmetric scalar field model. In particular, the domain wall evolution is investigated in detail both before and after reaching the scaling regime, using the combination of numerical and theoretical methods. We demonstrate that the total area of closed walls is negligible compared to that of a single long wall stretching throughout the simulation box. Therefore, the closed walls are unlikely to have a significant impact on the overall network evolution. This is in contrast with the case of cosmic strings, where formation of loops is crucial for maintaining the system in the scaling regime. To obtain the GW spectrum, we develop a technique that separates physical effects from numerical artefacts arising due to finite box size and non-zero lattice spacing. Our results on the GW spectrum agree well with Refs. [29, 30], which use different codes. Notably, we observe a peak at the Hubble scale, an exponential falloff at scales shorter than the wall width, and a plateau/bump at intermediate scales. We also study sensitivity of obtained results on the choice of initial conditions. We find that different types of initial conditions lead to qualitatively similar domain wall evolution in the scaling regime, but with important variations translating into different intensities of GWs.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2023

NANOGrav spectral index $γ=3$ from melting domain walls

We discuss cosmic domain walls described by a tension red-shifting with the expansion of the Universe. These melting domain walls emit gravitational waves with the low-frequency spectral shape $Ω_{gw}\propto f^{2}$ corresponding to the spectral index $γ=3$ favoured by the recent NANOGrav 15 yrs data. We discuss a concrete high-energy physics scenario leading to such a melting domain wall network in the early Universe. This scenario involves a feebly coupled scalar field, which can serve as a promising dark matter candidate. We identify parameters of the model matching the gravitational wave characteristics observed in the NANOGrav data. The dark matter mass is pushed to the ultra-light range below $10^{-11}-10^{-12}\,\text{eV}$ which is accessible through planned observations thanks to the effects of superradiance of rotating black holes.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2022

Gravitational shine of dark domain walls

Cosmic domain walls are harmless, provided that their tension decreases with expansion of the Universe. This setup can be realized, if the scale of spontaneous symmetry breaking is induced dynamically through the interaction with hot primordial plasma. In that case, the domain wall tension can attain large values in the early Universe without any conflict with observations. Owing to the large initial tension, these topological defects may serve as a powerful source of gravitational waves. We make a preliminary estimate of the gravitational wave spectrum and argue that it is distinct from the spectrum produced by other sources, in particular by domain walls of a constant tension. The resulting gravitational wave signal is in the range accessible by Einstein Telescope, DECIGO, TianQin, LISA, IPTA, or SKA, if the field constituting the domain walls is very feebly coupled with hot primordial plasma and has tiny self-interactions. In particular, one can consider this field for the role of Dark Matter. We discuss various Dark Matter production mechanisms and properties of the emitted gravitational waves associated with them. We find that the conventional freeze-out and freeze-in mechanisms lead to large and perhaps unobservable frequency of gravitational waves. However, the Dark Matter production is also possible at the second order phase transition leading to the domain wall formation or at the inverse phase transition, when the domain walls get dissolved eventually. In both cases, there is essentially no lower bound on the frequency of emitted gravitational waves.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2022

Beyond freeze-in: Dark Matter via inverse phase transition and gravitational wave signal

We propose a novel scenario of Dark Matter production naturally connected with generation of gravitational waves. Dark Matter is modelled as a real scalar, which interacts with the hot primordial plasma through a portal coupling to another scalar field. For a particular sign of the coupling, this system exhibits an inverse second order phase transition. The latter leads to an abundant Dark Matter production, even if the portal interaction is so weak that the freeze-in mechanism is inefficient. The model predicts domain wall formation in the Universe, long time before the inverse phase transition. These domain walls have a tension decreasing with time, and completely disappear at the inverse phase transition, so that the problem of overclosing the Universe is avoided. The domain wall network emits gravitational waves with characteristics defined by those of Dark Matter. In particular, the peak frequency of gravitational waves is determined by the portal coupling constant, and falls in the observable range for currently planned gravitational wave detectors.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2020

Gravitational reheating and superheavy Dark Matter creation after inflation with non-minimal coupling

We discuss the gravitational creation of superheavy particles $χ$ in an inflationary scenario with a quartic potential and a non-minimal coupling between the inflaton $φ$ and the Ricci curvature: $ξφ^2 R/2$. We show that for large constants $ξ>> 1$, there can be abundant production of particles $χ$ with masses largely exceeding the inflationary Hubble rate $H_{infl}$, up to $(a~few) \times ξH_{infl}$, even if they are conformally coupled to gravity. We discuss two scenarios involving these gravitationally produced particles $χ$. In the first scenario, the inflaton has only gravitational interactions with the matter sector and the particles $χ$ reheat the Universe. In this picture, the inflaton decays only due to the cosmic expansion, and effectively contributes to dark radiation, which can be of the observable size. The existing limits on dark radiation lead to an upper bound on the reheating temperature. In the second scenario, the particles $χ$ constitute Dark Matter, if substantially stable. In this case, their typical masses should be in the ballpark of the Grand Unification scale.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2017

Constraining the $Λ$CDM and Galileon models with recent cosmological data

The Galileon theory belongs to the class of modified gravity models that can explain the late-time accelerated expansion of the Universe. In previous works, cosmological constraints on the Galileon model were derived, both in the uncoupled case and with a disformal coupling of the Galileon field to matter. There, we showed that these models agree with the most recent cosmological data. In this work, we used updated cosmological data sets to derive new constraints on Galileon models, including the case of a constant conformal Galileon coupling to matter. We also explored the tracker solution of the uncoupled Galileon model. After updating our data sets, especially with the latest \textit{Planck} data and BAO measurements, we fitted the cosmological parameters of the $Λ$CDM and Galileon models. The same analysis framework as in our previous papers was used to derive cosmological constraints, using precise measurements of cosmological distances and of the cosmic structure growth rate. We showed that all tested Galileon models are as compatible with cosmological data as the $Λ$CDM model. This means that present cosmological data are not accurate enough to distinguish clearly between both theories. Among the different Galileon models, we found that a conformal coupling is not favoured, contrary to the disformal coupling which is preferred at the $2.3σ$ level over the uncoupled case. The tracker solution of the uncoupled Galileon model is also highly disfavoured due to large tensions with supernovae and \textit{Planck}+BAO data. However, outside of the tracker solution, the general uncoupled Galileon model, as well as the general disformally coupled Galileon model, remain the most promising Galileon scenarios to confront with future cosmological data. Finally, we also discuss constraints coming from Lunar Laser Ranging experiment and gravitational wave speed of propagation.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2015

Beyond Fab Four

We show that the two additional Lagrangians that appear in theories beyond Horndeski can be reexpressed in terms of simple generalizations of the "John" and "Paul" terms of the Fab Four theories. We find that these extended Fab Four satisfy the same properties of self-tuning as the original Fab Four.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2014

First experimental constraints on the disformally coupled Galileon model

The Galileon model is a modified gravity model that can explain the late-time accelerated expansion of the Universe. In a previous work, we derived experimental constraints on the Galileon model with no explicit coupling to matter and showed that this model agrees with the most recent cosmological data. In the context of braneworld constructions or massive gravity, the Galileon model exhibits a disformal coupling to matter, which we study in this paper. After comparing our constraints on the uncoupled model with recent studies, we extend the analysis framework to the disformally coupled Galileon model and derive the first experimental constraints on that coupling, using precise measurements of cosmological distances and the growth rate of cosmic structures. In the uncoupled case, with updated data, we still observe a low tension between the constraints set by growth data and those from distances. In the disformally coupled Galileon model, we obtain better agreement with data and favour a non-zero disformal coupling to matter at the $2.5σ$ level. This gives an interesting hint of the possible braneworld origin of Galileon theory.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2013

Experimental constraints on the uncoupled Galileon model from SNLS3 data and other cosmological probes

The Galileon model is a modified gravity theory that may provide an explanation for the accelerated expansion of the Universe. This model does not suffer from instabilities or ghost problems (normally associated with higher-order derivative theories), restores local General Relativity -- thanks to the Vainshtein screening effect -- and predicts late time acceleration of the expansion. In this paper, we derive a new definition of the Galileon parameters that allows us to avoid having to choose initial conditions for the Galileon field, and then test this model against precise measurements of the cosmological distances and the rate of growth of cosmic structures. We observe a small tension between the constraints set by growth data and those from distances. However, we find that the Galileon model remains consistent with current observations and is still competitive with the ΛCDM model, contrary to what was concluded in recent publications.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2012

Backreaction of accreting matter onto a black hole in the Eddington-Finkelstein coordinates

We study backreaction of accreting matter onto a spherically symmetric black hole in a perturbative way, when accretion is in a quasi-steady state. General expressions for corrections to the metric coefficients are found in the Eddington-Finkelstein coordinates. It is shown that near the horizon of a black hole, independently of the form of the energy-momentum tensor, the leading corrections to the metric are of the Vaidya form. The relation to other solutions is discussed and particular examples are presented.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2011

Galileon accretion

We study steady-state spherically symmetric accretion of a galileon field onto a Schwarzschild black hole in the test fluid approximation. The galileon is assumed to undergo a stage of cosmological evolution, thus setting a non-trivial boundary condition at spatial infinity. The critical flow is found for some parameters of the theory. There is a range of parameters when the critical flow exists, but the solution is unstable. It is also shown that for a certain range of parameters the critical flow solution does not exist. Depending on the model the sound horizon of the flow can be either outside or inside of the Schwarzschild horizon. The latter property may make it problematic to embed the galileon theory in the standard black hole thermodynamics.

hep-th↗

arXiv2010

Relativistic stars in f(R) and scalar-tensor theories

We study relativistic stars in the context of scalar tensor theories of gravity that try to account for the observed cosmic acceleration and satisfy the local gravity constraints via the chameleon mechanism. More specifically, we consider two types of models: scalar tensor theories with an inverse power law potential and f(R) theories. Using a relaxation algorithm, we construct numerically static relativistic stars, both for constant energy density configurations and for a polytropic equation of state. We can reach a gravitational potential up to $Φ\sim 0.3$ at the surface of the star, even in f(R) theories with an "unprotected" curvature singularity. However, we find static configurations only if the pressure does not exceed one third of the energy density, except possibly in a limited region of the star (otherwise, one expects tachyonic instabilities to develop). This constraint is satisfied by realistic equations of state for neutron stars.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2010

The recovery of General Relativity in massive gravity via the Vainshtein mechanism

We study in detail static spherically symmetric solutions of non linear Pauli-Fierz theory. We obtain a numerical solution with a constant density source. This solution shows a recovery of the corresponding solution of General Relativity via the Vainshtein mechanism. This result has already been presented by us in a recent letter, and we give here more detailed information on it as well as on the procedure used to obtain it. We give new analytic insights upon this problem, in particular for what concerns the question of the number of solutions at infinity. We also present a weak field limit which allows to capture all the salient features of the numerical solution, including the Vainshtein crossover and the Yukawa decay.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2010

Relativistic stars in f(R) gravity

We study the strong gravity regime in viable models of so-called f(R) gravity that account for the observed cosmic acceleration. In contrast with recent works suggesting that very relativistic stars might not exist in these models, we find numerical solutions corresponding to static star configurations with a strong gravitational field. The choice of the equation of state for the star is crucial for the existence of solutions. Indeed, if the pressure exceeds one third of the energy density in a large part of the star, static configurations do not exist. In our analysis, we use a polytropic equation of state, which is not plagued with this problem and, moreover, provides a better approximation for a realistic neutron star.

gr-qc↗