arXiv subjects

F. Finelli

Publications and source records attributed to F. Finelli.

At least 379 records · Page 21Linked to original sources

arXiv2006

Method of comparison equations for cosmological perturbations

We apply the method of comparison equations to study cosmological perturbations during inflation, obtaining the full power spectra of scalar and tensor perturbations to first and to second order in the slow-roll parameters. We compare our results with those derived by means of other methods, in particular the Green's function method and the improved WKB approximation, and find agreement for the slow-roll structure. The method of comparison equations, just as the improved WKB approximation, can however be applied to more general situations where the slow-roll approximation fails.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2006

Analytic Results for a Flat Universe Dominated by Dust and Dark Energy

We find the solution for the scale factor in a flat Universe driven by dust plus a component characterized by a constant parameter of state which dominates in the asymptotic future. We also present an analytic formula (in terms of hypergeometric functions) for the past light cone in such a universe. As applications of this result, we give analytic expressions for the Luminosity Distance and for the Acoustic Scale, where the latter determines the peaks positions in the pattern of CMB anisotropies.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2005

Improved WKB analysis of Slow-Roll Inflation

We extend the WKB method for the computation of cosmological perturbations during inflation beyond leading order and provide the power spectra of scalar and tensor perturbations to second order in the slow-roll parameters. Our method does not require that the slow-roll parameters be constant. Although leading and next-to-leading results in the slow-roll parameters depend on the approximation technique used in the computation, we find that the inflationary theoretical predictions obtained may reach the accuracy required by planned observations. In two technical appendices, we compare our techniques and results with previous findings.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2005

Higher Order Slow-Roll Predictions for Inflation

We study the WKB approximation beyond leading order for cosmological perturbations during inflation. To first order in the slow-roll parameters, we show that an improved WKB approximation leads to analytical results agreeing to within 0.1% with the standard slow-roll results. Moreover, the leading WKB approximation to second order in the slow-roll parameters leads to analytical predictions in qualitative agreement with those obtained by the Green's function method.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2005

Adiabatic regularization of the graviton stress-energy tensor in de Sitter space-time

We study the renormalized energy-momentum tensor of gravitons in a de Sitter space-time. After canonically quantizing only the physical degrees of freedom, we adopt the standard adiabatic subtraction used for massless minimally coupled scalar fields as a regularization procedure and find that the energy density of gravitons in the E(3) invariant vacuum is proportional to H^4, where H is the Hubble parameter, but with a positive sign. According to this result the scalar expansion rate, which is gauge invariant in de Sitter space-time, is increased by the fluctuations. This implies that gravitons may then add to conformally coupled matter in driving the Starobinsky model of inflation.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2004

The Planck Low Frequency Instrument

Planck is the third generation of mm-wave instruments designed for space observations of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropies within the new Cosmic Vision 2020 ESA Science Program. Planck will map the whole sky with unprecedented sensitivity, angular resolution, and frequency coverage, and it likely leads us to the final comprehension of the CMB anisotropies. The Low Frequency Instrument (LFI), operating in the 30-70 GHz range, is one of the two instruments onboard Planck satellite, sharing the focal region of a 1.5 meter off-axis dual reflector telescope together with the High Frequency Instrument (HFI) operating at 100-857 GHz. We present LFI and discuss the major instrumental systematic effects that could degrade the measurements and the solutions adopted in the design and data analysis phase in order to adequately reduce and control them.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2004

Cosmological reionization after WMAP: perspectives from PLANCK and future CMB missions

The WMAP first year detection of a high redshift reionization through its imprints on CMB anisotropy T and TE mode angular power spectra calls for a better comprehension of the universe ionization and thermal history after the standard recombination. Different reionization mechanisms predict different signatures in the CMB, both in temperature and polarization anisotropies and in spectral distortions. The Planck capability to distinguish among different scenarios through its sensitivity to T, TE, and E mode angular power spectra is discussed. Perspectives open by future high sensitivity experiments on the CMB polarization anisotropy and spectrum are also presented.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2004

Energy-Momentum Tensor of Cosmological Fluctuations during Inflation

We study the renormalized energy-momentum tensor (EMT) of cosmological scalar fluctuations during the slow-rollover regime for chaotic inflation with a quadratic potential and find that it is characterized by a negative energy density which grows during slow-rollover. We also approach the back-reaction problem as a second-order calculation in perturbation theory finding no evidence that the back-reaction of cosmological fluctuations is a gauge artifact. In agreement with the results on the EMT, the average expansion rate is decreased by the back-reaction of cosmological fluctuations.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2003

WMAP and the Generalized Chaplygin Gas

We compare the WMAP temperature power spectrum and SNIa data to models with a generalized Chaplygin gas as dark energy. The generalized Chaplygin gas is a component with an exotic equation of state, p_X=-A/ρ^α_X (a polytropic gas with negative constant and exponent). Our main result is that, restricting to a flat universe and to adiabatic pressure perturbations for the generalized Chaplygin gas, the constraints at 95% CL to the present equation of state w_X = p_X / ρ_X and to the parameter αare -1\leq w_X < -0.8, 0 \leq α<0.2, respectively. Moreover, we show that a Chaplygin gas (α=1) as a candidate for dark energy is ruled out by our analysis at more than the 99.99% CL. A generalized Chaplygin gas as a unified dark matter candidate (Ω_{CDM}=0) appears much less likely than as a dark energy model, although its χ^2 is only two sigma away from the expected value.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2001

Energy-Momentum Tensor of Field Fluctuations in Massive Chaotic Inflation

We study the renormalized energy-momentum tensor (EMT) of the inflaton fluctuations in rigid space-times during the slow-rollover regime for chaotic inflation with a mass term. We use dimensional regularization with adiabatic subtraction and introduce a novel analytic approximation for the inflaton fluctuations which is valid during the slow-rollover regime. Using this approximation we find a scale invariant spectrum for the inflaton fluctuations in a rigid space-time, and we confirm this result by numerical methods. The resulting renormalized EMT is covariantly conserved and agrees with the Allen-Folacci result in the de Sitter limit, when the expansion is exactly linearly exponential in time. We analytically show that the EMT tensor of the inflaton fluctuations grows initially in time, but saturates to the value H^2 H(0)^2, where H is the Hubble parameter and H(0) is its value when inflation has started. This result also implies that the quantum production of light scalar fields (with mass smaller or equal to the inflaton mass) in this model of chaotic inflation depends on the duration of inflation and is larger than the usual result extrapolated from the de Sitter result.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2001

On the Spectrum of Fluctuations in an Effective Field Theory of the Ekpyrotic Universe

We consider the four-dimensional effective field theory which has been used in previous studies of perturbations in the Ekpyrotic Universe, and discuss the spectrum of cosmological fluctuations induced on large scales by quantum fluctuations of the bulk brane. By matching cosmological fluctuations on a constant energy density hypersurface we show that the growing mode during the very slow collapsing pre-impact phase couples only to the decaying mode in the expanding post-impact phase, and that hence no scale-invariant spectrum of adiabatic fluctuations is generated. Note that our conclusions may not apply to improved toy models for the Ekpyrotic scenario.

hep-th↗

arXiv2001

Metric perturbations at reheating: the use of spherical symmetry

We consider decay of the inflaton with a quartic potential coupled to other fields, including gravity, but restricted to spherical symmetry. We describe analytically an early, quasilinear regime, during which inflaton fluctuations and the metric functions are driven by nonlinear effects of the decay products. We present a detailed study of the leading nonlinear effects in this regime. Results of the quasilinear approximation, in its domain of applicability, are found to be consistent with those of fully nonlinear lattice studies. We discuss how these results may be promoted to the full three dimensions.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2001

Large metric perturbations from rescattering

We study numerically evolution of metric perturbations during reheating in a model with two fields and a strong parametric resonance. Our calculation is fully nonlinear and includes gravity but is restricted to spherical symmetry. In this model, super-Hubble metric perturbations can grow during reheating only due to effects nonlinear in fluctuations of the fields. We find that they indeed grow and, soon after the growth begins, dominate variances of the metric functions. Thus, the metric functions become smooth but varying significantly over large scales. Their profiles at late times are interpreted as signalling a gravitational instability and formation of a black hole.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2001

Resonant Amplification of Gauge Fields in Expanding Universe

We investigate the possibility that gauge fluctuations are amplified in an expanding universe by parametric resonance, during the oscillatory regime of a scalar field to which they are coupled. We investigate the couplings of gauge fields to a charged scalar field and to an axion. For both couplings, gauge field fluctuations undergo exponential instabilities. We discuss how the presence of other charges or currents may counteract the resonance, but we argue that in some cases the resonance will persist and that hence this mechanism could have some relevance for the problem of large scale primordial magnetic fields.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2001

Attractors and Isocurvature Perturbations in Quintessence Models

We investigate the evolution of cosmological perturbations in scenarios with a quintessence scalar field, both analytically and numerically. In the tracking regime for quintessence, we find the long wavelength solutions for quintessential perturbations. We discuss the possibility of isocurvature modes generated by the quintessence sector and their impact on observations.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2000

On the detection of neutrino oscillations with Planck surveyor

The imprint of neutrino oscillations on the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) anisotropy and polarization power spectra is evaluated in a $Λ$CHDM model with two active neutrino flavors, consistent with the structure formation models and the atmospheric neutrino oscillations data. We show the existence of a significant overlap between the region of the oscillation parameter space that can be measured by sc Planck surveyor and that implied by the atmospheric neutrino oscillations data.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2000

Cosmological magnetic fields by parametric resonance?

We investigate the possibility that electromagnetic fluctuations are amplified in expanding universe by parametric resonance, during the oscillatory regime of a scalar field to which they are coupled. We consider scalar electrodynamics and we find that electromagnetic fluctuations undergo exponential instabilities. This mechanism could have some relevance for the problem of large scale primordial magnetic fields.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2000

Parametric Amplification of Metric Fluctuations During Reheating in Two Field Models

We study the parametric amplification of super-Hubble-scale scalar metric fluctuations at the end of inflation in some specific two-field models of inflation, a class of which is motivated by hybrid inflation. We demonstrate that there can indeed be a large growth of fluctuations due to parametric resonance and that this effect is not taken into account by the conventional theory of isocurvature perturbations. Scalar field interactions play a crucial role in this analysis. We discuss the conditions under which there can be nontrivial parametric resonance effects on large scales.

hep-ph↗