arXiv subjects
Publications and source records attributed to G. Lambiase.
To explain the high-energy astrophysical neutrino flux with energies $\sim PeV$ recently observed by IceCube collaboration and the relic abundance of DM in the Universe, we consider the minimal 4-dimensional operator $\sim y_{αχ}\overline{L_{L_α}}\, H\, χ$. The cosmological background is assumed to evolve according to $f({\cal T})$ cosmology, where ${\cal T}$ is the scalar torsion.
We analyze axion--photon mixing in the framework of quantum field theory. The condensate structure of the vacuum for mixed fields induces corrections to the oscillation formulae and leads to non-zero energy of the vacuum for the component of the photon mixed with the axion. This energy generates a new effect of the vacuum polarization and it has the state equation of the cosmological constant, $w = -1$. This result holds for any homogeneous and isotropic curved space-time, as well as for diagonal metrics. Numerical estimates of the corrections to the oscillation formulae are presented by considering the intensity of the magnetic field available in the laboratory. Moreover, we estimate the vacuum energy density induced by axion--photon mixing in the Minkowski space-time. A value compatible with that of the energy density of the universe can be obtained for axions with a mass of $(10^{-3}-10^{-2}) eV$ in the presence of the strong magnetic fields that characterize astrophysical objects such as pulsars or neutron stars. In addition, a value of the energy density less than that of the Casimir effect is obtained for magnetic fields used in experiments such as PVLAS. The vacuum polarization induced by this energy could be detected in next experiments and it might provide an indirect proof of the existence of the axion--photon mixing. The quantum field theory effects presented in this work may lead to new methods for studying axion-like particles.
We analyze many aspects of the phenomenon of the decoherence for neutrinos propagating in long baseline experiments. We show that, in the presence of an off-diagonal term in the dissipative matrix, the Majorana neutrino can violate the CP T symmetry, which, on the contrary, is preserved for Dirac neutrinos. We show that oscillation formulas for Majorana neutrinos depend on the choice of the mixing matrix U. Indeed, different choices of U lead to different oscillation formulas. Moreover, we study the possibility to reveal the differences between Dirac and Majorana neutrinos in the oscillations. We use the present values of the experimental parameters in order to relate our theoretical proposal with experiments.
We review recent developments on the role of neutrino mixing in the inverse beta decay of accelerated protons. We show that calculations in the inertial and comoving frames agree (thus preserving General Covariance) only when taking neutrino asymptotic states to be flavor (rather than mass) eigenstates. Our conclusions are valid in the approximation in which Pontecorvo states are correctly representing neutrino flavor states. We speculate about the general case involving exact flavor states and finally comment on other approaches recently appeared in literature.
The discovery by the IceCube experiment of a high-energy astrophysical neutrino flux with energies of the order of PeV, has opened new scenarios in astroparticles physics. A possibility to explain this phenomenon is to consider the minimal models of Dark Matter (DM) decay, the 4-dimensional operator $\sim y_{αχ}\overline{L_{L_α}}\, H\, χ$, which is also able to generate the correct abundance of DM in the Universe. Assuming that the cosmological background evolves according to the standard cosmological model, it follows that the rate of DM decay $Γ_χ\sim |y_{αχ}|^2$ needed to get the correct DM relic abundance ($Γ_χ\sim 10^{-58}$) differs by many orders of magnitude with respect that one needed to explain the IceCube data ($Γ_χ\sim 10^{-25}$), making the four-dimensional operator unsuitable. In this paper we show that assuming that the early Universe evolution is governed by a modified cosmology, the discrepancy between the two the DM decay rates can be reconciled, and both the IceCube neutrino rate and relic density can be explained in a minimal model.
The gravitino problem is revisited in the framework of cosmological models in which the primordial cosmic matter is described by a relativistic imperfect fluid. Dissipative effects (or bulk viscosity effects) arise owing to the different cooling rates of the fluid components. We show that the effects of the bulk viscosity allow to avoid the late abundance of gravitinos. In particular, we found that for a particular choice of the parameters characterizing the cosmological model, the gravitino abundance turns out to be independent on the reheating temperature.
We use BBN observational data on primordial abundance of ${}^4He$ to constrain f(T) gravity. The three most studied viable $f(T)$ models, namely the power law, the exponential and the square-root exponential are considered, and the BBN bounds are adopted in order to extract constraints on their free parameters. For the power-law model, we find that the constraints are in agreement with those acquired using late-time cosmological data. For the exponential and the square-root exponential models, we show that for realiable regions of parameters space they always satisfy the BBN bounds. We conclude that viable f(T) models can successfully satisfy the BBN constraints.
We study the Casimir vacuum energy density and the Casimir pressure for a massless scalar field confined between two nearby parallel plates in a slightly curved, static spacetime background, employing the weak field approximation in the framework of Extended Theories of Gravity (ETG). Following a perturbative approach upto second order, we find the gravity correction in the ETG to Casimir vacuum energy density and pressure. The corrections to the vacuum energy density in presence of curved spacetime in the framework of General Relativity (GR) are small and today they are still undetected with the current technology. However, future sensitivity improvement in gravitational interferometer experiments will give an useful tool to detect such effect induced by gravity. For these reason we retain interesting from a theoretical point of view generalize the outcomes of GR in the context of ETG. Finally, we find the general relation to constraining the free parameters of the ETG.
We find that a geometric phase characterizes the phenomenon of mixing of photons with axion-like particles (ALPs). The laboratory observation of such a phase may provide a novel tool able to detect such a mixing phenomenon. We show that the geometric phase is dependent on the axion-like particle mass and coupling constant. We discuss an interferometric experiment able to detect the geometric phase associated to the ALPs-photon mixing.
By considering $f(R)$ gravity models, the cosmic evolution is modified with respect to the standard $Λ$CDM scenario. In particular, the thermal history of particles results modified. In this paper, we derive the evolution of relics particles (WIMPs) assuming a reliable $f(R)$ cosmological solution and taking into account observational constraints. The connection to the PAMELA experiment is also discussed. Results are consistent with constraints coming from BICEP2 and PLANCK experiments.
The propagation of boson particles in a gravitational field described by the Brans-Dicke theory of gravity is analyzed. We derive the wave function of the scalar particles, and the effective potential experienced by the quantum particles considering the role of the varying gravitational coupling. Besides, we calculate the probability to find the scalar particles near the region where a naked singularity is present. The extremely high energy radiated in such a situation could account for the huge emitted power observed in Gamma Ray Bursts.
In this paper we discuss some consequences of cosmological models in which the primordial cosmic matter is described by a relativistic imperfect fluid. The latter takes into account the dissipative effects (bulk viscosity) arising from different cooling rates of the fluid components in the expanding Universe. We discuss, in particular, the effects of the bulk viscosity on Big Bang Nucleosynthesis and on the thermal relic abundance of particles, looking at recent results of PAMELA experiment. The latter has determined an anomalous excess of positron events, that cannot be explained by the conventional cosmology and particle physics.
We consider models of Extended Gravity and in particular, generic models containing scalar-tensor and higher-order curvature terms, as well as a model derived from noncommutative spectral geometry. Studying, in the weak-field approximation, the geodesic and Lense-Thirring processions, we impose constraints on the free parameters of such models by using the recent experimental results of the Gravity Probe B and LARES satellites.
We discuss some fundamental issues underlying gravitational physics and point out some of the main shortcomings of Einstein's General Relativity. In particular, after taking into account the role of the two main objects of relativistic theories of gravity, i.e. the metric and the connection fields, we consider the possibility that they are not trivially related so that the geodesic structure and the causal structure of the spacetime could be disentangled, as supposed in the Palatini formulation of gravity. In this perspective, the Equivalence Principle, in its weak and strong formulations, can play a fundamental role in discriminating among competing theories. The possibility of its violation at quantum level could open new perspectives in gravitational physics and in unification with other interactions. We shortly debate the possibility of equivalence principle measurements by ground-based and space experiments.
We present a dynamical mechanism à la Nambu--Jona-Lasinio for the generation of masses and mixing for two interacting fermion fields. The analysis is carried out in the framework introduced long ago by Umezawa et al., in which mass generation is achieved via inequivalent representations, and that we generalize to the case of two generations. The method allows a clear identification of the vacuum structure for each physical phase, confirming previous results about the distinct physical nature of the vacuum for fields with definite mass and fields with definite flavor. Implications for the leptonic sector of the Standard Model are briefly discussed.
In this work we review the theories of origin of matter-antimatter asymmetry in the Universe. The general conditions for achieving baryogenesis and leptogenesis in a CPT conserving field theory have been laid down by Sakharov. In this review we discuss scenarios where a background scalar or gravitational field spontaneously breaks the CPT symmetry and splits the energy levels between particles and anti-particles. Baryon or Lepton number violating processes in proceeding at thermal equilibrium in such backgrounds gives rise to Baryon or Lepton number asymmetry.
Recent cosmological and astrophysical observations point out that the Universe is in accelerating expansion and filled up with non-luminous matter. In order to explain the observed large scale structures and this accelerating behavior one needs a huge amounts of Dark Energy and Dark Matter. Although many attempts have been done, both at theoretical and experimental level, up to now there are several models proposed to explain such mysterious components. However, no final conclusion on the nature of dark components has been reached up to now so the question is completely open. In this paper, we review, with no claim of completeness, the recent results and ideas underlying Dark Energy and Dark Matter issues.
We generalize spin-rotation coupling to compound spin systems. In the case of muons bound to nuclei in a storage ring the decay process acquires a modulation. Typical frequencies for $Z/A\sim 1/2$ are $\sim 3\times 10^6$Hz, a factor 10 higher than the modulation observed in $g-2$ experiments.