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G. Veneziano

Publications and source records attributed to G. Veneziano.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
arXiv2002

Constraints on pre-big bang parameter space from CMBR anisotropies

The so-called curvaton mechanism --a way to convert isocurvature perturbations into adiabatic ones-- is investigated both analytically and numerically in a pre-big bang scenario where the role of the curvaton is played by a sufficiently massive Kalb--Ramond axion of superstring theory. When combined with observations of CMBR anisotropies at large and moderate angular scales, the present analysis allows us to constrain quite considerably the parameter space of the model: in particular, the initial displacement of the axion from the minimum of its potential and the rate of evolution of the compactification volume during pre-big bang inflation. The combination of theoretical and experimental constraints favours a slightly blue spectrum of scalar perturbations, and/or a value of the string scale in the vicinity of the SUSY-GUT scale.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2002

Trialogue on the number of fundamental constants

This paper consists of three separate articles on the number of fundamental dimensionful constants in physics. We started our debate in summer 1992 on the terrace of the famous CERN cafeteria. In the summer of 2001 we returned to the subject to find that our views still diverged and decided to explain our current positions. LBO develops the traditional approach with three constants, GV argues in favor of at most two (within superstring theory), while MJD advocates zero.

physics.class-ph↗
arXiv2002

Violations of the equivalence principle in a dilaton-runaway scenario

We explore a version of the cosmological dilaton-fixing and decoupling mechanism in which the dilaton-dependence of the low-energy effective action is extremized for infinitely large values of the bare string coupling $g_s^2 = e^ϕ$. We study the efficiency with which the dilaton $ϕ$ runs away towards its ``fixed point'' at infinity during a primordial inflationary stage, and thereby approximately decouples from matter. The residual dilaton couplings are found to be related to the amplitude of the density fluctuations generated during inflation. For the simplest inflationary potential, $V (χ) = {1/2} m_χ^2 (ϕ) χ^2$, the residual dilaton couplings are shown to predict violations of the universality of gravitational acceleration near the $Δa / a \sim 10^{-12}$ level. This suggests that a modest improvement in the precision of equivalence principle tests might be able to detect the effect of such a runaway dilaton. Under some assumptions about the coupling of the dilaton to dark matter and/or dark energy, the expected time-variation of natural ``constants'' (in particular of the fine-structure constant) might also be large enough to be within reach of improved experimental or observational data.

hep-th↗
arXiv2002

Assisting pre-big bang phenomenology through short-lived axions

We present the results of a detailed study of how isocurvature axion fluctuations are converted into adiabatic metric perturbations through axion decay, and discuss the constraints on the parameters of pre-big bang cosmology needed for consistency with present CMB-anisotropy data. The large-scale normalization of temperature fluctuations has a non-trivial dependence both on the mass and on the initial value of the axion. In the simplest, minimal models of pre-big bang inflation, consistency with the COBE normalization requires a slightly tilted (blue) spectrum, while a strictly scale-invariant spectrum requires mild modifications of the minimal backgrounds at large curvature and/or string coupling.

hep-ph↗
arXiv2002

Large-N bounds on, and compositeness limit of, gauge and gravitational interactions

In a toy model of gauge and gravitational interactions in $D \ge 4$ dimensions, endowed with an invariant UV cut-off $Λ$, and containing a large number $N$ of non-self-interacting matter species, the physical gauge and gravitational couplings at the cut-off, $α_g \equiv g^2 Λ^{D-4}$ and $α_G \equiv G_N Λ^{D-2}$, are shown to be bounded by appropriate powers of ${1\over N}$. This implies that the infinite-bare-coupling (so-called compositeness) limit of these theories is smooth, and can even resemble our world. We argue that such a result, when extended to more realistic situations, can help avoid large-N violations of entropy bounds, solve the dilaton stabilization and GUT-scale problems in superstring theory, and provide a new possible candidate for quintessence.

hep-th↗
arXiv2001

Scalar fluctuations in dilatonic brane-worlds

We derive and solve the full set of scalar perturbation equations for a class of five-dimensional brane--world solutions, with a dilaton scalar field coupled to the bulk cosmological constant and to a 3-brane. The spectrum contains one localized massless scalar mode, to be interpreted as an effective dilaton on the brane, inducing long--range scalar interactions. Two massive scalar modes yield corrections to Newton's law at short distances, which persist even in the limit of vanishing dilaton (namely, in the standard Randall--Sundrum configuration).

hep-th↗
arXiv2001

The U_A(1) Problem on the Lattice with Ginsparg-Wilson Fermions

We show how it is possible to give a precise and unambiguous implementation of the Witten--Veneziano formula for the eta' mass on the lattice, which looks like the formal continuum one, if the expression of the topological charge density operator, suggested by fermions obeying the Ginsparg--Wilson relation, is employed. By using recent numerical results from simulations with overlap fermions in 2 (abelian Schwinger model) and 4 (QCD) dimensions, one obtains values for the mass of the lightest pseudo-scalar flavour-singlet state that agree within errors with theoretical expectations and experimental data, respectively.

hep-lat↗
arXiv2001

The $U_A(1)$ Problem on the Lattice

If the expression of the topological charge density operator, suggested by fermions obeying the Ginsparg--Wilson relation, is employed, it is possible to prove on the lattice the validity of the Witten--Veneziano formula for the $η'$ mass. Recent numerical results from simulations with overlap fermions in 2 (abelian Schwinger model) and 4 (QCD) dimensions give values for the mass of the lightest pseudo-scalar flavour-singlet state that agree with theoretical expectations and/or experimental data.

hep-lat↗
arXiv2001

Quintessence as a run-away dilaton

We consider a late-time cosmological model based on a recent proposal that the infinite-bare-coupling limit of superstring/M-theory exists and has good phenomenological properties, including a vanishing cosmological constant, and a massless, decoupled dilaton. As it runs away to $+ \infty$, the dilaton can play the role of the quintessence field recently advocated to drive the late-time accelerated expansion of the Universe. If, as suggested by some string theory examples, appreciable deviations from General Relativity persist even today in the dark matter sector, the Universe may smoothly evolve from an initial "focusing" stage, lasting untill radiation--matter equality, to a "dragging" regime, which eventually gives rise to an accelerated expansion with frozen $Ω(\rm{dark energy})/Ω(\rm{dark matter})$.

gr-qc↗
arXiv2001

Localization of Scalar Fluctuations in a Dilatonic Brane-World Scenario

We derive and solve the full set of scalar perturbation equations for a class of $Z_2$-symmetric five-dimensional geometries generated by a bulk cosmological constant and by a 3-brane non-minimally coupled to a bulk dilaton field. The massless scalar modes, like their tensor analogues, are localized on the brane, and provide long-range four-dimensional dilatonic interactions, which are generically present even when matter on the brane carries no dilatonic charge. The shorter-range corrections induced by the continuum of massive scalar modes are always present: they persist even in the case of a trivial dilaton background (the standard Randall--Sundrum configuration) and vanishing dilatonic charges.

hep-th↗
arXiv2001

CFT, Holography, and Causal Entropy Bound

The causal entropy bound (CEB) is confronted with recent explicit entropy calculations in weakly and strongly coupled conformal field theories (CFTs) in arbitrary dimension $D$. For CFT's with a large number of fields, $N$, the CEB is found to be valid for temperatures not exceeding a value of order $M_P/N^{1\over D-2}$, in agreement with large $N$ bounds in generic cut-off theories of gravity, and with the generalized second law. It is also shown that for a large class of models including high-temperature weakly coupled CFT's and strongly coupled CFT's with AdS duals, the CEB, despite the fact that it relates extensive quantities, is equivalent to (a generalization of) a purely holographic entropy bound proposed by E. Verlinde.

hep-th↗
arXiv2000

String Cosmology: The Pre-Big Bang Scenario

A review is attempted of physical motivations, theoretical and phenomenological aspects, as well as outstanding problems, of the pre-big bang scenario in string cosmology.

hep-th↗
arXiv2000

Pre-Big Bang Cosmology and Quantum Fluctuations

The quantum fluctuations of a homogeneous, isotropic, open pre-big bang model are discussed. By solving exactly the equations for tensor and scalar perturbations we find that particle production is negligible during the perturbative Pre-Big Bang phase.

hep-th↗
arXiv1999

A Causal Entropy Bound

The identification of a causal-connection scale motivates us to propose a new covariant bound on entropy within a generic space-like region. This "causal entropy bound", scaling as the square root of EV, and thus lying around the geometric mean of Bekenstein's S/ER and holographic S/A bounds, is checked in various "critical" situations. In the case of limited gravity, Bekenstein's bound is the strongest while naive holography is the weakest. In the case of strong gravity, our bound and Bousso's holographic bound are stronger than Bekenstein's, while naive holography is too tight, and hence typically wrong.

hep-th↗
arXiv1999

Cosmic Microwave Background anisotropies and extra dimensions in String Cosmology

A recently proposed mechanism for large-scale structure in string cosmology --based on massless axionic seeds-- is further analyzed and extended to the acoustic-peak region. Existence, structure, and normalization of the peaks turn out to depend crucially on the overall evolution of extra dimensions during the pre-big bang phase: conversely, precise cosmic microwave background anisotropy data in the acoustic-peak region will provide, within the next decade, a window on string-theory's extra dimensions before their eventual compactification.

astro-ph↗
arXiv1999

Back-Reaction to Dilaton-Driven Inflation

We compute the leading-order back-reaction to dilaton-driven inflation, due to graviton, dilaton and gauge-boson production. The one-loop effect turns out to be non-vanishing (unlike the case for pure de-Sitter and for power-law inflation), to be of relative order $\ell_P^2H^2(t)$, and to have the correct sign for favouring the exit to a FRW phase.

hep-th↗
arXiv1999

Entropy Bounds and String Cosmology

After discussing some old (and not-so-old) entropy bounds both for isolated systems and in cosmology, I will argue in favour of a "Hubble entropy bound" holding in the latter context. I will then apply this bound to recent developments in string cosmology, show that it is naturally saturated throughout pre-big bang inflation, and claim that its fulfilment at later times has interesting implications for the exit problem of string cosmology.

hep-th↗