arXiv subjects

Gianluca Calcagni

Publications and source records attributed to Gianluca Calcagni.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

arXiv2007

Inflationary scalar spectrum in loop quantum cosmology

In the context of loop quantum cosmology, we consider an inflationary era driven by a canonical scalar field and occurring in the semiclassical regime, where spacetime is a continuum but quantum gravitational effects are important. The spectral amplitude and index of scalar perturbations on an unperturbed de Sitter background are computed at lowest order in the slow-roll parameters. The scalar spectrum can be blue-tilted and far from scale invariance, and tuning of the quantization ambiguities is necessary for agreement with observations. The results are extended to a generalized quantization scheme including those proposed in the literature. Quantization of the matter field at sub-horizon scales can provide a consistency check of such schemes.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2006

Tachyon dark energy models: dynamics and constraints

We explore the dynamics of dark energy models based on a Dirac-Born-Infeld (DBI) tachyonic action, studying a range of potentials. We numerically investigate the existence of tracking behaviour and determine the present-day value of the equation of state parameter and its running, which are compared with observational bounds. We find that tachyon models have quite similar phenomenology to canonical quintessence models. While some potentials can be selected amongst many possibilities and fine-tuned to give viable scenarios, there is no apparent advantage in choosing a DBI scalar field instead of a Klein-Gordon one.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

Ghost conditions for Gauss-Bonnet cosmologies

We investigate the stability against inhomogeneous perturbations and the appearance of ghost modes in Gauss-Bonnet gravitational theories with a non-minimally coupled scalar field, which can be regarded as either the dilaton or a compactification modulus in the context of string theory. Through cosmological linear perturbations we extract four no-ghost and two sub-luminal constraint equations, written in terms of background quantities, which must be satisfied for consistency. We also argue that, for a general action with quadratic Riemann invariants, homogeneous and inhomogeneous perturbations are, in general, inequivalent, and that attractors in the phase space can have ghosts. These results are then generalized to a two-field configuration. Single-field models as candidates for dark energy are explored numerically and severe bounds on the parameter space of initial conditions are placed. A number of cases proposed in the literature are tested and most of them are found to be unstable or observationally unviable.

hep-th↗

arXiv2006

de Sitter thermodynamics and the braneworld

The de Sitter thermodynamics of cosmological models with a modified Friedmann equation is considered, with particular reference to high-energy Randall-Sundrum and Gauss-Bonnet braneworlds. The Friedmann equation can be regarded as the first law of thermodynamics of an effective gravitational theory in quasi de Sitter spacetime. The associated entropy provides some selection rules for the range of the parameters of the models, and is proposed for describing tunneling processes in the class of high-energy gravities under consideration.

hep-th↗

arXiv2006

Cosmological tachyon from cubic string field theory

The classical dynamics of the tachyon scalar field of cubic string field theory is considered on a cosmological background. Starting from a nonlocal action with arbitrary tachyon potential, which encodes the bosonic and several supersymmetric cases, we study the equations of motion in the Hamilton-Jacobi formalism and with a generalized Friedmann equation, appliable in braneworld or modified gravity models. The cases of cubic (bosonic) and quartic (supersymmetric) tachyon potential in general relativity are automatically included. We comment the validity of the slow-roll approximation, the stability of the cosmological perturbations, and the relation between this tachyon and the Dirac-Born-Infeld one.

hep-th↗

arXiv2005

Non-Gaussianity in braneworld and tachyon inflation

We calculate the bispectrum of single-field braneworld inflation, triggered by either an ordinary scalar field or a cosmological tachyon, by means of a gradient expansion of large-scale non-linear perturbations coupled to stochastic dynamics. The resulting effect is identical to that for single-field 4D standard inflation, the non-linearity parameter being proportional to the scalar spectral index in the limit of collapsing momentum. If the slow-roll approximation is assumed, braneworld and tachyon non-Gaussianities are subdominant with respect to the post-inflationary contribution. However, bulk physics may considerably strengthen the non-linear signatures. These features do not change significantly when considered in a non-commutative framework.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2005

Flow equations in generalized braneworld scenarios

We discuss the flow equations in the context of general braneworld cosmologies with a modified Friedmann equation, for either an ordinary scalar field or a Dirac-Born-Infeld tachyon as inflaton candidates. The 4D, Randall-Sundrum, and Gauss-Bonnet cases are compared, using the patch formalism which provides a unified description of these models. The inflationary dynamics is described by a tower of flow parameters that can be evolved in time to select a particular subset of points in the space of cosmological observables. We analyze the stability of the fixed points in all the cosmologies (our results in the 4D case already extending those in the literature). Numerical integration of the flow equations shows that the predictions of the Gauss-Bonnet braneworld differ significantly as compared to the Randall-Sundrum and 4D scenarios, whereas tachyon inflation gives tensor perturbations smaller than those in the presence of a normal scalar field. These results are extended to the realization of a noncommutative space-time preserving maximal symmetry. In this case the tensor-to-scalar signal is unchanged, while blue-tilted spectra are favoured.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2005

Dark energy and cosmological solutions in second-order string gravity

We study the cosmological evolution based upon a $D$-dimensional action in low-energy effective string theory in the presence of second-order curvature corrections and a modulus scalar field (dilaton or compactification modulus). A barotropic perfect fluid coupled to the scalar field is also allowed. Phase space analysis and the stability of asymptotic solutions are performed for a number of models which include ($i$) fixed scalar field, ($ii$) linear dilaton in string frame, and ($iii$) logarithmic modulus in Einstein frame. We confront analytical solutions with observational constraints for deceleration parameter and show that Gauss-Bonnet gravity (with no matter fields) may not explain the current acceleration of the universe. We also study the future evolution of the universe using the GB parametrization and find that big rip singularities can be avoided even in the presence of a phantom fluid because of the balance between the fluid and curvature corrections. A non-minimal coupling between the fluid and the modulus field also opens up the interesting possibility to avoid big rip regardless of the details of the fluid equation of state.

hep-th↗

arXiv2005

Braneworld cosmology and noncommutative inflation

In this work we develop the patch formalism, an approach providing a very simple and compact description of braneworld-motivated cosmologies with nonstandard effective Friedmann equations. In particular, the Hubble parameter is assumed to depend on some power of the brane energy density, H^2 \propto ρ^q. The high-energy limit of Randall-Sundrum (q=2) and Gauss-Bonnet (q=2/3) braneworlds are considered, during an accelerating era triggered by a single ordinary or tachyonic scalar field. The inflationary dynamics, solutions, and spectra are provided. Using the latest results from WMAP and other experiments for estimates of cosmological observables, it is shown that future data and missions can in principle discriminate between standard four-dimensional and braneworld scenarios. The issue of non-Gaussianity is also studied within nonlinear perturbation theory. The introduction of a fundamental energy scale reinforces these results. Several classes of noncommutative inflationary models are considered and their features analyzed in a number of ways and energy regimes. Finally, we establish dual relations between inflationary, cyclic/ekpyrotic and phantom cosmologies, as well as between scalar-driven and tachyon-driven cosmologies. The exact dualities relating the four-dimensional spectra are broken in favour of their braneworld counterparts. The dual solutions display new interesting features because of the modification of the effective Friedmann equation on the brane.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2004

Patch dualities and remarks on nonstandard cosmologies

In this paper we establish dualities between inflationary, cyclic/ekpyrotic, and phantom cosmologies within the patch formalism approximating high-energy effects in scenarios with extra dimensions. The exact dualities relating the four-dimensional spectra are broken in favour of their braneworld counterparts; the dual solutions display new interesting features because of the modification of the effective Friedmann equation on the brane. We then address some qualitative issues about phantomlike cosmologies without phantom matter.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2004

Consistency relations and degeneracies in (non)commutative patch inflation

The consistency equations of patch inflation are considered in a next-to-leading-order slow-roll (SR) expansion. Some general aspects of braneworld degeneracy are pointed out, both with an ordinary scalar field and a Born-Infeld tachyon. The discussion is then extended to the maximally symmetric noncommutative case.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2004

Braneworld cosmology almost without branes

We review some general aspects of braneworld cosmologies in which an inflationary period driven by a scalar field confined on the brane is described by a nonstandard effective Friedmann equation. The perturbation spectra, consistency equations and observational consequences of these models are considered.

hep-th↗

arXiv2004

Patch cosmology and noncommutative braneworlds

We review extra-dimensional and 4D cosmological scenarios through the effective Friedmann evolution on a brane. Some features involving noncommutative geometry and scalar/tachyon slow-roll inflation are considered.

hep-th↗

arXiv2004

Noncommutative models in patch cosmology

We consider several classes of noncommutative inflationary models within an extended version of patch cosmological braneworlds, starting from a maximally invariant generalization of the action for scalar and tensor perturbations to a noncommutative brane embedded in a commutative bulk. Slow-roll expressions and consistency relations for the cosmological observables are provided, both in the UV and IR region of the spectrum; the inflaton field is assumed to be either an ordinary scalar field or a Born-Infeld tachyon. The effects of noncommutativity are then analyzed in a number of ways and energy regimes.

hep-th↗

arXiv2004

Observational constraints on patch inflation in noncommutative spacetime

We study constraints on a number of patch inflationary models in noncommutative spacetime using a compilation of recent high-precision observational data. In particular, the four-dimensional General Relativistic (GR) case, the Randall-Sundrum (RS) and Gauss-Bonnet (GB) braneworld scenarios are investigated by extending previous commutative analyses to the infrared limit of a maximally symmetric realization of the stringy uncertainty principle. The effect of spacetime noncommutativity modifies the standard consistency relation between the tensor spectral index and the tensor-to-scalar ratio. We perform likelihood analyses in terms of inflationary observables using new consistency relations and confront them with large-field inflationary models with potential V \propto \vp^p in two classes of noncommutative scenarios. We find a number of interesting results: (i) the quartic potential (p=4) is rescued from marginal rejection in the class 2 GR case, and (ii) steep inflation driven by an exponential potential (p \to \infty) is allowed in the class 1 RS case. Spacetime noncommutativity can lead to blue-tilted scalar and tensor spectra even for monomial potentials, thus opening up a possibility to explain the loss of power observed in the cosmic microwave background anisotropies. We also explore patch inflation with a Dirac-Born-Infeld tachyon field and explicitly show that the associated likelihood analysis is equivalent to the one in the ordinary scalar field case by using horizon-flow parameters. It turns out that tachyon inflation is compatible with observations in all patch cosmologies even for large p.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2004

Regularized dualities in patch cosmology

Following past investigations, we explore the symmetries of the Hamilton-Jacobi cosmological equations in the generalized patch formalism describing braneworld and tachyon scenarios. Dualities between different patches are established and regular dual solutions, either contracting or phantom-like, are constructed.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2004

Degeneracy of consistency equations in braneworld inflation

In a Randall-Sundrum type II inflationary scenario we compute perturbation amplitudes and spectral indices up to next-to-lowest order in the slow-roll parameters, starting from the well-known lowest-order result for a de Sitter brane. Using two different prescriptions for the tensor amplitude, we show that the braneworld consistency equations are not degenerate with respect to the standard relations and we explore their observational consequences. It is then shown that, while the degeneracy between high- and low-energy regimes can come from suitable values of the cosmological observables, exact functional matching between consistency expressions is plausibly discarded. This result is then extended to the Gauss-Bonnet case.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2004

Slow-roll parameters in braneworld cosmologies

We present a general slow-roll formalism within braneworld-motivated cosmologies with non-standard effective Friedmann equations. Full towers of parameters involving either the inflaton potential or the Hubble parameter are constructed and the dynamics of non-tachyonic and tachyonic fields are considered in detail; exact cosmological solutions and the inflationary attractor condition are provided. We compare scalar-driven and tachyon-driven accelerating eras through slow-roll correspondence and the observational imprint on early-universe structures.

hep-ph↗