arXiv subjects

Giovanni Montani

Publications and source records attributed to Giovanni Montani.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

arXiv2018

Coexistence of Magneto-Rotational and Jeans Instabilities in an Axisymmetric Nebula

We analyze the magneto-rotational instability (MRI) effects on gravitational collapse and its influence on the instability critical scale. In particular, we study an axisymmetric nonstratified differentially rotating cloud, embedded in a small magnetic field, and we perform a local linear stability analysis, including the self gravity of the system. We demonstrate that the linear evolution of the perturbations is characterized by the emergence of an anisotropy degree of the perturbed mass densities. Starting with spherical growing overdensities, we see that they naturally acquire an anisotropy of order unity in their shape. Despite the linear character of our analysis, we infer that such a seed of anisotropy can rapidly grow in a nonlinear regime, leading to the formation of filament-like structures. However, we show how such an anisotropy is essentially an intrinsic feature of the Jean instability, and how MRI only plays a significant role in fixing the critical scale of the mode spectrum. We then provide a characterization of the present analysis in terms of the cosmological setting, in order to provide an outlook of how the present results could concern the formation of large-scale structures across the Universe.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2018

$f(R)$ gravity with Torsion and the Immirzi field: signature for GW detection

We propose a Nieh-Yan extension of f (R) models in the presence of Immirzi field and the resulting theory is studied in the context of first order formalism. We claim as in our model the ambiguities related to the Palatini vacuum case are solved, allowing us to extend the range of applicability of the method proposed in [4] to a wider class of f (R) theories. In particular we analyze within such a theoretical framework the propagation of gravitational waves in vacuum and outline as a dynamical Immirzi field could be regarded as a propagating torsion field with non-trivial and detectable effects on standard gravitational polarizations.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2018

Bianchi I model as a prototype for a cyclical Universe

We analyze the dynamics of the Bianchi I model in the presence of stiff matter, an ultrarelativistic component and a small negative cosmological constant. We quantize this model in the framework of the polymer quantum mechanics, in order to introduce cut-off features in the minisuperspace dynamics. We then apply to the polymer Wheeler-DeWitt equation, emerging from the Dirac constraint, an adiabatic approximation a la Vilenkin, which treats the Universe volume as a quasi-classical variable, becoming de facto the dynamical clock for the pure quantum degrees of freedom, here identified in the Universe anisotropies. The main issue of the present analysis consists of determining a cyclical evolution for the Bianchi I model, oscillating between the Big-Bounce induced by the cut-off physics and the turning point due to the small cosmological constant. Furthermore, the mean value of the Universe anisotropy variables remains finite during the whole evolution, including the phase across the Big-Bounce. Such a feature, according to a suitable choice of the initial conditions makes the present cosmological paradigm, a viable scenario for the description of a possible primordial and late phases of the actual Universe.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2018

Behavior of thin disk crystalline morphology in the presence of corrections to ideal magnetohydrodynamics

We analyze an axisymmetric magnetohydrodynamics configuration, describing the morphology of a purely differentially rotating thin plasma disk, in which linear and non-linear perturbations are triggered associated with microscopic magnetic structures. We study the evolution of the non-stationary correction in the limit in which the co-rotation condition (i.e., the dependence of the disk angular velocity on the magnetic flux function) is preserved and the poloidal velocity components are neglected. The main feature we address here is the influence of ideal (finite electron inertia) and collisional (resistivity, viscosity, and thermal conductivity) effects on the behavior of the flux function perturbation and of the associated small-scale modifications in the disk. We analyze two different regimes in which resistivity or viscosity dominates and study the corresponding linear and non-linear behaviors of the perturbation evolution, i.e., when the backreaction magnetic field is negligible or comparable to the background one, respectively. We demonstrate that when resistivity dominates, a radial oscillating morphology (crystalline structure) emerges and it turns out to be damped in time, in both the linear and non-linear regimes, but in such a way that the resulting transient can be implemented in the description of relevant astrophysical processes, for instance, associated with jet formation or cataclysmic variables. When the viscosity effect dominates the dynamics, only the non-linear regime is available and a very fast instability is triggered.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2017

Probabilistic interpretation of the wave function for the Bianchi I model

We compare two different approaches for quantization of the Bianchi I model: a reduced phase space quantization, in which the isotropic Misner variables is taken as time, and the Vilenkin proposal, in which a semiclassical approximation is performed for the same variable. We outline the technical and interpretative issues of these two methods and we demonstrate that they provide equivalent results only if the dynamics is essentially dictated by the isotropic matter contribution.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2017

Behavior of the Universe anisotropy in a big-bounce cosmology

We investigate the classical and quantum behavior of a Bianchi I model in the presence of a stiff matter contribution when the Vilenkin interpretation of the wave function of the Universe is taken into account. We study its evolution in the so-called polymer representation of quantum mechanics, in order to characterize the modifications that a discrete nature in the isotropic variable of the Universe induces on the morphology of the cosmological singularity. We demonstrate that in such a model the Big-Bang singularity is removed at a semiclassical level in favor of a Big-Bounce when a lattice on the isotropic variable is considered. Furthermore, the analysis of the mean values on the quantum degrees of freedom, \textit{i.e} the variables $β_{+},β_{-}$ in the Misner picture, and the investigation on the evolution of the wave packets show how the typical diverging behavior associated to the anisotropies of the Universe in proximity of the initial singularity disappears in our polymer modified scheme. Indeed, the anisotropies remain finite across the Big-Bounce and they assume a value that depends on the initial conditions fixed far from the turning point. Finally, we demonstrate that the proposed scenario can be extended, with a suitable choice of the configuration parameters, to the Bianchi IX cosmology and therefore it can be regarded as a paradigm for the generic cosmological model.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2017

Revised Conditions for MRI due to Isorotation Theorem

We re-analyze the physical conditions for Magneto-rotational Instability (MRI) within a steady axisymmetric stratified disk of plasma, in order to account for the so-called isorotation theory (the spatial profile of differential angular velocity depends on the magnetic flux surface). We develop the study of linear stability around an astrophysical background configuration, following the original derivation in \cite{Ba:1995}, but implementing the isorotation condition as the orthogonality between the background magnetic field and the angular velocity gradient. We demonstrate that a dependence on the background magnetic field direction is restored in the dispersion relation and, hence, the emergence of MRI is also influenced by field orientation.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2017

Study of MRI in stratified viscous plasma configuration

We analyze the morphology of the Magneto-rotational Instability (MRI) for a stratified viscous plasma disk configuration in differential rotation, taking into account the so-called corotation theorem for the background profile. In order to select the intrinsic Alfvénic nature of MRI, we deal with an incompressible plasma and we adopt a formulation of the local perturbation analysis based on the use of the magnetic flux function as a dynamical variable. Our study outlines, as consequence of the corotation condition, a marked asymmetry of the MRI with respect to the equatorial plane, particularly evident in a complete damping of the instability over a positive critical height on the equatorial plane. We also emphasize how such a feature is already present (although less pronounced) even in the ideal case, restoring a dependence of the MRI on the stratified morphology of the gravitational field.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2017

Bianchi I cosmology in the presence of a causally regularized viscous fluid

We analyze the dynamics of a Bianchi I cosmology in the presence of a viscous fluid, causally regularized according to the Lichnerowicz approach. We show how the effect induced by shear viscosity is still able to produce a matter creation phenomenon, meaning that also in the regularized theory we address, the Universe is emerging from a singularity with a vanishing energy density value. We discuss the structure of the singularity in the isotropic limit, when bulk viscosity is the only retained contribution. We see that, as far as viscosity is not a dominant effect, the dynamics of the isotropic Universe possesses the usual inviscid power-law behavior but in correspondence of aneffective equation of state, depending on the bulk viscosity coefficient. Finally, we show that, in the limit of a strong non-thermodynamical equilibrium of the Universe mimicked by a dominant contribution of the effective viscous pressure, a power-law inflation behavior of the Universe appears, the cosmological horizons are removed and a significant amount of entropy is produced.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2016

On the viability of the single wave model for the beam plasma instability

We analyze the interaction of a cold fast electron beam with a thermalized plasma, in the presence of many Langmuir modes. The work aims at characterizing the deviation of the system behavior from the single mode approximation, both with respect to a consistent spectral analysis of the most unstable mode harmonics and with respect to the presence of a dense spectrum, containing linearly unstable and stable modes. We demonstrate how, on the one hand, the total energy fraction absorbed by the harmonics is negligible at all (by evaluating its total amount) and, on the other hand, the additional Langmuir modes can be excited via an avalanche mechanism, responsible for a transport in the particle velocity space. In particular, we show that the spectral broadening outlines a universal shape and the distribution function, associated to the avalanche mechanism, has an asymptotic plateau, differently from the coherent structures characterizing the single wave model.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2016

Big-bounce cosmology from quantum gravity: The case of a cyclical Bianchi I universe

We analyse the classical and quantum dynamics of a Bianchi I model in the presence of a small negative cosmological constant characterizing its evolution in term of the dust-time dualism. We demonstrate that in a canonical metric approach, the cosmological singularity is removed in correspondence to a positive defined value of the dust energy density. Furthermore, the quantum Big-Bounce is connected to the Universe turning point via a well-defined semiclassical limit. Then we can reliably infer that the proposed scenario is compatible with a cyclical Universe picture. We also show how, when the contribution of the dust energy density is sufficiently high, the proposed scenario can be extended to the Bianchi IX cosmology and therefore how it can be regarded as a paradigm for the generic cosmological model. Finally, we investigate the origin of the observed cut-off on the cosmological dynamics, demonstrating how the Big-Bounce evolution can be mimicked by the same semiclassical scenario, where the negative cosmological constant is replaced via a polymer discretization of the Universe volume. A direct proportionality law between such two parameters is then established.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2016

Big-Bounce cosmology in the presence of Immirzi field

The Immirzi parameter is promoted to be a scalar field and the Hamiltonian analysis of the corresponding dynamical system is performed in the presence of gravity. We identified some SU(2) connections, generalizing Ashtekar-Barbero variables, and we rewrite the constraints in terms of them, setting the classical formulation suitable for loop quantization. Then, we consider the reduced system obtained when restricting to a flat isotropic cosmological model. By mimicking loop quantization via an effective semiclassical treatment, we outline how quantum effects are able to tame the initial singularity both in synchronous time and when the Immirzi field is taken as a relational time.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2016

Spin connection as Lorentz gauge field: propagating torsion

We propose a modified gravitational action containing besides the Einstein-Cartan term some quadratic contributions resembling the Yang-Mills lagrangian for the Lorentz spin connections. We outline how a propagating torsion arises and we solve explicitly the linearised equations of motion on a Minkowski background. We identify among torsion components six degrees of freedom: one is carried by a pseudo-scalar particle, five by a tachyon field. By adding spinor fields and neglecting backreaction on the geometry, we point out how only the pseudo-scalar particle couples directly with fermions, but the resulting coupling constant is suppressed by the ratio between fermion and Planck masses. Including backreaction, we demonstrate how the tachyon field provides causality violation in the matter sector, via an interaction mediated by gravitational waves.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2016

Mixed diffusive-convective relaxation of a broad beam of energetic particles in cold plasma

We revisit the applications of quasi-linear theory as a paradigmatic model for weak plasma turbulence and the associated bump-on-tail problem. The work, presented here, is built around the idea that large-amplitude or strongly shaped beams do not relax through diffusion only and that there exists an intermediate time scale where the relaxations are convective (ballistic-like). We cast this novel idea in the rigorous form of a self-consistent nonlinear dynamical model, which generalizes the classic equations of the quasi-linear theory to "broad" beams with internal structure. We also present numerical simulation results of the relaxation of a broad beam of energetic particles in cold plasma. These generally demonstrate the mixed diffusive-convective features of supra-thermal particle transport; and essentially depend on nonlinear wave-particle interactions and phase-space structures. Taking into account modes of the stable linear spectrum is crucial for the self-consistent evolution of the distribution function and the fluctuation intensity spectrum.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2016

Effect of a stochastic electric field on plasma confinement in FTU

We discuss a stochastic model for the behavior of electrons in a magnetically confined plasma having axial symmetry. The aim of the work is to provide an explanation for the density limit observed in the Frascati Tokamak Upgrade machine. The dynamical framework deals with an electron embedded in a stationary and uniform magnetic field and affected by an orthogonal random electric field. The behavior of the average plasma profile is determined by the appropriate Fokker-Planck equation associated to the considered model and the disruptive effects of the stochastic electric field is shown. The comparison between the addressed model and the experimental data allows to fix the relevant spatial scale of such a stochastic field. It is found to be of the order of the Tokamak micro-physics scale, i.e. few millimeters. Moreover, it is clarified how the diffusion process outlines a dependence on the magnetic field as $\sim B^{-3/2}$.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2015

A Novel Approach to Lorentz Gauge Theory

This paper is devoted to introduce a gauge theory of the Lorentz Group based on the analysis of isometric diffeomorphism-induced Lorentz transformations. The behaviors under local transformations of fermion fields and spin connections (assumed to be coordinate vectors) are analyzed and the role of the torsion field in a curved space-time is discussed.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2015

Nonlinear physics and energetic particle transport features of the beam-plasma instability

In this paper, we study transport features of a one-dimensional beam-plasma system in the presence of multiple resonances. As a model description of the general problem of a warm energetic particle beam, we assume $n$ cold supra-thermal beams and investigate the self-consistent evolution in the presence of the complete spectrum of nearly degenerate Langmuir modes. A qualitative transport estimation is obtained by computing the Lagrangian Coherent Structures of the system on given temporal scales. This leads to the splitting of the phase space into regions where the local transport processes are relatively faster. The general theoretical framework is applied to the case of the nonlinear dynamics of two cold beams, for which numerical simulation results are illustrated and analyzed.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2014

Chaos Removal in the $R+qR^2$ gravity: the Mixmaster model

We study the asymptotic dynamics of the Mixmaster Universe, near the cosmological singularity, considering $f(R)$ gravity up to a quadratic corrections in the Ricci scalar $R$. The analysis is performed in the scalar-tensor framework and adopting Misner-Chitré-like variables to describe the Mixmaster Universe, whose dynamics resembles asymptotically a billiard-ball in a given domain of the half-Poincaré space. The form of the potential well depends on the spatial curvature of the model and on the particular form of the self-interacting scalar field potential. We demonstrate that the potential walls determine an open domain in the configuration region, allowing the point-Universe to reach the absolute of the considered Lobachevsky space. In other words, we outline the existence of a stable final Kasner regime in the Mixmaster evolution, implying the chaos removal near the cosmological singularity. The relevance of the present issue relies both on the general nature of the considered dynamics, allowing its direct extension to the BKL conjecture too, as well as the possibility to regard the considered modified theory of gravity as the first correction to the Einstein-Hilbert action as a Taylor expansion of a generic function $f(R)$ (as soon as a cut-off on the space-time curvature takes place).

gr-qc↗