arXiv subjects

H. A. Borges

Publications and source records attributed to H. A. Borges.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Anisotropic models in LQC with GBP polymerisation

Polymer models are effective in describing quantum gravity effects around the initial singularity, leading to its replacement by bouncing surfaces on which the curvature and densities are finite. Their properties depend on the space-time symmetry and on the particular polymerisation scheme adopted. In this article we investigate anisotropic models under the Gambini-Ben\'itez-Pullin polymerisation, recently used to quantise spherically symmetric black-holes, whose interiors are isometric to Kantowski-Sachs (KS) space-times. Demanding that the minimum area defined by the bouncing surface matches the Loop Quantum Gravity area gap, we can find its radius alongside the curvature and effective density and pressures at the bounce. The density is always positive, while the pressures are negative enough to avoid the singularity. Due to the positive spatial curvature, the solution is oscillatory, reaching a maximum radius where a re-collapse occurs. Therefore, a positive cosmological constant is included in order to have an eternal expansion to a late de Sitter phase. We have also considered a Bianchi III metric, showing that the bounce is still present, but the space-time is asymptotically flat in this case, with no re-collapse. In this hyperbolic space, the minimal area constraint can also be imposed on compact $2$-surfaces. Nevertheless, in contrast to the KS case, it is enough for avoiding the singularity, independently of polymerisation procedures.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2025

Brazilian Report on Dark Matter 2024

One of the key scientific objectives for the next decade is to uncover the nature of dark matter (DM). We should continue prioritizing targets such as weakly-interacting massive particles (WIMPs), Axions, and other low-mass dark matter candidates to improve our chances of achieving it. A varied and ongoing portfolio of experiments spanning different scales and detection methods is essential to maximize our chances of discovering its composition. This report paper provides an updated overview of the Brazilian community's activities in dark matter and dark sector physics over the past years with a view for the future. It underscores the ongoing need for financial support for Brazilian groups actively engaged in experimental research to sustain the Brazilian involvement in the global search for dark matter particles

hep-ph↗

arXiv2025

Thermodynamics of effective loop quantum black holes

We study the thermodynamics of a non-singular black hole model with effective quantum corrections motivated by Loop Quantum Gravity (LQG). The effective geometry has a transition surface that connects trapped and anti-trapped regions with the same mass. There is a minimum mass for which the horizon temperature and Komar energy are zero, and the black hole stops its Hawking evaporation. For horizons above this limit, we present the grey-body factors, emission spectra, and the mass loss rate, solving a one-dimensional Schrdinger-type equation with an effective short-range potential barrier for massless fields of spins 0, 1/2, 1 and 2.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2024

Non-singular naked solutions in quantum spacetime

Polymer models have been used to describe non-singular quantum black holes, where the classical singularity is replaced by a transition from a black hole to a white hole. In a previous letter, in the context of a uni-parametric model with asymptotic flat exterior metric, we fixed the radius of the transition surface through the identification of its area with the area gap of Loop Quantum Gravity. This revealed a dependence of the polymerisation parameter on the black hole mass, where the former increases as the latter decreases, and it also enabled the extension of the model to Planck-scale black holes. We have identified the existence of limiting states with masses $m \geq \sqrt{2}/4$ and zero surface gravity, showing that Hawking evaporation asymptotically leads to remnant black holes of Planck size. In the present paper we consider solutions with $m < \sqrt{2}/4$, observing again the presence of a minimal radius, but without formation of horizons. Diversely from the previous mass range, only charged solutions are allowed in this case.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2024

Remnant loop quantum black holes

Polymer models inspired by Loop Quantum Gravity (LQG) have been used to describe non-singular quantum black holes with spherical symmetry, with the classical singularity replaced by a transition from a black hole to a white hole. A recent model, with a single polymerisation parameter, leads to a symmetric transition with same mass for the black and white phases, and to an asymptotically flat exterior metric. The radius of the transition surface is, however, not fixed, increasing with the mass. Following similar procedures, in a previous paper we have fixed that radius by identifying the minimal area on the transition surface with the area gap of LQG. This allowed to find a dependence of the polymerisation parameter on the black hole mass, with the former increasing as the latter decreases. It also permitted to extend the model to Planck scale black holes, with quantum fluctuations remaining small at the horizon. In the present paper we extend this analysis to charged black holes, showing that the Cauchy horizon lies beyond of the transition surface. We also show the existence of limiting states with zero surface gravity, the lightest one with $Q = 0$ and $m = \sqrt{2}/4$, and the heaviest with $Q = m = \sqrt{2}/2$. Using our solutions to approximate quasi-steady horizons, we show that Hawking evaporation leads asymptotically to these extremal states, leaving remnant black holes of Planck size.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2023

On the horizon area of effective loop quantum black holes

Effective models of quantum black holes inspired by Loop Quantum Gravity (LQG) have had success in resolving the classical singularity with polymerisation procedures and by imposing the LQG area gap as a minimum area. The singularity is replaced by a hypersurface of transition from black to white holes, and a recent example is the Ashtekar, Olmedo and Singh (AOS) model for a Schwarzschild black hole. More recently, a one-parameter model, with equal masses for the black and white solutions, was suggested by Alonso-Bardaji, Brizuela and Vera (ABBV). An interesting feature of their quantisation is that the angular part of the metric retains its classical form and the horizon area is therefore the same as in the classical theory. In the present contribution we solve the dynamical equations derived from the ABBV effective Hamiltonian and, by applying the AOS minimal area condition, we obtain the scaling of the polymerisation parameter with the black hole mass. We then show that this effective model can also describe Planck scale black holes, and that the curvature and quantum corrections at the horizon are small even at this scale. By generating the exterior metric through a phase rotation in the dynamical variables, we also show that, for an asymptotic observer, the Kretschmann scalar is the same as in the classical Schwarzschild solution, but with a central mass screened by the quantum fluctuations.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2023

Testing the growth rate in homogeneous and inhomogeneous interacting vacuum models

In this work we consider a class of interacting vacuum corresponding to a generalised Chaplygin gas (gCg) cosmology. In particular we analyse two different scenarios at perturbation level for the same background interaction characterised by the parameter $α$: (i) matter that follows geodesics, corresponding to homogeneous vacuum, and (ii) a covariant ansatz for vacuum density perturbations. In the latter case, we show that the vacuum perturbations are very tiny as compared to matter perturbations on sub-horizon scales. In spite of that, depending on the value of the Chaplygin gas parameter $α$, vacuum perturbations suppress or enhance the matter growth rate as compared to the case (i). We use Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB), type Ia supernovae (SNe) and Redshift Space Distortion (RSD) measurements to test the observational viability of the model. We found that the mean value of our joint analysis clearly favours a positive interaction, i.e., an energy flux from dark matter to dark energy, with $α\approx 0.143$ in both cases, while the cosmological standard model, recovered for $α$=0, is ruled out by 3$σ$ confidence level. Noteworthy, the positive value of interaction can alleviate both the $H_0$ and $S_8$ tension for the dataset considered here.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2021

J-PAS: forecasts on interacting vacuum energy models

The next generation of galaxy surveys will allow us to test some fundamental aspects of the standard cosmological model, including the assumption of a minimal coupling between the components of the dark sector. In this paper, we present the Javalambre Physics of the Accelerated Universe Astrophysical Survey (J-PAS) forecasts on a class of unified models where cold dark matter interacts with a vacuum energy, considering future observations of baryon acoustic oscillations, redshift-space distortions, and the matter power spectrum. After providing a general framework to study the background and linear perturbations, we focus on a concrete interacting model without momentum exchange by taking into account the contribution of baryons. We compare the J-PAS results with those expected for DESI and Euclid surveys and show that J-PAS is competitive to them, especially at low redshifts. Indeed, the predicted errors for the interaction parameter, which measures the departure from a $Λ$CDM model, can be comparable to the actual errors derived from the current data of cosmic microwave background temperature anisotropies.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2020

Unphysical properties in a class of interacting dark energy models

Models with non-gravitational interactions between the dark matter and dark energy components are an alternative to the standard cosmological scenario. These models are characterized by an interaction term, and a frequently used parameterization is $Q = 3ξH ρ_{x}$, where $H$ is the Hubble parameter and $ρ_{x}$ is the dark energy density. Although current observations support such a model for negative values of the interaction parameter $ξ$, we show here that this interval of values of $ξ$ leads the model to predict a violation of the Weak Energy Condition (WEC) for the dark matter density, regardless of the value of the equation-of-state parameter of the dark energy component. This violation is accompanied by unphysical instabilities of matter perturbations.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2019

Brazilian Community Report on Dark Matter

This white paper summarizes the activities of the Brazilian community concerning dark matter physics and highlights the importance of financial support to Brazilian groups that are deeply involved in experimental endeavours. The flagships of the Brazilian dark matter program are the Cherenkov Telescope Array, DARKSIDE, SBN and LHC experiments, but we emphasize that smaller experiments such as DAMIC and CONNIE constitute important probes to dark sectors as well and should receive special attention. Small experimental projects showing the potential to probe new regions of parameter space of dark matter models are encouraged. On the theoretical and phenomenological side, some groups are devoted to astrophysical aspects such as the dark matter density profile while others explore the signature of dark matter models at colliders, direct and indirect detection experiments. In summary, the Brazilian dark matter community that was born not long ago has grown tremendously in the past years and now plays an important role in the hunt for a dark matter particle.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2017

Dynamical system analysis of interacting models

We perform a dynamical system analysis of a cosmological model with linear dependence between the vacuum density and the Hubble parameter, with constant-rate creation of dark matter. We show that the de Sitter spacetime is an asymptotically stable critical point, future limit of any expanding solution. Our analysis also shows that the Minkowski spacetime is an unstable critical point, which eventually collapses to a singularity. In this way, such a prescription for the vacuum decay not only predicts the correct future de Sitter limit, but also forbids the existence of a stable Minkowski universe. We also study the effect of matter creation on the growth of structures and their peculiar velocities, showing that it is inside the current errors of redshift space distortions observations.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2016

Evidence for cosmological particle creation?

A joint analysis of the linear matter power spectrum, distance measurements from type Ia supernovae and the position of the first peak in the anisotropy spectrum of the cosmic microwave background indicates a cosmological, late-time dark matter creation at 95% confidence level.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2015

Large scale structure and ISW effect in decaying vacuum cosmology

The concordance particle creation model - a class of $Λ(t)$CDM cosmologies - is studied using large scale structure (LSS) formation, with particular attention to the integrated Sachs-Wolfe (ISW) effect. The evolution of the gravitational potential and the amplitude of the cross-correlation of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) signal with LSS surveys are calculated in detail. We properly include in our analysis the peculiarities involving the baryonic dynamics of the $Λ(t)$CDM model which were not included in previous works. Although both the $Λ(t)$CDM and the standard cosmology are in agreement with available data for the CMB-LSS correlation, the former presents a slightly higher signal which can be identified with future data.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2014

Number Counts and Dynamical Vacuum Cosmologies

We study non-linear structure formation in an interacting model of the dark sector of the Universe in which the dark energy density decays linearly with the Hubble parameter, $ρ_Λ \propto H$, leading to a constant-rate creation of cold dark matter. We derive all relevant expressions to calculate the mass function and the cluster number density using the Sheth-Torman formalism and show that the effect of the interaction process is to increase the number of bound structures of large masses ($M \gtrsim 10^{14} M_{\odot}h^{-1}$) when compared to the standard $Λ$CDM model. Since these models are not reducible to each other, this number counts signature can in principle be tested in future surveys.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2014

On dark degeneracy and interacting models

Cosmological background observations cannot fix the dark energy equation of state, which is related to a degeneracy in the definition of the dark sector components. Here we show that this degeneracy can be broken at perturbation level by imposing two observational properties on dark matter. First, dark matter is defined as the clustering component we observe in large scale structures. This definition is meaningful only if dark energy is unperturbed, which is achieved if we additionally assume, as a second condition, that dark matter is cold, i.e. non-relativistic. As a consequence, dark energy models with equation-of-state parameter $-1 \leω< 0$ are reduced to two observationally distinguishable classes with $ω= -1$, equally competitive when tested against observations. The first comprises the $Λ$CDM model with constant dark energy density. The second consists of interacting models with an energy flux from dark energy to dark matter.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2013

Non-adiabatic Chaplygin gas

The split of a generalised Chaplygin gas with an equation of state p = -A/ρ^α into an interacting mixture of pressureless matter and a dark-energy component with equation of state p_Λ = - ρ_Λ implies the existence of non-adiabatic pressure perturbations. We demonstrate that the square of the effective (non-adiabatic) sound speed c_s of the medium is proportional to the ratio of the perturbations of the dark energy to those of the dark matter. Since, as demonstrated explicitly for the particular case α= -1/2, dark-energy perturbations are negligible compared with dark-matter perturbations on scales that are relevant for structure formation, we find |c_s^2| << 1. Consequently, there are no oscillations or instabilities which have plagued previous adiabatic Chaplygin-gas models.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2012

A cosmological concordance model with dynamical vacuum term

We demonstrate that creation of dark-matter particles at a constant rate implies the existence of a cosmological term that decays linearly with the Hubble rate. We discuss the cosmological model that arises in this context and test it against observations of the first acoustic peak in the cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropy spectrum, the Hubble diagram for supernovas of type Ia (SNIa), the distance scale of baryonic acoustic oscillations (BAO) and the distribution of large scale structures (LSS). We show that a good concordance is obtained, albeit with a higher value of the present matter abundance than in the ΛCDM model. We also comment on general features of the CMB anisotropy spectrum and on the cosmic coincidence problem.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2011

Non-adiabatic perturbations in decaying vacuum cosmology

We investigate a spatially flat Friedmann-Lemaître-Robertson-Walker cosmology in which a decaying vacuum term causes matter production at late times. Assuming a decay proportional to the Hubble rate, the ratio of the background energy densities of dark matter and dark energy changes with the cosmic scale factor as $a^{-3/2}$. The intrinsically non-adiabatic two-component perturbation dynamics of this model is reduced to a single second-order equation. Perturbations of the vacuum term are shown to be negligible on scales that are relevant for structure formation. On larger scales, dark-energy perturbations give a somewhat higher contribution but remain always smaller than the dark-matter perturbations.

astro-ph.CO↗