arXiv subjects

Hwee-Boon Low

Publications and source records attributed to Hwee-Boon Low.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2016

Fantasia of a Superfluid Universe -- In memory of Kerson Huang

This article introduces Kerson Huang's theory on superfluid universe in these aspects: I. choose the asymptotically free Halpern-Huang scalar field(s) to drive inflation; II. use quantum turbulence to create matter; III. consider dark energy as the energy density of the cosmic superfluid and dark matter the deviation of the superfluid density from its equilibrium value; IV. use quantum vorticity to explain phenomena such as the non-thermal filaments at the galactic center, the large voids in the galactic distribution, and the gravitational collapse of stars to fast-rotating blackholes.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2012

Scalar Field Cosmology II: Superfluidity, Quantum Turbulence, and Inflation

We generalize the big-bang model in a previous paper by extending the real vacuum scalar field to a complex vacuum scalar field, within the FLRW framework. The phase dynamics of the scalar field, which makes the universe a superfluid, is described in terms of a density of quantized vortex lines, and a tangle of vortex lines gives rise to quantum turbulence. We propose that all the matter in the universe was created in the turbulence, through reconnection of vortex lines, a process necessary for the maintenance of the vortex tangle. The vortex tangle grows and decays, and its lifetime is the era of inflation. These ideas are implemented in a set of closed cosmological equations that describe the cosmic expansion driven by the scalar field on the one hand, and the vortex-matter dynamics on the other. We show how these two aspects decouple from each other, due to a vast difference in energy scales. The model is not valid beyond the inflation era, but the universe remains a superfluid afterwards. This gives rise to observable effects in the present universe, including dark matter, galactic voids, non-thermal filaments, and cosmic jets.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2012

Scalar Field Cosmology I: Asymptotic Freedom and the Initial-Value Problem

The purpose of this work is to use a renormalized quantum scalar field to investigate very early cosmology, in the Planck era immediately following the big bang. Renormalization effects make the field potential dependent on length scale, and are important during the big bang era. We use the asymptotically free Halpern-Huang scalar field, which is derived from renormalization-group analysis, and solve Einstein's equation with Robertson-Walker metric as an initial-value problem. The main prediction is that the Hubble parameter follows a power law: $H\equiv\dot{a}/a\sim t^{-p}$, and the universe expands at an accelerated rate: $a\sim\exp t^{1-p}$. This gives "dark energy", with an equivalent cosmological constant that decays in time like $t^{-2p}$, which avoids the "fine-tuning" problem. The power law predicts a simple relation for the galactic redshift. Comparison with data leads to the speculation that the universe experienced a crossover transition, which was completed about 7 billion years ago.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2010

Cosmology of an asymptotically free scalar field with spontaneous symmetry breaking

We solve Einstein's equation with Robertson-Walker metric as an initial-value problem, using as the source of gravity a Halpern-Huang real scalar field, which was derived from renormalization-group analysis, with a potential that exhibits asymptotic freedom and spontaneous symmetry breaking. Both properties are crucial to the formulation of the problem. Numerical solutions show that the universe expands at an accelerated rate, with the radius increasing like the exponential of a power of the time. This is relevant to "dark energy" and "cosmic inflation". Extension to the complex scalar field will make the universe a superfluid. The vortex dynamics that emerges offers explanations for other cosmological problems, namely, matter creation, galactic voids, and the "dark mass".

gr-qc↗