arXiv subjects

Je-An Gu

Publications and source records attributed to Je-An Gu.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2014

Acausality and Nonunique Evolution in Generalized Teleparallel Gravity

We show the existence of physical superluminal modes and acausality in the Brans-Dicke type of extension of teleparallel gravity that includes F(T) gravity and teleparallel dark energy as special cases. We derive the characteristic hypersurface for the extra degrees of freedom in the theory, thereby showing that the time evolution is not unique and closed causal curves can appear. Furthermore, we present a concrete disastrous solution in Bianchi type I spacetime, in which the anisotropy in expansion can be any function of time, and thus anisotropy can emerge suddenly, a simple demonstration that the theory is physically problematic.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2014

The solar system mimics a hydrogen atom

The solar system and the hydrogen atom are two well known systems on different scales and look unrelated: The former is a classical system on the scale of about billions of kilometers and the latter a quantum system of about tens of picometers. Here we show a connection between them. Specifically, we find that the orbital radii of the planets mimic the mean radii of the energy levels of a quantum system under the Coulomb-like potential. This connection might be explained by very light dark matter which manifests quantum behavior in the solar system, thereby hinting at a dark matter mass around $8 \times 10^{-14}$ electron-volts.

physics.gen-ph↗

arXiv2013

Singularity Problem in Teleparallel Dark Energy Models

We study future singularity in teleparallel dark energy models, particularly its behavior and its (non)occurrence in the observationally viable models. For the models with a general self-potential of the scalar field, we point out that both at early times and in the future near the singularity the behavior of dark energy can be described by the analytic solutions of the scalar field we obtained for the model with no self-potential. As to the (non)occurrence in the viable models, we consider a natural binding-type self-potential, the quadratic potential, when fitting observational data, and illustrate the constraining region up to the $3σ$ confidence level as well as the region where a singularity will occur. As a result, the singularity region is outside the $3σ$ constraint. Thus, although the future singularity problem potentially exists in teleparallel dark energy models, the observationally viable models may not suffer this problem.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2012

Teleparallel Dark Energy with Purely Non-minimal Coupling to Gravity

We propose the simplest model of teleparallel dark energy with purely a non-minimal coupling to gravity but no self-potential, a single model possessing various interesting features: simplicity, self-potential-free, the guaranteed late-time cosmic acceleration driven by the non-minimal coupling to gravity, tracker behavior of the dark energy equation of state at earlier times, a crossing of the phantom divide at a late time, and the existence of a finite-time future singularity. We find the analytic solutions of the dark-energy scalar field respectively in the radiation, matter, and dark energy dominated eras, thereby revealing the above features. We further illustrate possible cosmic evolution patterns and present the observational constraint of this model obtained by numerical analysis and data fitting.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2012

de Sitter Radiation and Backreaction in Quantum Cosmology

We explore the quantum cosmology description of the de Sitter (dS) radiation and its backreaction to dS space, inherent in the wave function of the Wheeler-DeWitt equation for pure gravity with a cosmological constant. We first investigate the quantum Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker cosmological model and then consider possible effects of inhomogeneities of the universe on the dS radiation. In both the cases we obtain the modified Friedmann equation, including the backreaction from spacetime fluctuations, and the quantum-corrected dS temperature. It is shown that the quantum correction increases the dS temperature with the increment characterized by the ratio of the dS scale to the Planck scale.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2011

The Early-Time Evolution of the Cosmological Perturbations in f(R) Gravity

We investigate the evolution of the linear cosmological perturbations in f(R) gravity, an alternative to dark energy for explaining the late-time cosmic acceleration. We numerically calculate the early-time evolution with an approximation we contrive to solve a problem that commonly appears when one solves the full evolution equations. With the approximate evolution equations we can fairly assess the effect of the gravity modification on the early-time evolution, thereby examining the validity of the general-relativity (GR) approximation that is widely used for the early universe. In particular, we compare the CMB photon density perturbation and the matter density perturbation obtained respectively by our approximation and the conventional GR approximation. We find that the effect of the gravity modification at early times in f(R) gravity may not be negligible. We conclude that to be self-consistent, in the f(R) theory one should employ the approximation presented in this paper instead of that of GR in the treatment of the early-time evolution.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2011

Solar-System Constraints on f(R) Chameleon Gravity

We investigate the solar-system constraint on the f(R) theory of modified gravity with chameleon mechanism, where f(R) represents the deviation from general relativity in the gravity action. We obtain a stringent bound to a general, non-constant deviation function f(R): -10^{-15} < df/dR < 0 when R ~ 3*10^5*H0^2, and a loose bound: 0 < R*d(df/dR)/dR < 2/5 when R > 3*10^5*H0^2, by requiring the thin-shell condition in the solar system, particularly in the atmosphere of the Earth. These bounds can be conveniently utilized to test the f(R) models with given functional forms of f(R) and to obtain the constraints on the parameters therein. For demonstration we apply these bounds to several widely considered f(R) models. (H0: Hubble constant)

gr-qc↗

arXiv2010

Cosmological and Solar-System Tests of f(R) Modified Gravity

We investigate the cosmological and the local tests of the f(R) theory of modified gravity via the observations of (1) the cosmic expansion and (2) the cosmic structures and via (3) the solar-system experiments. To fit the possible cosmic expansion histories under consideration, for each of them we reconstruct f(R), known as "designer f(R)". We then test the designer f(R) via the cosmic-structure constraints on the metric perturbation ratio Psi/Phi and the effective gravitational coupling G_eff and via the solar-system constraints on the Brans-Dicke theory with the chameleon mechanism. We find that among the designer f(R) models specified by the CPL effective equation of state w_eff, only the model closely mimicking general relativity with a cosmological constant (LambdaCDM) can survive all the tests. Accordingly, these tests rule out the frequently studied "w_eff = -1" designer f(R) models which are distinct in cosmic structures from LambdaCDM. When considering only the cosmological tests, we find that the surviving designer f(R) models, although exist for a variety of w_eff, entail fine-tuning.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2010

Constraining the Detailed Balance Condition in Horava Gravity with Cosmic Accelerating Expansion

In 2009 Hořava proposed a power-counting renormalizable quantum gravity theory. Afterwards a term in the action that softly violates the detailed balance condition has been considered with the attempt of obtaining a more realistic theory in its IR-limit. This term is proportional to $ωR^{(3)}$, where $ω$ is a constant parameter and $R^{(3)}$ is the spatial Ricci scalar. In this paper we derive constraints on this IR-modified Hořava theory using the late-time cosmic accelerating expansion observations. We obtain a lower bound of $|ω|$ that is nontrivial and depends on $Λ_W$, the cosmological constant of the three dimensional spatial action in the Hořava gravity. We find that to preserve the detailed balance condition, one needs to fine-tune $Λ_W$ such that $- 2.29\times 10^{-4}< (c^2 Λ_W)/(H^2_0 \currentDE) - 2 < 0 $, where $H_0$ and $\currentDE$ are the Hubble parameter and dark energy density fraction in the present epoch, respectively. On the other hand, if we do not insist on the detailed balance condition, then the valid region for $Λ_W$ is much relaxed to $-0.39< (c^2 Λ_W)/(H^2_0 \currentDE) - 2 < 0.12$. We find that although the detailed balance condition cannot be ruled out, it is strongly disfavored.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2010

Stress-Energy Tensor Induced by Bulk Dirac Spinor in Randall-Sundrum Model

Motivated by the possible extension into a supersymmetric Randall-Sundrum (RS) model, we investigate the properties of the vacuum expectation value (VEV) of the stress-energy tensor for a quantized bulk Dirac spinor field in the RS geometry and compare it with that for a real scalar field. This is carried out via the Green function method based on first principles without invoking the degeneracy factor, whose validity in a warp geometry is a priori unassured. In addition, we investigate the local behavior of the Casimir energy near the two branes. One salient feature we found is that the surface divergences near the two branes have opposite signs. We argue that this is a generic feature of the fermionic Casimir energy density due to its parity transformation in the fifth dimension. Furthermore, we investigate the self-consistency of the RS metric under the quantum correction due to the stress-energy tensor. It is shown that the VEV of the stress-energy tensor and the classical one become comparable near the visible brane if k ~ M ~ M_Pl (the requirement of no hierarchy problem), where k is the curvature of the RS warped geometry and M the 5-dimensional Planck mass. In that case the self-consistency of RS model that includes bulk fields is in doubt. If, however, k <~ M, then an approximate self-consistency of the RS-type metric may still be satisfied.

hep-th↗

arXiv2009

Comment on "w and w' of scalar field models of dark energy" [arXiv:astro-ph/0510598]

We comment on the calculation mistake in the paper "w and w' of scalar field models of dark energy" by Takeshi Chiba [arXiv:astro-ph/0510598], where w is the dark energy equation of state and w' is the time derivative of w in units of the Hubble time. The author made a mistake while rewriting the phantom equation of motion, which led to an incorrect generic bound for the phantom model and an incorrect bound for the tracker phantom model on the w-w' plane.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2009

Constraints on the Phase Plane of the Dark Energy Equation of State

Classification of dark energy models in the plane of w and w', where w is the dark energy equation of state and w' its time-derivative in units of the Hubble time, has been studied in the literature. We take the current SN Ia, CMB and BAO data, invoke a widely used parametrization of the dark energy equation of state, and obtain the constraints on the w -w' plane. We find that dark energy models including the cosmological constant, phantom, non-phantom barotropic fluids, and monotonic up-rolling quintessence are ruled out at the 68.3% confidence level based on the current observational data. Down-rolling quintessence, including the thawing and the freezing models, is consistent with the current observations. All the above-mentioned models are still consistent with the data at the 95.4% confidence level.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2009

Consistency Test of Dark Energy Models

Recently we proposed a new approach to the testing of dark energy models based on the observational data. In that work we focused particularly on quintessence models for demonstration and invoked a widely used parametrization of the dark energy equation of state. In this paper we take the more recent SN Ia, CMB and BAO data, invoke the same parametrization, and apply this method of consistency test to five categories of dark energy models, including the LCDM model, the generalized Chaplygin gas, and three quintessence models: exponential, power-law and inverse-exponential potentials. We find that the exponential potential of quintessence is ruled out at the 95.4% confidence level, while the other four models are consistent with data. This consistency test can be efficiently performed since for all models it requires the constraint of only a single parameter space that by choice can be easily accessed.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2009

A New Approach to Testing Dark Energy Models by Observations

We propose a new approach to the consistency test of dark energy models with observations. To test a category of dark energy models, we suggest introducing a characteristic Q(z) that in general varies with the redshift z but in those models plays the role of a (constant) distinct parameter. Then, by reconstructing dQ(z)/dz from observational data and comparing it with zero we can assess the consistency between data and the models under consideration. For a category of models that passes the test, we can further constrain the distinct parameter of those models by reconstructing Q(z) from data. For demonstration, in this paper we concentrate on quintessence. In particular we examine the exponential potential and the power-law potential via a widely used parametrization of the dark energy equation of state, w(z) = w_0 + w_a z/(1+z), for data analysis. This method of the consistency test is particularly efficient because for all models we invoke the constraint of only a single parameter space that by choice can be easily accessed. The general principle of our approach is not limited to dark energy. It may also be applied to the testing of various cosmological models and even the models in other fields beyond the scope of cosmology.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2008

Inhomogeneity-Induced Cosmic Acceleration in a Dust Universe

It is the common consensus that the expansion of a universe always slows down if the gravity provided by the energy sources therein is attractive and accordingly one needs to invoke dark energy as a source of anti-gravity for understanding the cosmic acceleration. To examine this point we find counter-examples for a spherically symmetric dust fluid described by the Lemaitre-Tolman-Bondi solution without singularity. Thus, the validity of this naive consensus is indeed doubtful and the effects of inhomogeneities should be restudied. These counter-intuitive examples open a new perspective on the understanding of the evolution of our universe.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

Cosmological Constant as a Manifestation of the Hierarchy

There has been the suggestion that the cosmological constant as implied by the dark energy is related to the well-known hierarchy between the Planck scale, $M_{\rm Pl}$, and the Standard Model scale, $M_{\rm SM}$. Here we further propose that the same framework that addresses this hierarchy problem must also address the smallness problem of the cosmological constant. Specifically, we investigate the minimal supersymmetric (SUSY) extension of the Randall-Sundrum model where SUSY-breaking is induced on the TeV brane and transmitted into the bulk. We show that the Casimir energy density of the system indeed conforms with the observed dark energy scale.

hep-th↗

arXiv2005

The Fate of the Accelerating Universe

The presently accelerating universe may keep accelerating forever, eventually run into the event horizon problem, and thus be in conflict with the superstring idea. In the other way around, the current accelerating phase as well as the fate of the universe may be swayed by a negative cosmological constant, which dictates a big crunch. Based on the current observational data, in this paper we investigate how large the magnitude of a negative cosmological constant is allowed to be. In addition, for distinguishing the sign of the cosmological constant via observations, we point out that a measure of the evolution of the dark energy equation of state may be a good discriminator. Hopefully future observations will provide much more detailed information about dark energy and thereby indicates the sign of the cosmological constant as well as the fate of the presently accelerating universe.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2005

Kaluza-Klein Burst: a New Mechanism for Generating Ultrahigh-Energy Cosmic Rays

By invoking small extra dimensions as a good energy bearer, a new scenario for understanding the origin of ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs), from both the bottom-up and the top-down viewpoints, is proposed. We explore the possibility of generating UHECRs via Kaluza-Klein (KK) bursts, a violent energy transfer from extra dimensions to ordinary dimensions through collisions between KK modes, in particular, within clumps of KK modes. The possible scales of these clumps range from the astronomical, e.g. KK stellar compact objects, to the microscopic, e.g. "KKonium". Advantages of this KK burst model of UHECRs and possible signatures of clumped KK modes are discussed.

astro-ph↗