arXiv subjects

João G. Rosa

Publications and source records attributed to João G. Rosa.

36 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2022

Determining the spin of light primordial black holes with Hawking radiation

We propose a method to determine the mass and spin of primordial black holes (PBHs) in the mass range $5\times 10^7-10^{12}$ kg (Hawking temperatures $\sim10$ MeV $-200$ GeV), based on measuring the energy of specific features in the photon Hawking emission spectrum, including both primary and secondary components. This is motivated by scenarios where PBHs in this mass range spin up as they evaporate, namely the string axiverse, where dimensionless spin parameters $\tilde{a}\sim 0.1-0.5$ can be achieved through the Hawking emission of hundreds or even thousands of light axion-like particles. Measuring the present PBH mass-spin distribution may thus be an important probe of physics beyond the Standard Model. Since the proposed method relies on the energy of the photons emitted by a given PBH, rather than on the associated flux, it is independent of the PBH-Earth distance and, as a byproduct, can also be used to infer the latter.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2022

Micro-Bose/Proca dark matter stars from black hole superradiance

We study the production of heavy, $μ\gtrsim 1$ TeV, bosonic spin $s=0,1$ dark matter (DM) via the simultaneous processes of Hawking evaporation and superradiance (SR) from an initial population of small, $\lesssim 10^6$ kg, primordial black holes (PBHs). Even for small initial PBH spins the SR process can produce extremely dense gravitationally-bound DM Bose or Proca soliton "stars" of radius $\lesssim {\rm pm}$ and mass $\sim 10^{\rm few}$ kg that can survive to today, well after PBH decay. These solitons can constitute a significant fraction of the DM density, rising to $\gtrsim 50\%$ in the vector DM case.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2021

Evaporating primordial black holes, the string axiverse, and hot dark radiation

We show that primordial black holes (PBHs) develop non-negligible spins through Hawking emission of the large number of axion-like particles generically present in string theory compactifications. This is because scalars can be emitted in the monopole mode ($l=0$), where no angular momentum is removed from the BH, so a sufficiently large number of scalars can compensate for the spin-down produced by fermion, gauge boson, and graviton emission. The resulting characteristic spin distributions for $10^8$-$10^{12}$ kg PBHs could potentially be measured by future gamma-ray observatories, provided that the PBH abundance is not too small. This yields a unique probe of the total number of light scalars in the fundamental theory, independent of how weakly they interact with known matter. The present local energy density of hot, MeV-TeV, axions produced by this Hawking emission can possibly exceed $ρ_{\rm CMB}$. Evaporation constraints on PBHs are also somewhat weakened.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2021

Spontaneous breaking of the Peccei-Quinn symmetry during warm inflation

We show that, for values of the axion decay constant parametrically close to the GUT scale, the Peccei-Quinn phase transition may naturally occur during warm inflation. This results from interactions between the Peccei-Quinn scalar field and the ambient thermal bath, which is sustained by the inflaton field through dissipative effects. It is therefore possible for the axion field to appear as a dynamical degree of freedom only after observable CMB scales have become super-horizon, thus avoiding the large-scale axion isocurvature perturbations that typically plague such models. This nevertheless yields a nearly scale-invariant spectrum of axion isocurvature perturbations on small scales, with a density contrast of up to a few percent, which may have a significant impact on the formation of gravitationally-bound axion structures such as mini-clusters.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2021

Towards a reliable effective field theory of inflation

We present the first quantum field theory model of inflation that is renormalizable in the matter sector, with a super-Hubble inflaton mass and sub-Planckian field excursions, which is thus technically natural and consistent with a high-energy completion within a theory of quantum gravity. This is done in the framework of warm inflation, where we show, for the first time, that strong dissipation can fully sustain a slow-roll trajectory with slow-roll parameters larger than unity in a way that is both theoretically and observationally consistent. The inflaton field corresponds to the relative phase between two complex scalar fields that collectively break a U(1) gauge symmetry, and dissipates its energy into scalar degrees of freedom in the warm cosmic heat bath. A discrete interchange symmetry protects the inflaton mass from large thermal corrections. We further show that the dissipation coefficient decreases with temperature in certain parametric regimes, which prevents a large growth of thermal inflaton fluctuations. We find, in particular, a very good agreement with the Planck legacy data for a simple quadratic inflaton potential, predicting a low tensor-to-scalar ratio $r\lesssim 10^{-5}$.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2020

Warm Inflation, Neutrinos and Dark matter: a minimal extension of the Standard Model

We show that warm inflation can be realized within a minimal extension of the Standard Model with three right-handed neutrinos, three complex scalars and a gauged lepton/B-L U(1) symmetry. This simple model can address all the shortcomings of the Standard Model that are not related to fine-tuning, within general relativity, with distinctive experimental signatures that can be probed in the near future. The inflaton field emerges from the collective breaking of the U(1) symmetry, and interacts with two of the right-handed neutrinos, sustaining a high-temperature radiation bath during inflation. The discrete interchange symmetry of the model protects the scalar potential against large thermal corrections and leads to a stable inflaton remnant at late times which can account for dark matter. Consistency of the model and agreement with Cosmic Microwave Background observations naturally yield light neutrino masses below 0.1 eV, while thermal leptogenesis occurs naturally after a smooth exit from inflation into the radiation era.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2020

Can dark matter drive electroweak symmetry breaking?

We consider the possibility of an oscillating scalar field accounting for dark matter and dynamically controlling the spontaneous breaking of the electroweak symmetry through a Higgs-portal coupling. This requires a late decay of the inflaton field, such that thermal effects do not restore the electroweak symmetry after reheating, and so inflation is followed by an inflaton matter-dominated epoch. During inflation, the dark scalar field acquires a large expectation value due to a negative non-minimal coupling to curvature, thus stabilizing the Higgs field by holding it at the origin. After inflation, the dark scalar oscillates in a quartic potential, behaving as dark radiation, and only when its amplitude drops below a critical value does the Higgs field acquire a non-zero vacuum expectation value. The dark scalar then becomes massive and starts behaving as cold dark matter until the present day. We further show that consistent scenarios require dark scalar masses in the few GeV range, which may be probed with future collider experiments.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2020

Superradiant pion clouds around primordial black holes

We show that highly spinning primordial black holes of mass $M\sim 10^{12}$ kg, potentially born in a matter-dominated era after inflation, can produce clouds of pions in their vicinity via the superradiant instability, with densities up to that of nuclear matter. We discuss the electromagnetic signatures of this process, via neutral pion decay and charged pion annihilation into photons, computing in particular their contribution to the isotropic gamma-ray background. This allows us to place upper bounds on the abundance of such primordial black holes that are comparable to the ones obtained from Hawking evaporation. We also discuss the possibility of directly observing such clouds in high-redshift superclusters.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2019

Warm Little Inflaton becomes Dark Energy

We present a model where the inflaton field behaves like quintessence at late times, generating the present phase of accelerated expansion. This is achieved within the framework of warm inflation, in particular the Warm Little Inflaton scenario, where the underlying symmetries guarantee a successful inflationary period in a warm regime sustained by dissipative effects without significant backreaction on the scalar potential. This yields a smooth transition into a radiation-dominated epoch, at which point dissipative effects naturally shut down as the temperature drops below the mass of the fermions directly coupled to the inflaton. The post-inflationary dynamics is then analogous to a thawing quintessence scenario, with no kination phase at the end of inflation. Observational signatures of this scenario include the modified consistency relation between the tensor-to-scalar ratio and tensor spectral index typical of warm inflation models, the variation of the dark energy equation of state at low redshifts characteristic of thawing quintessence scenarios, and correlated dark energy isocurvature perturbations.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2019

Warm inflation within a supersymmetric distributed mass model

We study the dynamics and observational predictions of warm inflation within a supersymmetric distributed mass model. This dissipative mechanism is well described by the interactions between the inflaton and a tower of chiral multiplets with a mass gap, such that different bosonic and fermionic fields become light as the inflaton scans the tower during inflation. We examine inflation for various mass distributions, analyzing in detail the dynamics and observational predictions. We show, in particular, that warm inflation can be consistently realized in this scenario for a broad parametric range and in excellent agreement with the Planck legacy data. Distributed mass models can be viewed as realizations of the landscape property of string theory, with the mass distributions coming from the underlying spectra of the theory, which themselves would be affected by the vacuum of the theory. We discuss the recently proposed swampland criteria for inflation models on the landscape and analyze the conditions under which they can be met within the distributed mass warm inflation scenario. We demonstrate mass distribution models with a range of consistency with the swampland criteria including cases in excellent consistency.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2018

Scale-invariant scalar field dark matter through the Higgs portal

We discuss the dynamics and phenomenology of an oscillating scalar field coupled to the Higgs boson that accounts for the dark matter in the Universe. The model assumes an underlying scale invariance such that the scalar field only acquires mass after the electroweak phase transition, behaving as dark radiation before the latter takes place. While for a positive coupling to the Higgs field the dark scalar is stable, for a negative coupling it acquires a vacuum expectation value after the electroweak phase transition and may decay into photon pairs, albeit with a mean lifetime much larger than the age of the Universe. We explore possible astrophysical and laboratory signatures of such a dark matter candidate in both cases, including annihilation and decay into photons, Higgs decay, photon-dark scalar oscillations and induced oscillations of fundamental constants. We find that dark matter within this scenario will be generically difficult to detect in the near future, except for the promising case of a 7 keV dark scalar decaying into photons, which naturally explains the observed galactic and extra-galactic 3.5 keV X-ray line.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2018

Scalar field dark matter with spontaneous symmetry breaking and the $3.5$ keV line

We show that the present dark matter abundance can be accounted for by an oscillating scalar field that acquires both mass and a non-zero expectation value from interactions with the Higgs field. The dark matter scalar field can be sufficiently heavy during inflation, due to a non-minimal coupling to gravity, so as to avoid the generation of large isocurvature modes in the CMB anisotropies spectrum. The field begins oscillating after reheating, behaving as radiation until the electroweak phase transition and afterwards as non-relativistic matter. The scalar field becomes unstable, although sufficiently long-lived to account for dark matter, due to mass mixing with the Higgs boson, decaying mainly into photon pairs for masses below the MeV scale. In particular, for a mass of $\sim 7$ keV, which is effectively the only free parameter, the model predicts a dark matter lifetime compatible with the recent galactic and extragalactic observations of a 3.5 keV X-ray line.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2018

Inflation with Planck: a survey of some "exotic" inflationary models

We examine some inflationary models based on modifications of gravity in the light of Planck 2015 data, such as the generalised Chaplygin inspired inflation, models based in $N=1$ supergravity and braneworld scenarios. We also show that, conversely, potentials with a very flat plateau yield a primordial spectrum similar to that of the Starobinsky model with no need to modify general relativity.

hep-th↗

arXiv2017

Inflation in non-minimal matter-curvature coupling theories

We study inflationary scenarios driven by a scalar field in the presence of a non-minimal coupling between matter and curvature. We show that the Friedmann equation can be significantly modified when the energy density during inflation exceeds a critical value determined by the non-minimal coupling, which in turn may considerably modify the spectrum of primordial perturbations and the inflationary dynamics. In particular, we show that these models are characterised by a consistency relation between the tensor-to-scalar ratio and the tensor spectral index that can differ significantly from the predictions of general relativity. We also give examples of observational predictions for some of the most commonly considered potentials and use the results of the Planck collaboration to set limits on the scale of the non-minimal coupling.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2016

Scalar field dark matter and the Higgs field

We discuss the possibility that dark matter corresponds to an oscillating scalar field coupled to the Higgs boson. We argue that the initial field amplitude should generically be of the order of the Hubble parameter during inflation, as a result of its quasi-de Sitter fluctuations. This implies that such a field may account for the present dark matter abundance for masses in the range $10^{-6} - 10^{-4}$ eV, if the tensor-to-scalar ratio is within the range of planned CMB experiments. We show that such mass values can naturally be obtained through either Planck-suppressed non-renormalizable interactions with the Higgs boson or, alternatively, through renormalizable interactions within the Randall-Sundrum scenario, where the dark matter scalar resides in the bulk of the warped extra-dimension and the Higgs is confined to the infrared brane.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2015

Testing General Relativity with Present and Future Astrophysical Observations

One century after its formulation, Einstein's general relativity has made remarkable predictions and turned out to be compatible with all experimental tests. Most of these tests probe the theory in the weak-field regime, and there are theoretical and experimental reasons to believe that general relativity should be modified when gravitational fields are strong and spacetime curvature is large. The best astrophysical laboratories to probe strong-field gravity are black holes and neutron stars, whether isolated or in binary systems. We review the motivations to consider extensions of general relativity. We present a (necessarily incomplete) catalog of modified theories of gravity for which strong-field predictions have been computed and contrasted to Einstein's theory, and we summarize our current understanding of the structure and dynamics of compact objects in these theories. We discuss current bounds on modified gravity from binary pulsar and cosmological observations, and we highlight the potential of future gravitational wave measurements to inform us on the behavior of gravity in the strong-field regime.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2015

Knotty inflation and the dimensionality of spacetime

We suggest a structure for the vacuum comprised of a network of tightly knotted/linked flux tubes formed in a QCD-like cosmological phase transition and show that such a network can drive cosmological inflation. As the network can be topologically stable only in three space dimensions, this scenario provides a dynamical explanation for the existence of exactly three large spatial dimensions in our Universe.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2013

Warm Inflection

While ubiquitous in supersymmetric and string theory models, inflationary scenarios near an inflection point in the scalar potential generically require a severe fine-tuning of a priori unrelated supersymmetry breaking effects. We show that this can be significantly alleviated by the inclusion of dissipative effects that damp the inflaton's motion and produce a nearly-thermal radiation bath. We focus on the case where the slow-rolling inflaton directly excites heavy virtual modes that then decay into light degrees of freedom, although our main qualitative results should apply in other regimes. Furthermore, our analysis shows that the minimum amount of dissipation required to keep the temperature of the radiation bath above the Hubble rate during inflation is largely independent of the degree of flatness of the potential, although it depends on the field value at the inflection point. We then discuss the relevance of this result to warm inflation model building.

hep-ph↗