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Juan Barranco

Publications and source records attributed to Juan Barranco.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Noble gravitational atoms: Self-gravitating black hole scalar wigs with angular momentum number

We present new spherically symmetric solutions of the Einstein-Klein-Gordon equations in a quasi-stationary approximation that describe self-gravitating scalar field configurations around a black hole, including angular momentum number $\ell$. An approach analogous to the one which gives rise to $\ell$-boson stars is used here to construct self-gravitating ``gravitational atoms" with $\ell\ge0$. We refer to these new solutions as {\it noble gravitational atoms}, by analogy with noble atoms, which are characterized by closed electron shells. We show that, in the proper limit, noble gravitational atoms approach $\ell$-boson stars globally, displaying noticeable differences only in a region very close to the event horizon. Noble gravitational atoms with $\ell>0$ sometimes present density maxima located at relatively large radii, with small density close to the horizon for $\ell>1$. Furthermore, they do not always present the typical density spike at the event horizon if $\ell > 0$; on the contrary, they sometimes exhibit a small dip there. When $\ell=0$, a spike can appear, but its contribution to the total mass density is always negligible. The size, density, and lifetime of these objects vary significantly depending on the parameters, being in some cases as large as galaxies, as dilute as dark matter, and as long-lived as the Universe itself.

gr-qc

Modeling dark matter halos with self-interacting fermions: A polytropic approach

In this work we study the possibility of modeling the dark matter content in galaxies as a core-halo model consisting of self-gravitating, self-interacting fermions by means of an effective polytropic equation of state. For the core of the halo, the dark matter fermions are degenerate, while for the halo we have considered two possibilities: the fermions have thermalized as a perfect fluid, or they will follow a standard cold dark matter Navarro-Frenk-White profile. The core density profile is obtained by solving the Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkoff equations, and their properties are determined by the fermion mass, the central density and the interaction strength. The mass of the fermion and the strength of the fermion self-interaction is fixed by doing a $\chi^2$ analysis to fit that fit the rotational curves of Low Surface Brightness galaxies. It was found that the fermion mass should be in the range $155.10~\rm{eV}< m_{f} < 313.26~\rm{eV}$ and the interparticle strength in the range $1465.31 < y <6002.04$ at $68$ C.L. in order to reproduce the rotational curves adequately, in the case when the halo is modeled as a thermalized ideal gas. Similar values are obtained if the halo is modeled following a Navarro-Frenk-White case, namely $42.31 ~\rm{eV} < m_{f} <49.23 ~\rm{eV}$ and $71.43< y < 132.65$. Once fixed the values of the mass of the fermion $m_f$ and the interaction strength $y$, we tested the core-halo model with data from the Milky Way, local dwarf spheroidal galaxies and the SPARC database. We have found good agreement between the data and the core-halo models, varying only one free parameter: the central density. Thus a single fermion can fit hundreds of galaxies. Nevertheless, the dark matter halo surface density relation or the halo total mass and radius depend strongly on the model for the halo.

hep-ph

Probing a minimal dark gauge sector via microlensing of compact dark objects

We introduce a minimal Dark Standard Model (DSM) consisting of a single spin-0 particle with dark $U(1)$ gauge symmetry, and completely decoupled from the visible sector. Characterized only by the scalar mass $\mu$ and the dark charge $q$, this framework naturally gives rise to a rich phenomenology, including stable solitonic configurations that behave as dark "mini-MACHOs". We numerically build and evolve these gauged scalar-field solitons, derive their mass-radius relations, and identify a critical charge beyond which no gravitationally bound configurations exist. By combining these results with microlensing surveys that exclude compact objects heavier than the asteroid-mass scale ($M\lesssim 10^{-11}M_\odot$), we obtain the constraint $\mu\gtrsim 10\,\rm eV$ for viable configurations, depending on $q$. Our results represent a step forward in showing that purely gravitational observations can constrain the internal parameters of a dark gauge sector, and provide a framework for exploring broader DSM scenarios through future probes such as gravitational wave detections.

hep-ph

Dark-to-black super accretion as a mechanism for early supermassive black hole growth

The discovery of supermassive black holes with masses $\gtrsim 10^9 M_\odot$ at redshifts $z\gtrsim 10$ challenges conventional formation scenarios based on baryonic accretion and mergers within the first few hundred million years. We propose an alternative channel in which ultralight scalar dark matter undergoes dark-to-black conversion via quasi-bound state depletion around black hole seeds. We estimate the accretion rate of the scalar field as a function of the boson mass parameter $\mu$ and the black hole mass $M_{\rm BH}$, and integrate this rate over cosmological timescales. Our results show that once a critical value of $\mu M_{\rm BH}$ is reached, scalar field accretion becomes highly efficient, enabling substantial black hole growth even from relatively small initial seed masses. For boson masses $\mu \sim 10^{-19}-10^{-16}\,\mathrm{eV}$, black hole seeds of $10^2-10^5 M_\odot$ can reach $10^6-10^8 M_\odot$ within $\sim 10^8$ yr. This dark-to-black mechanism provides a natural pathway for the rapid formation of massive black holes in the early universe, offering a potential probe of the microphysical nature of dark matter.

astro-ph.CO

Looking for optimal materials for whispering gallery modes applications at the 2 $\mu$m window

The diverse applications of whispering gallery modes in spherical microresonators are strongly related to the sphere size and material composition. Their design should therefore be optimized to ensure that parameters such as the quality factor and the free spectral range are maximized. Because of the imminent capacity crisis of the optical communication systems operating at the 1550 nm wavelength regime, it is time to explore optical communications at the 2 $\mu\mbox{m}$ wavelength window. In this work, we analytically investigate key resonator parameters - quality factor and free spectral range - as a function of wavelength, aiming to establish a methodology to help identify optimal materials for whispering gallery mode sensors, with special attention at the 2 $\mu\mbox{m}$ wavelength window. Specifically, we examine three materials: fused silica, AsSe chalcogenide glass and calcium fluoride, and we perform a comparison between them in order to identify the region in the parameter space of resonant wavelengths and sphere radius, $(\lambda_R,R$), where the WGM resonators are optimal at wavelengths $1.8 \mu\mbox{m}<\lambda<2.1 \mu\mbox{m}$.

physics.optics

Gravitational atoms beyond the test field limit: The case of Sgr A* and ultralight dark matter

We construct gravitational atoms including self-gravity, obtaining solutions of the Einstein-Klein-Gordon equations for a scalar field surrounding a non-rotating black hole in a quasi-stationary approximation. We resolve the region near the horizon as well as the far field region. Our results are relevant in a wide range of masses, from ultralight to MeV scalar fields and for black holes ranging from primordial to supermassive. For instance, a system with a scalar field consistent with ultralight dark matter and a black hole mass comparable to that of Sagittarius A* can be modeled. A density spike near the event horizon, although present, is negligible, contrasting with the prediction in [P. Gondolo and Silk, Phys. Rev. Lett., 83:1719-1722, 1999] for cold dark matter.

gr-qc

Constrains on dark matter cross section with standard model particles from the orbital period decay of binary pulsars

It is shown that the data from the orbital period decay of binary pulsars give strong constraints on the dark matter-nucleons cross section. The limits are robust and competitive because this new method for testing dark matter interactions with standard model particles has a minimal number of assumptions combined with the extremely high accuracy on the measurement of the decay rate of the orbital period of binary systems. Our results exclude (with 95% confidence) spin independent interactions with cross sections greater that 3.1x10-31 cm2 for a dark matter particle with mass mc2 = 1 keV and 3.7x10-31 cm2 for mc2= 1 TeV which improves by several orders of magnitude previous constraints.

astro-ph.HE

Preliminary Study on Dark Matter-Dominated Systems: Further Analysis for galactic dark matter halos with Pressure

Low surface brightness galaxies are an excellent laboratory where stars and baryonic matter act as tracers of the gravitational potential of the dark matter halo. If dark matter is modeled as a perfect fluid, then spherically symmetric and static dark matter halos in hydrostatic equilibrium demand that dark matter should have an intrinsic pressure that counteracts the gravitational attraction that the dark matter halo exerts on itself. This static fluid (dark matter-dominated system, where the presence of baryons is negligible) has a specific equation of state for each rotational velocity profile of the stars in galaxies. In this work, we study the dark matter equation of state needed for the self-gravitating object to produce a gravitational potential such that the tracers follow the Universal Rotational Velocity Profile for stars of spiral galaxies proposed by Persic et al. (1996) and analyze the properties of the self-gravitating structures that emerge from this equation of state.The resulting configurations explaining the observed rotational speeds are found to be unstable. We conclude that the halo is not in hydrostatic equilibrium, it is nonspherically symmetric, or it is not static if the universal velocity profile should be valid for fitting the rotational velocity curve of the galaxies.

astro-ph.GA

Thermodynamics sheds light on the nature of dark matter galactic halos

In spherical symmetry, the gravitational potential is uniquely determined by the rotational velocity profile. Numerous galaxies exhibit a universal velocity profile from which a universal gravitational profile is inferred. When treating dark matter as either an ideal gas, a Fermi gas, or a Bose gas, only the latter can produce a gravitational profile consistent with observations, along with a temperature profile that decreases outward. This requires the mass of the boson to be below a certain threshold of $43\mbox{ eV}/c^2$. Additionally, ensuring that the speed of sound is less than the speed of light yields a lower bound on the boson's mass.

astro-ph.GA

Boson stars and their relatives in semiclassical gravity

We construct boson star configurations in quantum field theory using the semiclassical gravity approximation. Restricting our attention to the static case, we show that the semiclassical Einstein-Klein-Gordon system for a {\it single real quantum} scalar field whose state describes the excitation of $N$ {\it identical particles}, each one corresponding to a given energy level, can be reduced to the Einstein-Klein-Gordon system for $N$ {\it complex classical} scalar fields. Particular consideration is given to the spherically symmetric static scenario, where energy levels are labeled by quantum numbers $n$, $\ell$ and $m$. When all particles are accommodated in the ground state $n=\ell=m=0$, one recovers the standard static boson star solutions, that can be excited if $n\neq 0$. On the other hand, for the case where all particles have fixed radial and total angular momentum numbers $n$ and $\ell$, with $\ell\neq 0$, but are homogeneously distributed with respect to their magnetic number $m$, one obtains the $\ell$-boson stars, whereas when $\ell=m=0$ and $n$ takes multiple values, the multi-state boson star solutions are obtained. Further generalizations of these configurations are presented, including the multi-$\ell$ multi-state boson stars, that constitute the most general solutions to the $N$-particle, static, spherically symmetric, semiclassical real Einstein-Klein-Gordon system, in which the total number of particles is definite. In spite of the fact that the same spacetime configurations also appear in multi-field classical theories, in semiclassical gravity they arise naturally as the quantum fluctuations associated with the state of a single field describing a many-body system. Our results could have potential impact on direct detection experiments in the context of ultralight scalar field/fuzzy dark matter candidates.

gr-qc

Self-interacting scalar field distributions around Schwarzschild black holes

Long-lived configurations of massive scalar fields around black holes may form if the coupling between the mass of the scalar field and the mass of the black hole is very small. In this work we analyze the effect of self-interaction in the distribution of the long-lived cloud surrounding a static black hole. We consider both attractive and repulsive self-interactions. By solving numerically the Klein Gordon equation on a fixed background in the frequency domain, we find that the spatial distribution of quasi stationary states may be larger as compared to the non interacting case. We performed a time evolution to determine the effect of the self-interaction on the life time of the configurations our findings indicate that the contribution of the self-interaction is subdominant.

gr-qc

Scalar field dark matter with two components: combined approach from particle physics and cosmology

In this work we explore the possibility of incorporating particle physics motivated scalar fields to the dark matter cosmological model. In this landscape, we consider the classical complex scalar field in a certain region in the parameter space of the model that increases the number of neutrino species $N_{\mathrm{eff}}$, in order to be consistent with the observed abundance of light elements produced at Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (BBN). We perform analyses using one and two scalar fields. We examine the difference between these models and the priors considered at the edges of the cosmic ladder, this with the purpose of studying the impact of such models on the Hubble cosmic flow. In the two scalar field models we explore the possibility of combining an axion and a Higgs-like field as well as a Higgs-like field and the classical field, we show that in the first case there is no set of parameters that allows us to be consistent with $N_\mathrm{eff}$, while in the second case a strong restriction to the set of parameters is obtained. This last restriction is given in terms of a maximum bound of the fraction of Higgs-like field that can be incorporated together with the classical field. Our results could be relevant in the direct dark matter detection programs.

astro-ph.CO

Head-on collisions of $\ell$-boson stars

Fully non-linear numerical evolutions of the Einstein-(multi)--Klein-Gordon equations are performed to study head-on collisions of $\ell$-boson stars. Despite being spherically symmetric, $\ell$-boson stars have a (hidden) frame of reference, used in defining their individual multipolar fields. To assess the impact of their relative orientation, we perform simulations with different angles between the axes of the two colliding stars. Additionally, two scenarios are considered for the colliding stars: that they are composites of either the same or different scalar fields. Despite some model-specific behaviours, the simulations generically indicate that: 1) the collision of two sufficiently (and equally) massive stars leads to black hole formation; 2) below a certain mass threshold the end result of the evolution is a bound state of the composite scalar fields, that neither disperses nor collapses into a black hole within the simulation time; 3) this end product (generically) deviates from spherical symmetry and the equipartition of the number of bosonic particles between the different scalar fields composing the initial boson stars is lost, albeit not dramatically. This last observation indicates, albeit without being conclusive, that the end result of these collisions belongs to the previously reported larger family of equilibrium multi-field boson stars, generically non-spherical, and of which $\ell$-boson stars are a symmetry enhanced point. We also extract and discuss the waveforms from the collisions studied.

gr-qc

Extreme $\ell$-boson stars

A new class of complex scalar field objects, which generalize the well known boson stars, was recently found as solutions to the Einstein-Klein-Gordon system. The generalization consists in incorporating some of the effects of angular momentum, while still maintaining the spacetime's spherical symmetry. These new solutions depend on an (integer) angular parameter $\ell$, and hence were named $\ell$-boson stars. Like the standard $\ell=0$ boson stars these configurations admit a stable branch in the solution space; however, contrary to them they have a morphology that presents a shell-like structure with a "hole" in the internal region. In this article we perform a thorough exploration of the parameter space, concentrating particularly on the extreme cases with large values of $\ell$. We show that the shells grow in size with the angular parameter, doing so linearly for large values, with the size growing faster than the thickness. Their mass also increases with $\ell$, but in such a way that their compactness, while also growing monotonically, converges to a finite value corresponding to about one half of the Buchdahl limit for stable configurations. Furthermore, we show that $\ell$-boson stars can be highly anisotropic, with the radial pressure diminishing relative to the tangential pressure for large $\ell$, reducing asymptotically to zero, and with the maximum density also approaching zero. We show that these properties can be understood by analyzing the asymptotic limit $\ell\rightarrow\infty$ of the field equations and their solutions. We also analyze the existence and characteristics of both timelike and null circular orbits, especially for very compact solutions.

gr-qc

Horndeski stars

We establish the existence of time-dependent solitons in a modified gravity framework, which is defined by the low energy limit of theories with a weakly broken galileon symmetry and a mass term. These are regular vacuum configurations of finite energy characterized by a single continuous parameter representing the amplitude of the scalar degree of freedom at the origin. When the central field amplitude is small the objects are indistinguishable from boson stars. In contrast, increasing the central value of the amplitude triggers the effect of higher derivative operators in the effective theory, leading to departures from the previous solutions, until the theory becomes strongly coupled and model-dependent. The higher order operators are part of the (beyond) Horndeski theory, hence the name of the compact objects. Moreover, a remnant of the galileon non-renormalization theorem guarantees that the existence and properties of these solutions are not affected by quantum corrections. Finally, we discuss the linear stability under small radial perturbations, the mass-radius relation, the compactness, the appearance of innermost stable circular orbits and photon spheres, and some astrophysical signatures (accretion disks, gravitational radiation and lensing) that may be relevant to falsify the model.

gr-qc

On the linear stability of $\ell$-boson stars with respect to radial perturbations

In previous work we constructed new boson star solutions consisting of a family of massive complex scalar fields minimally coupled to gravity in which the individual fields have angular momentum, yet the configuration as a whole is static and spherically symmetric. In the present article we study the linear stability of these $\ell$-boson stars with respect to time-dependent, radial perturbations. The pulsation equations, governing the dynamics of such perturbations are derived, generalizing previous work initiated by M. Gleiser, and shown to give rise to a two-channel Schrödinger operator. Using standard tools from the literature, we show that for each fixed value $\ell$ of the angular momentum number, there exists a family of $\ell$-boson stars which are linearly stable with respect to radial fluctuations; in this case the perturbations oscillate in time with given characteristic frequencies which are computed and compared with the results from a nonlinear numerical simulation. Further, there is also a family of $\ell$-boson stars which are linearly unstable. The two families are separated by the configuration with maximum mass. These results are qualitatively similar to the corresponding stability results of the standard boson stars with $\ell=0$, and they imply the existence of new stable configurations that are more massive and compact than usual boson stars.

gr-qc

Dynamical $\ell$-boson stars: generic stability and evidence for non-spherical solutions

$\ell$-boson stars are static, spherical, multi-field self-gravitating solitons. They are asymptotically flat, finite energy solutions of Einstein's gravity minimally coupled to an odd number of massive, complex scalar fields. A previous study assessed the stability of $\ell$-boson stars under spherical perturbations, finding that there are both stable and unstable branches of solutions, as for single-field boson stars ($\ell=0$). In this work we probe the stability of $\ell$-boson stars against non-spherical perturbations by performing numerical evolutions of the Einstein-Klein-Gordon system, with a 3D code. For the timescales explored, the $\ell$-boson stars belonging to the spherical stable branch do not exhibit measurable growing modes. We find, however, evidence of zero modes; that is, non-spherical perturbations that neither grow nor decay. This suggests the branching off towards a larger family of equilibrium solutions: we conjecture that $\ell$-boson stars are the enhanced isometry point of a larger family of static (and possibly stationary), non-spherical multi-field self-gravitating solitons.

gr-qc

Dynamical evolutions of $\ell$-boson stars in spherical symmetry

In previous work, we have found new static, spherically symmetric boson star solutions which generalize the standard boson stars by allowing a particular superposition of scalar fields in which each of the fields is characterized by a fixed value of its non-vanishing angular momentum number $\ell$. We call such solutions "$\ell$-boson stars". Here, we perform a series of fully non-linear dynamical simulations of perturbed $\ell$-boson stars in order to study their stability, and the final fate of unstable configurations. We show that for each value of $\ell$, the configuration of maximum mass separates the parameter space into stable and unstable regions. Stable configurations, when perturbed, oscillate around the unperturbed solution and very slowly return to a stationary configuration. Unstable configurations, in contrast, can have three different final states: collapse to a black hole, migration to the stable branch, or explosion (dissipation) to infinity. Just as it happens with $\ell=0$ boson stars, migration to the stable branch or dissipation to infinity depends on the sign of the total binding energy of the star: bound unstable stars collapse to black holes or migrate to the stable branch, whereas unbound unstable stars either collapse to a black hole or explode to infinity. Thus, the parameter $\ell$ allows us to construct a new set of stable configurations. All our simulations are performed in spherical symmetry, leaving a more detailed stability analysis including non-spherical perturbations for future work.

gr-qc