arXiv subjects

Kin-Wang Ng

Publications and source records attributed to Kin-Wang Ng.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2017

Quantum Stress Tensor Fluctuations and Primordial Gravity Waves

We examine the effect of the stress tensor of a quantum matter field, such as the electromagnetic field, on the spectrum of primordial gravity waves expected in inflationary cosmology. We find that the net effect is a small reduction in the power spectrum, especially at higher frequencies, but which has a different form from that described by the usual spectral index. Thus this effect has a characteristic signature, and is in principle observable. The net effect is a sum of two contributions, one of which is due to quantum fluctuations of the matter field stress tensor. The other is a quantum correction to the graviton field due to coupling to the expectation value of this stress tensor. Both contributions are sensitive to initial conditions in the very early universe, so this effect has the potential to act as a probe of these initial conditions.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2016

A numerical study of pseudoscalar inflation with an axion-gauge field coupling

A numerical study of a pseudoscalar inflation having an axion-photon-like coupling is performed by solving numerically the coupled differential equations of motion for inflaton and photon mode functions from the onset of inflation to the end of reheating. The backreaction due to particle production is also included self-consistently. We find that this particular inflation model realizes the idea of a warm inflation in which a steady thermal bath is established by the particle production. In most cases this thermal bath exceeds the amount of radiation released in the reheating process. In the strong coupling regime, the transition from the inflationary to the radiation-dominated phase does not involve either a preheating or reheating process. In addition, energy density peaks produced near the end of inflation may lead to the formation of primordial black holes.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2015

Effects of Goldstone Bosons on Gamma-Ray Bursts

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are the most energetic explosion events in the universe. An amount of gravitational energy of the order of the rest-mass energy of the Sun is released from a small region, within seconds or longer. This should lead to the formation of a fireball of temperature in the MeV range, consisting of electrons/positrons, photons, and a small fraction of baryons. We exploit the potential of GRB fireballs for being a laboratory for testing particle physics beyond the Standard Model, where we find that Weinberg's Higgs portal model serves as a good candidate for this purpose. Due to the resonance effects, the Goldstone bosons can be rapidly produced by electron-positron annihilation process in the initial fireballs of the gamma-ray bursts. On the other hand, the mean free path of the Goldstone bosons is larger than the size of the GRB initial fireballs, so they are not coupled to the GRB's relativistic flow and can lead to significant energy loss. Using generic values for the GRB initial fireball energy, temperature, radius, expansion rate, and baryon number density, we find that the GRB bounds on the parameters of Weinberg's Higgs portal model are indeed competitive to current laboratory constraints.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2015

Cosmic Birefringence Fluctuations and Cosmic Microwave Background $B$-mode Polarization

Recently, BICEP2 measurements of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) $B$-mode polarization has indicated the presence of primordial gravitational waves at degree angular scales, inferring the tensor-to-scalar ratio of $r=0.2$ and a running scalar spectral index. In this {\em Letter}, we show that the existence of the fluctuations of cosmological birefringence can give rise to CMB $B$-mode polarization that fits BICEP2 data with $r<0.11$ and no running of the scalar spectral index. Thus, it might be too hasty to conclude that many inflation models with small $r$ are ruled out based on BICEP2 result.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2015

Inflationary dilaton-axion magnetogenesis

We discuss the generation of primordial magnetic fields during inflation in the dilaton-axion electromagnetism, in which the dilaton and axion dynamics are introduced in terms of two time dependent functions of the cosmic scale factor, $I(a) F^2/4$ and $J(a) F\tilde{F}/4$, respectively, where $F$ is the electromagnetic field strength and $\tilde{F}$ is its dual. We study the form of $J(a)$ that can generate a large seed magnetic field in the weak coupling regime, $I(a)<1$. Although the $J(a)$ function is model dependent, the axion-photon coupling indeed opens up a new window for a successful inflationary magnetogenesis.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2014

Naturally large tensor-to-scalar ratio in inflation

Recently, BICEP2 measurements of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) $B$-mode polarization at degree angular scales has indicated the presence of tensor modes with a high tensor-to-scalar ratio of $r=0.2$ when assuming nearly scale-invariant tensor and scalar spectra, although the signal may be contaminated by dust emission as implied by the recent {\em Planck} polarization data. This result is in conflict with the {\em Planck} best-fit Lambda Cold Dark Model with $r<0.11$. Due to the fact that inflaton has to be interacting with other fields so as to convert its potential energy into radiation to reheat the Universe, the interacting inflaton may result in a suppression of the scalar spectrum at large scales. This suppression has been used to explain the observed low quadrupole in the CMB anisotropy. In this paper, we show that a combination of the tensor modes measured by BICEP2 and the large-scale suppressed scalar modes contributes to the CMB anisotropy in such a way that the resultant CMB anisotropy and polarization power spectra are consistent with both {\em Planck} and BICEP2 data. We also project our findings to cases in which $r$ may become reduced in future CMB polarization measurements.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2014

Inflaton fluctuations in the presence of cosmological defects

We study quantum fluctuations of a free massless scalar field during inflation in the presence of a point, line, or plane defect such as a black hole, cosmic string, or domain wall, using a perturbative expansion in powers of small defect parameters. We provide results for the scalar two-point correlation functions that show explicitly a small violation of translational invariance during inflation.

hep-th↗

arXiv2014

Dark Photon as Fractional Cosmic Neutrino Masquerader

Recently, Weinberg proposed a Higgs portal model with a spontaneously broken global $U(1)$ symmetry in which Goldstone bosons may be masquerading as fractional cosmic neutrinos. We extend the model by gauging the $U(1)$ symmetry. This gives rise to the so-called dark photon and dark Higgs. The dark photons can constitute about 0.912 (0.167) to the effective number of light neutrino species if they decouple from the thermal bath before the pions become non-relativistic and after (before) the QCD transition. Restriction on the parameter space of the portal coupling and the dark Higgs mass is obtained from the freeze-out condition of the dark photons. Combining with the collider data constraints on the invisible width of the standard model Higgs requires the dark Higgs mass to be less than a few GeV.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2014

Imprint of Scalar Dark Energy on Cosmic Microwave Background Polarization

We study the imprint of a coupling of scalar dark energy to photon on the cosmic microwave background (CMB) polarization. The time-evolving field value as well as the perturbation of the scalar generically induce $B$-mode polarization. Future CMB data will find either a cosmic parity violation in temperature-polarization correlation due to the field value, or perturbation-induced $B$-mode polarization that is almost indistinguishable from that generated by gravitational lensing or primordial gravitational waves.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2014

Teleparallel Poincaré Cosmology and $Λ$CDM Model

We apply the teleparallelism condition to the Poincaré gauge theory of gravity. The resultant teleparallelized cosmology is completely equivalent to the Friedmann cosmology derived from Einstein's general theory of relativity. The torsion is shown to play the role of the cosmological constant driving the cosmic acceleration. We then extend such theory to include the effect of spin and explore the possibility of accounting for the current accelerating universe by a spinning dark energy.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2013

Cluster number counts in quintessence models

Even though the abundance and evolution of clusters have been used to study the cosmological parameters including the properties of dark energy owing to their pure dependence on the geometry of the Universe and the power spectrum, it is necessary to pay particular attention to the effects of dark energy on the analysis. We obtain the explicit dark energy dependent {\it rms} linear mass fluctuation $σ_8$ which is consistent with the CMB normalization with less than $2$ % errors for general constant dark energy equation of state, $\oQ$. Thus, we do not have any degeneracy between $σ_8$ and the matter energy density contrast $\Omo$. When we use the correct value of the critical density threshold $δ_{c} = 1.58$ obtained recently \cite{09090826, 09100126} into the cluster number density $n$ calculation in the Press-Schechter (PS) formalism, $n$ increases as compared to the one obtained by using $δ_{c} = 1.69$ by about $60$, $80$, and $110$ % at $z = 0$, $0.5$, and $1$, respectively. Thus, PS formalism predicts the cluster number consistent with both simulation and observed data at the high mass region. We also introduce the improved coefficients of Sheth-Tormen (ST) formalism, which is consistent with the recently suggested mass function \cite{10052239}. We found that changing $\oQ$ by $Δ\oQ = -0.1$ from $\oQ = -1.0$ causes the changing of the comoving numbers of high mass clusters of $M = 10^{16} h^{-1} M_{\odot}$ by about $20$ and $40$ % at $z = 0$ and $1$, respectively.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2013

Supernova Bounds on Weinberg's Goldstone Bosons

Recently, Weinberg proposed a scenario where Goldstone bosons may be masquerading as fractional cosmic neutrinos. We calculate the energy loss rates through the emission of these Goldstone bosons in a post-collapse supernova core. Invoking the well established emissivity bound from the Supernova 1987A observations and simulations, we find that nuclear bremsstrahlung processes can notably impose a bound on the Goldstone boson coupling to the Standard Model Higgs, $g$, dependent on the mass of the associated radial field, $m_r$. For $m_r$ large enough compared with the temperature in the post-collapse supernova core, our bound is $|g| \lesssim 0.011\, (m_r / 500~{\rm MeV})^2$, very competitive to that derived from collider experiments.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2013

Primordial Black Holes from Passive Density Fluctuations

In this paper, we show that if passive fluctuations are considered, primordial black holes (PBHs) can be easily produced in the framework of single-field, slow-roll inflation models. The formation of PBHs is due to the blue spectrum of passive fluctuations and an enhancement of the spectral range which exits horizon near the end of inflation. Therefore the PBHs are light with masses $\lesssim 10^{15}g$ depending on the number of e-folds when the scale of our observable universe leaves horizon. These PBHs are likely to have evaporated and cannot be a candidate for dark matter but they may still affect the early universe.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2012

Damping of tensor modes in inflation

We discuss the damping of tensor modes due to anisotropic stress in inflation. The effect is negligible in standard inflation and may be significantly large in inflation models that involve drastic production of free-streaming particles.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2011

Trapping effects on inflation

We develop a Lagrangian approach based on the influence functional method so as to derive self-consistently the Langevin equation for the inflaton field in the presence of trapping points along the inflaton trajectory. The Langevin equation exhibits the backreaction and the fluctuation-dissipation relation of the trapping. The fluctuation is induced by a multiplicative colored noise that can be identified as the the particle number density fluctuations and the dissipation is a new effect that may play a role in the trapping with a strong coupling. In the weak coupling regime, we calculate the power spectrum of the noise-driven inflaton fluctuations for a single trapping point and studied its variation with the trapping location. We also consider a case with closely spaced trapping points and find that the resulting power spectrum is blue.

hep-th↗

arXiv2011

Quantum Stress Tensor Fluctuation Effects in Inflationary Cosmology

We review several related investigations of the effects of the quantum stress tensor of a conformal field in inflationary cosmology. Particular attention will be paid to the effects of quantum stress tensor fluctuations as a source of density and tensor perturbations in inflationary models. These effects can possibly depend upon the total expansion factor during inflation, and hence be much larger than one might otherwise expect. They have the potential to contribute a non-scale invariant and non-Gaussian component to the primordial spectrum of perturbations, and might be observable.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2011

Photon production from non-equilibrium disoriented chiral condensates in a longitudinal expansion : A theoretic framework

A theoretical framework is developed for treating the quantization of the photons in a spacetime with a longitudinal expansion. This can be used to study the production of the photons through the non-equilibrium relaxation of a disoriented chiral condensate presumably formed in the expanding hot central region in ultra-relativistic heavy-ion collisions. These photons can be a signature of the formation of disoriented chiral condensates in the direct photon measurements of heavy-ion collisions.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2011

Gravity Waves from Quantum Stress Tensor Fluctuations in Inflation

We consider the effects of the quantum stress tensor fluctuations of a conformal field in generating gravity waves in inflationary models. We find a non-scale invariant, non-Gaussian contribution which depends upon the total expansion factor between an initial time and the end of inflation. This spectrum of gravity wave perturbations is an illustration of a negative power spectrum, which is possible in quantum field theory. We discuss possible choices for the initial conditions. If the initial time is taken to be sufficiently early, the fluctuating gravity waves are potentially observable both in the CMB radiation and in gravity wave detectors, and could offer a probe of transplanckian physics. The fact that they have not yet been observed might be used to constrain the duration and energy scale of inflation.

gr-qc↗