arXiv subjects

Koushik Dutta

Publications and source records attributed to Koushik Dutta.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2020

Fibre inflation and precision CMB data

Generic features of models of inflation obtained from string compactifications are the correlations between the model parameters and the postinflationary evolution of the universe. Thus, the postinflationary evolution depends on the inflationary model parameters and accurate inflationary predictions require that this be incorporated in the evolution of the primordial spectrum. The fibre inflation model is a promising model of inflation constructed in type IIB string theory. This model has two interesting features in its postinflationary evolution. The reheating temperature of the model is directly correlated with the model parameters. The model also necessarily predicts some dark radiation, which can be sizable for certain choices of discrete parameters in the model. We analyze this model in detail using publicly available codes - ModeChord and CosmoMC with the latest Planck+BICEP2/Keck array data to constrain the model parameters and $N_{\rm pivot}$ (the number of $e$-foldings between horizon exit of the CMB pivot mode and the end of inflation). We also carry out the same analysis using the publicly available code Cobaya. We find the results of both the analysis to be in agreement. Our analysis provides the basic methods necessary to extract precise inflationary prediction in string models incorporating correlations between model parameters and postinflationary evolution.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2020

Non-thermal Hot Dark Matter from Inflaton/Moduli Decay: The Momentum Distribution and Relaxing the Cosmological Mass Bound

Decay of the inflaton or moduli which dominated the energy density of the universe at early times leads to a matter to radiation transition epoch. We consider non-thermal sterile dark matter particles produced as decay product during such transitions. The particles have a characteristic energy distribution - that associated with decays taking place in a matter dominated universe evolving to radiation domination. We primarily focus on the case when the particles are hot dark matter, and study their effects on the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) and Large Scale Structure (LSS), explicitly taking into account their non-thermal momentum distribution. Our results for CMB angular power and linear matter power spectra reveal interesting features - such as an order of magnitude higher values of hot dark matter mass in comparison to the thermal case being consistent with the present data. We observe that this is related to the fact that $ΔN_{\rm eff}$ and the hot DM energy density can be independent of each other unlike the case of thermal or non-resonantly produced sterile hot DM. We also find features in the CMB at low $\ell$ angular power potentially related to supersonic transmission of hot dark matter through the photon-baryon plasma.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2020

Acceleration Relations in the Milky Way as Differentiators of Modified Gravity Theories

The dynamical mass of galaxies and the Newtonian acceleration generated from the baryons have been found to be strongly correlated. This correlation is known as 'Mass-Discrepancy Acceleration Relation' (MDAR). Further investigations have revealed a tighter relation - 'Radial Acceleration Relation' (RAR) - between the observed total acceleration and the (Newtonian) acceleration produced by the baryons. So far modified gravity theories have remained more successful than $Λ$CDM to explain these relations. However, a recent investigation has pointed out that, when RAR is expressed as a difference between the observed acceleration and the expected Newtonian acceleration due to baryons (which has been called the 'Halo acceleration relation or HAR'), it provides a stronger test for modified gravity theories and dark matter hypothesis. Extending our previous work \citep{kt2018}, we present a case study of modified gravity theories, in particular Weyl conformal gravity and Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND), using recent inferred acceleration data for the Milky Way. We investigate how well these theories of gravity and the RAR scaling law can explain the current observation.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2020

Beyond $Λ$CDM with Low and High Redshift Data: Implications for Dark Energy

Assuming that the Universe at higher redshifts (z \sim 4 and beyond) is consistent with LCDM model as constrained by the Planck measurements, we reanalyze the low redshift cosmological data to reconstruct the Hubble parameter as a function of redshift. This enables us to address the H_0 and other tensions between low z observations and high z Planck measurement from CMB. From the reconstructed H(z), we compute the energy density for the "dark energy" sector of the Universe as a function of redshift without assuming a specific model for dark energy. We find that the dark energy density has a minimum for certain redshift range and that the value of dark energy at this minimum is negative. This behavior can most simply be described by a negative cosmological constant plus an evolving dark energy component. We discuss possible theoretical and observational implications of such a scenario.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2019

Modified Gravity Theories in Light of the Anomalous Velocity Dispersion of NGC1052-DF2

Recent observations of ultra-dwarf galaxy NGC1052-DF2 started an interesting discussion between dark matter hypothesis and modified gravity theories. Reported low velocity dispersion (< 10.5 km/s at 90% confidence level) derived from the kinematic data of 10 globular clusters in the galaxy points towards an extraordinarily low dynamical mass ($\sim$ $3.4 \times 10^{8} M_{\odot}$) which is of the same order of the luminous mass ($\sim$ $2.0 \times 10^{8} M_{\odot}$) in the galaxy. This has been interpreted as the first evidence of a galaxy `without Dark Matter'. It has been argued that dark matter is not necessarily coupled to the the baryonic mass on the galactic scale and poses a challenge to modified gravity theories. We explore the dynamics of NGC1052-DF2 within the context of four popular alternative theories of gravity [Modified Newtonian Dynamcies (MOND), Weyl Conformal gravity, Modified gravity (MOG)/Scalar-Tensor-Vector Gravity (STVG) and Verlinde's Emergent gravity] and present the analysis of detailed radial variation of the velocity dispersion. We demonstrate that the dispersion data of NGC1052-DF2 is fully consistent with modified gravity paradigm (as well as with general relativity without dark matter). We reach similar conclusion for the ultra-dwarf NGC1052-DF4 which has been claimed to be the second candidate for galaxies `without Dark Matter'.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2019

Cosmology With Low-Redshift Observations: No Signal For New Physics

We analyse various low-redshift cosmological data from Type-Ia Supernova, Baryon Acoustic Oscillations, Time-Delay measurements using Strong-Lensing, $H(z)$ measurements using Cosmic Chronometers and growth measurements from large scale structure observations for $Λ$CDM and some different dark energy models. By calculating the Bayesian Evidence for different dark energy models, we find out that the $Λ$CDM still gives the best fit to the data with $H_{0}=70.3^{+1.36}_{-1.35}$ Km/s/Mpc (at $1σ$). This value is in $2σ$ or less tension with various low and high redshift measurements for $H_{0}$ including SH0ES, Planck-2018 and the recent results from H0LiCOW-XIII. The derived constraint on $S_{8}=σ_{8}\sqrt{Ω_{m0}/{0.3}}$ from our analysis is $S_{8} = 0.76^{+0.03}_{-0.03}$, fully consistent with direct measurement of $S_{8}$ by KiDS+VIKING-450+DES1 survey. We hence conclude that the $Λ$CDM model with parameter constraints obtained in this work is consistent with different early and late Universe observations within $2σ$. We therefore, do not find any compelling reason to go beyond concordance $Λ$CDM model.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2018

Testing Weyl Gravity at Galactic and Extra-galactic Scales

We examine the viability of Weyl conformal gravity as an alternative to the general theory of relativity. By using the extended rotation curve of the Milky Way and velocity dispersions of four globular clusters, we show that Weyl gravity predictions without resorting to dark matter comply with observations at the galactic scale. For the Milky Way, we demonstrate that the uncertainty in baryonic modelling results a bracket of possible rotational velocities which well encompasses the diversity in rotation curve construction. Such diversity generally arises from differences in measurements of velocity anisotropy parameter, and the circular speed and Galactocentric distance of the Sun. Furthermore, we explore the ability of Weyl gravity to account for the inferred acceleration of Abell cluster 1689.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2018

Constraining Non-thermal Dark Matter by CMB

A period of early matter domination can give rise to the correct dark matter abundance for a broad range of dark matter annihilation rate $\langle σ_{\rm ann} v \rangle_{\rm f}$. Here, we examine this scenario for situations where $\langle σ_{\rm ann} v \rangle_{\rm f}$ is below the nominal value for thermal dark matter $3 \times 10^{-26}$ cm$^3$ s$^{-1}$ as possibly indicated by some recent experiments. We show that obtaining the correct relic abundance sets a lower bound on the duration of early matter domination era in this case. On the other hand, provided that the post-inflationary universe has an equation of state characterized by $w \leq 1/3$, the requirement that the scalar spectral index $n_s$ be within the observationally allowed range limits the duration of this epoch from above. By combining these considerations, we show that the current and future cosmic microwave background experiments can tightly constrain the parameter space for this scenario. In particular, models of inflation with a tensor-to-scalar ratio below ${\cal O}(0.01)$ may disfavor non-thermal supersymmetric dark matter from a modulus-driven early matter domination epoch.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2018

Confronting Kähler moduli inflation with CMB data

In models of inflation obtained from string compactification, moduli vacuum misalignment leads to an epoch in the post-inflationary history of the universe when the energy density is dominated by cold moduli particles. This effect leads to a modification in the number of $e$-foldings ($N_{\rm pivot}$) between horizon exit of the CMB modes and the end of inflation. Taking Kähler moduli inflation as a prototype, the shift in $e$-foldings turns out to be a function of the model parameters which also determines the inflationary observables. We analyse this scenario numerically using publicly available {\sc{ModeChord}} and {\sc{CosmoMC}} with the latest \emph{Planck+BICEP2/Keck array} data to constrain the model parameters and $N_{\rm pivot}$. In light of the present and future precision data, the results show the importance of careful consideration of any post-inflationary non-standard epoch, as well as of the effects of reheating.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2018

Attractor Models in Scalar-Tensor Theories of Inflation

In this work we study the cosmological attractor models of inflation in connection with certain scalar-tensor theories of gravity, e.g $f(R)$ gravity and Brans-Dicke theory. For some particular choices of the functional degrees of freedom in these theories, one obtains Starobinsky like predictions in the ($n_s$-$r$) observable plane. We have demonstrated that these choices in the Lagrangian density of certain $f(R)$ and Brans-Dicke theories fulfil the condition of the cosmological attractors. That explains why known predictions of $f(R)$ and Brans-Dicke theories in certain cases appear to be the predictions of the much discussed attractor theories. In addition, we did an analysis showing how the predictions of an attractor model is preserved with respect to the variation in the functional freedom of the theory.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2018

Constraining Warm Inflation with CMB data

We confront the warm inflation observational predictions directly with the latest CMB data. We focus on a linear temperature (T) dissipative coefficient combined with the simplest model of inflation, a quartic chaotic potential. Although excluded in its standard cold inflation version, dissipation reduces the tensor-to-scalar ratio and brings the quartic chaotic model within the observable allowed range. We will use the CosmoMC package to derive constraints on the model parameters: the combination of coupling constants giving rise to dissipation, the effective number of relativistic degrees of freedom contributing to the thermal bath, and the quartic coupling in the inflaton potential. We do not assume a priori a power-law primordial spectrum, neither we fix the no. of e-folds at the horizon exit. The relation between the no. of e-folds and the comoving scale at horizon crossing is derived from the dynamics, depending on the parameters of the model, which allows us to obtain the $k$-dependent primordial power spectrum. We study the two possibilities considered in the literature for the spectrum, with the inflaton fluctuations having a thermal or a non-thermal origin, and discuss the ability of the data to constraint the model parameters.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2017

Constraints on Kähler moduli inflation from reheating

We present predictions of the Kähler moduli inflation model for the spectral tilt by parametrising the reheating epoch by an effective equation-of-state parameter and the number of e-foldings of reheating; and taking into account the post-inflationary history of the model. This model has an epoch in which the energy density of the universe is dominated by cold moduli particles. We compare our results with data from the PLANCK mission and find that exotic reheating (with effective equation of state $w_{\rm re}$ greater than 1/3) is required to match the observations. For canonical reheating case with $w_{\rm re} = 0$, we deduce $\text{log}_{10}(T_{\rm re}/10^3~ \text{GeV}) \simeq 1190 (n_s - 0.956)$. We also analyse our results in the context of observations being planned for the future and their projected sensitivities.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2017

Supergravity Contributions to Inflation in models with non-minimal coupling to gravity

This paper provides a systematic study of supergravity contributions relevant for inflationary model building in Jordan frame supergravity. In this framework, canonical kinetic terms in the Jordan frame result in the separation of the Jordan frame scalar potential into a tree-level term and a supergravity contribution, which is potentially dangerous for sustaining inflation. We show that if the vacuum energy necessary for driving inflation originates dominantly from the F-term of an auxiliary field (i.e. not the inflaton), the supergravity corrections to the Jordan frame scalar potential are generically suppressed. Moreover, these supergravity contributions identically vanish if the superpotential $W$ vanishes along the inflationary trajectory. On the other hand, if the F-term associated with the inflaton dominates the vacuum energy, the supergravity contributions are generically comparable to the globally supersymmetric contributions. In addition, the non-minimal coupling to gravity inherent to Jordan frame supergravity significantly impacts the inflationary model depending on the size and sign of this coupling. We discuss the phenomenology of some representative inflationary models, and point out the relation to the recently much discussed cosmological `attractor' models.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2016

Moduli Vacuum Misalignment and Precise Predictions in String Inflation

The predictions for all the cosmological observables of any inflationary model depend on the number of e-foldings which is sensitive to the post-inflationary history of the universe. In string models the generic presence of light moduli leads to a late-time period of matter domination which lowers the required number of e-foldings and, in turn, modifies the exact predictions of any inflationary model. In this paper we compute exactly the shift of the number of e-foldings in Kaehler moduli inflation which is determined by the magnitude of the moduli initial displacement caused by vacuum misalignment and the moduli decay rates. We find that the preferred number of e-foldings gets reduced from 50 to 45, causing a modification of the spectral index at the percent level. Our results illustrate the importance of understanding the full post-inflationary evolution of the universe in order to derive precise predictions in string inflation. To perform this task it is crucial to work in a setting where there is good control over moduli stabilisation.

hep-th↗

arXiv2016

Viability of Arctan Model of f(R) Gravity for Late-time Cosmology

$f(R)$ modifications of Einstein's gravity is an interesting possibility to explain the late time acceleration of the Universe. In this work we explore the cosmological viability of one such $f(R)$ modification proposed in (Kruglov:2013). We show that the model violates fifth-force constraints. The model is also plagued with the issue of curvature singularity in a spherically collapsing object, where the effective scalar field reaches to the point of diverging scalar curvature.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2015

N-flation in Supergravity

We have constructed a large field N-flation model in the supergravity framework. In this simple set-up, N fields collectively drive inflation where each field traverses sub-Planckian field values. This has been realised with a generalisation of the single field chaotic inflation in Supergravity. Interestingly, despite of the presence of the field interactions, the dynamics can be described in terms of an effective single field. The observable predictions of our model i.e. tensor to scalar ratio r and scalar spectral index n_s are akin to the chaotic inflation.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2015

Inflationary Predictions and Moduli Masses

A generic feature of inflationary models in supergravity/string constructions is vacuum misalignment for the moduli fields. The associated production of moduli particles leads to an epoch in the post-inflationary history in which the energy density is dominated by cold moduli particles. This modification of the post-inflationary history implies that the preferred range for the number of e-foldings between horizon exit of the modes relevant for CMB observations and the end of inflation $(N_k)$ depends on moduli masses. This in turn implies that the precision CMB observables $n_s$ and $r$ are sensitive to moduli masses. We analyse this sensitivity for some representative models of inflation and find the effect to be highly relevant for confronting inflationary models with observations.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2015

N-flation with Hierarchically Light Axions in String Compactifications

We present an explicit embedding of axionic N-flation in type IIB string compactifications where most of the Kahler moduli are stabilised by perturbative effects, and so are hierarchically heavier than the corresponding N >> 1 axions whose collective dynamics drives inflation. This is achieved in the framework of the LARGE Volume Scenario for moduli stabilisation. Our set-up can be used to realise a model of either inflation or quintessence, just by varying the volume of the internal space which controls the scale of the axionic potential. Both cases predict a very high scale of supersymmetry breaking. A viable reheating of the Standard Model degrees of freedom can be achieved after the end of inflation due to the perturbative decay of the N light axions which drive inflation.

hep-th↗