arXiv subjects
Publications and source records attributed to Maxim Khlopov.
In this brief review, we present some cosmological models with a Hybrid Scale Factor (HSF) in the framework of general relativity (GR). The hybrid scale factor fosters an early deceleration as well as a late time acceleration and mimics the present Universe. The dynamical aspects of different cosmological models with HSF in the presence of different matter fields have been discussed.
The recent measurements of the cosmological parameter $H_0$ from the direct local observations and the inferred value from the Cosmic Microwave Background show $\sim 4 σ$ discrepancy. This may indicate new physics beyond the standard $Λ$CDM. We investigate the keV gravitino dark matter that has a small fraction of non-thermal component (e.g. from the late decay of NLSP bino) under various cosmological constraints. We find such a scenario is highly predictive and can be tested by searching for the dilepton plus missing energy events at the LHC. Besides, we also discuss its implication for Hubble tension, however, which can be reduced to $3σ$ level marginally.
The lack of confirmation for the existence of supersymmetric particles and Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs) appeals to extension of the field of studies of the physical nature of dark matter, involving non-supersymmetric and non-WIMP solutions. We briefly discuss some examples of such candidates in their relationship with extension of particle symmetry and pattern of symmetry breaking. We specify in the example of axion-like particles nontrivial features of cosmological reflection of the structure and pattern of Peccei-Quinn-like symmetry breaking. The puzzles of direct and indiect dark matter searches can find solution in the approach of composite dark matter. The advantages and open problems of this approach are specified. We note that detailed analysis of cosmological consequences of any extension of particle model that provides candidates for dark matter inevitably leads to nonstandard features in the corresponding cosmological scenario. It makes possible to use methods of cosmoparticle physics to study physical nature of the dark matter in the combination of its physical, astrophysical and cosmological signatures.
We investigate effects of the modified $f(R, \mathcal{T})$ gravity on the charged strange quark stars with the standard choice of $f(R, \mathcal{T})=R+2χ\mathcal{T}$. Those types of stars are supposed to be made of strange quark matter (SQM) whose distribution is governed by the phenomenological MIT bag EOS as $p=\frac{1}{3}(ρ-4B)$, where $B$ is the bag constant, while the form of charge distribution is chosen to be $q\left(r\right)=Q\left(r/R\right)^3=αr^3$ with $α$ as a constant. We derive the values of the unknown parameters by matching the interior spacetime to the exterior Reissner-Nordstr{ö}m metric followed by the appropriate choice of the values of the parameters $χ$ and $α$. Our study reveals that besides SQM, a new kind of matter distribution originates due to the interaction between the matter and the extra geometric term, while the modification of the Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkoff (TOV) equation invokes the presence of a new force $F_c$. The accumulation of the electric charge distribution reaches its maximum at the surface, and the predicted values of the corresponding electric charge and electric field are of the order of $10^{19-20}$ C and $10^{21-22}$ V/cm, respectively. To examine the physical validity of our solutions, we perform several tests and find that the proposed $f(R, \mathcal{T})$ model survives all these critical tests. Therefore, our model can describe the non-singular charged strange stars and justify the supermassive compact stellar objects having their masses beyond the maximum mass limit for the compact stars in the standard scenario. Our model also supports the existence of several exotic astrophysical objects like super-Chandrasekhar white dwarfs, massive pulsars, and even magnetars, which remain unexplained in the framework of General Relativity (GR).
We study a specific model of anisotropic strange stars in the modified $f\left(R,\mathcal{T}\right)$-type gravity by deriving solutions to the modified Einstein field equations representing a spherically symmetric anisotropic stellar object. We take a standard assumption that $f(R,\mathcal{T})=R+2χ\mathcal{T}$, where $R$ is Ricci scalar, $\mathcal{T}$ is the trace of the energy-momentum tensor of matter, and $χ$ is a coupling constant. To obtain our solution to the modified Einstein equations, we successfully apply the `embedding class 1' techniques. We also consider the case when the strange quark matter (SQM) distribution is governed by the simplified MIT bag model equation of state given by $p_r=\frac{1}{3}\left(ρ-4B\right)$, where $B$ is bag constant. We calculate the radius of the strange star candidates by directly solving the modified TOV equation with the observed values of the mass and some parametric values of $B$ and $χ$. The physical acceptability of our solutions is verified by performing several physical tests. Interestingly, besides the SQM, another type of matter distribution originates due to the effect of coupling between the matter and curvature terms in the $f\left(R,\mathcal{T}\right)$ gravity theory. Our study shows that with decreasing the value of $χ$, the stellar systems under investigations become gradually massive and larger in size, turning them into less dense compact objects. It also reveals that for $χ<0$ the $f\left(R,\mathcal{T}\right)$ gravity emerges as a suitable theory for explaining the observed massive stellar objects like massive pulsars, super-Chandrasekhar stars and magnetars, etc., which remain obscure in the standard framework of General Relativity (GR).
We review some recent trends in the inflationary model building, the supersymmetry (SUSY) breaking, the gravitino Dark Matter (DM) and the Primordial Black Holes (PBHs) production in supergravity. The Starobinsky inflation can be embedded into supergravity when the inflaton belongs to the massive vector multiplet associated with a (spontaneously broken) $U(1)$ gauge symmetry. The SUSY and R-symmetry can be also spontaneously broken after inflation by the (standard) Polonyi mechanism. Polonyi particles and gravitinos are super heavy and can be copiously produced during inflation via the Schwinger mechanism sourced by the Universe expansion. The overproduction and instability problems can be avoided, and the positive cosmological constant (dark energy) can also be introduced. The observed abundance of the Cold Dark Matter (CDM) composed of gravitinos can be achieved in our supergravity model too, thus providing the unifying framework for inflation, supersymmetry breaking, dark energy and dark matter genesis. Our supergravity approach may also lead to a formation of primordial non-linear structures like stellar-mass-type black holes, and may include the SUSY GUTs inspired by heterotic string compactifications, unifying particle physics with quantum gravity.
In this study, we present a generalized spherically symmetric, anisotropic and static compact stellar model in $f(T)$ gravity, where $T$ represents the torsion scalar. By employing the Karmarkar condition we have obtained embedding class 1 metric from the general spherically metric of class 2 and the solutions of the Einstein field equations (EFE) has been presented with the choice of suitable parametric values of $n$ under a simplified linear form of $f(T)$ gravity reads as $f(T)=A+BT$, where $A$ and $B$ are two constants. By matching the interior spacetime metric with the exterior Schwarzschild metric at the surface and considering the values of mass and radius of the compact stars we obtain the values of the unknown constants. We have presented further a detailed analysis of the physical acceptability and examined the stability of the stellar configuration by studying the energy conditions, generalized Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkov (TOV) equation, Herrera cracking concept, adiabatic index, etc. In the investigation, we predict numerical values of the central density, surface density, central pressure, etc., in a tabular form taking different values of $n$ specifically for $LMC~X-4$, $Cen~X-3$ and $SMC~X-1$ as the representative of compact star candidates.
We present here a detailed analysis on the effects of charge on the anisotropic strange star candidates by considering a spherically symmetric interior spacetime metric. To obtain exact solution of the Einstein-Maxwell field equations we have considered the anisotropic strange quark matter (SQM) distribution governed by the simplified MIT bag equation of state (EOS), $p=\frac{1}{3}\left( ρ-4\,B \right)$, where $B$ is the bag constant and the distribution of the electrical charge is given as $q(r)=Q\left({r}/{R}\right)^3=α{r^3}$, where $α$ is a constant. To this end, to calculate different constants we have described the exterior spacetime by the Reissner-Nordstr{ö}m metric. By using the values of the observed mass for the different strange star candidates we have maximized anisotropic stress at the surface to predict the exact values of the radius for the different values of $α$ and a specific value of the bag constant. Further, we perform different tests to study the physical validity and the stability of the proposed stellar model. We found accumulation of the electric charge distribution is maximum at the surface having electric charge of the order ${{10}^{20}}~C$ and electric field of the order ${10}^{21-22}~V/cm$. To study the different physical parameters and the effects of charge on the anisotropic stellar system we have presented our analysis graphically and in the tabular format by considering $LMC~X-4$ as the representative of the strange star candidates.
The exciting development of gravitational wave (GW) astronomy in the correlation of LIGO and VIRGO detection of GW signals makes possible to expect registration of effects of not only Binary Black Hole (BH) coalescence, but also Binary Neutron Star (NS) merging accompanied by electromagnetic (GRB) signal. Here we consider the possibility that a Neutron Star (NS), merging in a NS-NS or NS-BH system might be (soon) observed in correlation with any LIGO-VIRGO Gravitational Waves detection. We analyze as an example the recent case of the short GRB 170817A observed by Fermi and Integral. The associated Optical transient OT source in NGC4993 imply a rare near source, a consequent averaged large rate of such events (almost) compatible with expected NS NS merging rate. However the expected beamed GRB (or Short GRB) may be mostly aligned to a different direction than our. Therefore even soft GRB photons, more spread than hard ones, might be hardly able to shower to us. Nevertheless a prompt spiraling electron turbine jet in largest magnetic fields, at the base of the NS-NS collapse, might shine by its tangential synchrotron radiation in spread way with its skimming photons shining in large open disk. The consequent solid angle for such soft disk gamma radiation may be large enough to be nevertheless often observed.
We discuss the gravitino problem in contest of the Exotic see-saw mechanism for neutrinos and Leptogenesis, UV completed by intersecting D-branes Pati-Salam models. In the Exotic see-saw model, supersymmetry is broken at high scales $M_{SUSY}>10^{9}\, \rm GeV$ and this seems in contradiction with gravitino bounds from inflation and baryogenesis. However, if gravitino is the Lightest Stable Supersymmetric Particle, it will not decay into other SUSY particles, avoiding the gravitino problem and providing a good Cold Dark Matter. Gravitini are Super Heavy Dark Particles and they can be produced by non-adiabatic expansion during inflation. Intriguingly, from bounds on the correct abundance of dark matter, we also constrain the neutrino sector. We set a limit on the exotic instantonic coupling of $<10^{-2}÷10^{-3}$. This also sets important constrains on the Calabi-Yau compactifications and on the string scale. This model strongly motivates very high energy DM indirect detection of neutrini and photons of $10^{11}÷10^{13}\, \rm GeV$: gravitini can decay on them in a cosmological time because of soft R-parity breaking effective operators.
We address the question of regular primordial black holes with de Sitter interior, their remnants and gravitational vacuum solitons G-lumps as heavy dark matter candidates providing signatures for inhomogeneity of early universe, which is severely constrained by the condition that the contribution of these objects in the modern density does not exceed the total density of dark matter. Primordial black holes and their remnants seem to be most elusive among dark matter candidates. However, we reveal a nontrivial property of compact objects with de Sitter interior to induce proton decay or decay of neutrons in neutron stars. The point is that they can form graviatoms, binding electrically charged particles. Their observational signatures as dark matter candidates provide also signatures for inhomogeneity of the early universe. In graviatoms, the cross-section of the induced proton decay is strongly enhanced, what provides the possibility of their experimental searches. We predict proton decay paths induced by graviatoms in the matter as an observational signature for heavy dark matter searches at the IceCUBE experiment.
The multi-parameter character of supersymmetric dark-matter models implies the combination of their experimental studies with astrophysical and cosmological probes. The physics of the early Universe provides nontrivial effects of non-equilibrium particles and primordial cosmological structures. Primordial black holes (PBHs) are a profound signature of such structures that may arise as a cosmological consequence of supersymmetric (SUSY) models. SUSY-based mechanisms of baryosynthesis can lead to the possibility of antimatter domains in a baryon asymmetric Universe. In the context of cosmoparticle physics, which studies the fundamental relationship of the micro- and macro-worlds, the development of SUSY illustrates the main principles of this approach, as the physical basis of the modern cosmology provides cross-disciplinary tests in physical and astronomical studies.
Among composite-dark-matter scenarios, one of the simplest and most predictive is that of O-helium (OHe) dark atoms, in which a lepton-like doubly charged particle O is bound with a primordial helium nucleus, and is the main constituent of dark matter. This model liberates the physics of dark matter from many unknown features of new physics, and it demands a deep understanding of the details of known nuclear and atomic physics, which are still somewhat unclear in the case of nuclear interacting "atomic" shells. So far the model has relied on the dominance of elastic scattering of OHe with the matter. In view of the uncertainty in our understanding of OHe interaction with nuclei we study the opposite scenario, in which inelastic nuclear reactions dominate the OHe interactions with nuclei. We show that in this case all the OHe atoms bind with extra He nuclei, forming doubly charged O-beryllium ions, which behave like anomalous helium, causing potential problems with overabundance of anomalous isotopes in terrestrial matter.
The nonbaryonic dark matter of the Universe might consist of new stable charged species, bound by ordinary Coulomb interactions in various forms of heavy neutral "dark atoms". The existing models offer natural implementations for the dominant and subdominant forms of dark atom components. In the framework of Walking Technicolor the charge asymmetric excess of both stable negatively doubly charged technilepton $ζ^{--}$ and metastable but longliving positively doubly charged technibaryon $UU^{++}$ can be generated in the early Universe together with the observed baryon asymmetry. If the excess of $ζ$ exceeds by several orders of magnitude the excess of $UU$, dark matter might consist dominantly by $Heζ$ dark atoms of nuclear interacting O-helium ($OHe$) bound state of $ζ$ with primordial helium. Although sparse, this subdominant component can lead to observable effects, since leptonic decays of technibaryons $UU$ give rise to two positively charged leptons contrary to the pairs of opposite charge leptons created in decays of neutral particles. We show that decays of $UU^{++}\rightarrow e^+ e^+, μ^+ μ^+, τ^+ τ^+$ of the subdominant $UUζ$ component of dark matter, can explain the observed high energy positron excess in the cosmic rays if the fraction of $UUζ$ is $\sim 10^{-6}$ of the total dark matter density, the mass of $UU^{++}$ about 1 TeV and the lifetime about $10^{20} $s. Optimizing fit of recent AMS-02 data by model parameters, the predicted mass range of such long-living double charge particle is challenging for its search at the LHC. (abridged)
We present a scenario where dark matter is in the form of dark atoms that can accomodate the experimentally observed excess of positrons in PAMELA and AMS-02 while being compatible with the constraints imposed on the gamma-ray flux from Fermi/LAT. This scenario assumes that the dominant component of dark matter is in the form of a bound state between a helium nucleus and a $-2$ particle and a small component is in the form of a WIMP-like dark atom compatible with direct searches in underground detectors. One of the constituents of this WIMP-like state is a $+2$ metastable particle with a mass of 1 TeV or slightly below that by decaying to $e^+e^+$, $μ^+ μ^+$ and $τ^+ τ^+$ produces the observed positron excess. These decays can naturally take place via GUT interactions. If it exists, such a metastable particle can be found in the next run of LHC. The model predicts also the ratio of leptons over baryons in the Universe to be close to -3.
Among various phenomenological $Λ$ models, a time-dependent model $\dot Λ\sim H^3$ is selected here to investigate the $Λ$-CDM cosmology. Using this model the expressions for the time-dependent equation of state parameter $ω$ and other physical parameters are derived. It is shown that in $H^3$ model accelerated expansion of the Universe takes place at negative energy density, but with a positive pressure. It has also been possible to obtain the change of sign of the deceleration parameter $q$ during cosmic evolution.
We analyze the effects of capture of dark matter (DM) particles, with successive annihilations, predicted in the minimal walking technicolor model (MWT) by the Sun and the Earth. We show that the Super-Kamiokande (SK) upper limit on excessive muon flux disfavors the mass interval between 100-200 GeV for MWT DM with a suppressed Standard Model interaction (due to a mixing angle), and the mass interval between 0-1500 GeV for MWT DM without such suppression, upon making the standard assumption about the value of the local DM distribution. In the first case, the exclusion interval is found to be very sensitive to the DM distribution parameters and can vanish at the extreme of the acceptable values.
The whole set of astrophysical data indicates that our Universe is globally baryon asymmetrical. Nevertheless a possibility of existence of relatively small amount of sufficiently large antimatter regions is not excluded. Such regions can survive the annihilation with surrounding matter only in the case if their sizes exceed a certain scale. It is shown that quantum fluctuations of a complex scalar field caused by inflation can generate large antimatter domains progenitors, which contribute insignificantly to the total volume of the Universe. The resulting distribution and evolution of such antimatter regions could cause every galaxy to be a harbour of an anti--star globular cluster. The existence of one of such anti -- star globular cluster in our Galaxy, does not contradict the observed $γ$ -- ray background, but the expected fluxes of $\bar{^4He}$ and $\bar{^3He}$ from such an antimatter object can be searched for in PAMELA experiment and are definitely accessible for the sensitivity of coming AMS02 experiment.