arXiv subjects

N. Q. Lan

Publications and source records attributed to N. Q. Lan.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2021

Conformally flat, quasi-circular numerical simulations of the gravitational wave chirp from binary neutron star merger GW170817

The first detection of gravitational waves from the binary neutron star merger GW170817 by the LIGO-Virgo Collaboration has provided fundamental new insights into the astrophysical site for r-process nucleosynthesis and on the nature of dense neutron-star matter. The detected gravitational wave signal depends upon the tidal distortion of the neutron stars as they approach merger. We report on relativistic numerical simulations of the approach to binary merger in the conformally flat, quasi-circular orbit approximation. We show that this event serves as a calibration to the quasi-circular approximation and a confirmation of the validity of the conformally flat approximation to the three-metric. We then examine how the detected chirp depends upon the adopted equation of state. This establishes a new efficient means to constrain the nuclear equation of state in binary neutron star mergers.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2016

Generalized density functional equation of state for astrophysical simulations with 3-body forces and quark gluon plasma

We present an updated general purpose nuclear equation of state (EoS) for use in simulations of core-collapse supernovae, neutron star mergers and black hole collapse. This EoS is formulated in the context of Density Functional Theory (DFT) and is generalized to include all DFT EoSs consistent with known nuclear and astrophysical constraints. This EoS also allows for the possibility of the formation of material with a net proton excess ($Y_p > 0.5$) and has an improved treatment of the nuclear statistical equilibrium and the transition to heavy nuclei as the density approaches nuclear matter density. We include the effects of pions in the regime above nuclear matter density and incorporate all of the known mesonic and baryonic states at high temperature. We analyze how a 3-body nuclear force term in the DFT at high densities stiffens the EoS to satisfy the maximum neutron star constraint, however the density dependence of the symmetry anergy and the formation of pions at high temperatures allows for a softening of the central core in supernova collapse calculations leading to a robust explosion. We also add the possibility of a transition to a QCD chiral-symmetry-restoration and deconfinement phase at densities above nuclear matter density. This paper details the physics, and constraints on, this new EoS and presents an illustration of its implementation in both neutron stars and core-collapse supernova simulations. We present the first results from core-collapse supernova simulations with this EoS.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2016

Review of Conformally Flat Approximation for Binary Neutron Star Initial Conditions

The spatially conformally flat approximation (CFA) is a viable method to deduce initial conditions for the subsequent evolution of binary neutron stars employing the full Einstein equations. Here we review the status of the original formulation of the CFA for the general relativistic hydrodynamic initial conditions of binary neutron stars. We illustrate the stability of the conformally flat condition on the hydrodynamics by numerically evolving ~100 quasi-circular orbits. We illustrate the use of this approximation for orbiting neutron stars in the quasi-circular orbit approximation to demonstrate the equation of state dependence of these initial conditions and how they might affect the emergent gravitational wave frequency as the stars approach the innermost stable circular orbit.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2015

Constraints on Pre-inflation Fluctuations in a Nearly Flat Open ΛCDM Cosmology

We analyze constraints on parameters characterizing the pre-inflating universe in an open inflation model with a present slightly open $Λ$CDM universe. We employ an analytic model to show that for a broad class of inflation-generating effective potentials, the simple requirement that some fraction of the observed dipole moment represents a pre-inflation isocurvature fluctuation allows one to set upper and lower limits on the magnitude and wavelength scale of pre-inflation fluctuations in the inflaton field, and the curvature of the pre-inflation universe, as a function of the fraction of the total initial energy density in the inflaton field as inflation begins. We estimate that if the pre-inflation contribution to the current CMB dipole is near the upper limit set by the {\it Planck} Collaboration then the current constraints on $Λ$CDM cosmological parameters allow for the possibility of a significantly open $Ω_{i} \le 0.4$ pre-inflating universe for a broad range of the fraction of the total energy in the inflaton field at the onset of inflation. This limit to $Ω_{i}$ is even smaller if a larger dark-flow tilt is allowed.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2014

Origin and Evolution of Structure and Nucleosynthesis for Galaxies in the Local Group

The Milky Way is the product of a complex evolution of generations of mergers, collapse, star formation, supernova and collisional heating, radiative and collisional cooling, and ejected nucleosynthesis. Moreover, all of this occurs in the context of the cosmic expansion, the formation of cosmic filaments, dark-matter halos, spiral density waves, and emerging dark energy. In this review we summarize observational evidence and discuss recent calculations concerning the formation, evolution nucleosynthesis in the galaxies of the Local-Group. In particular, we will briefly summarize observations and simulations for the dwarf galaxies and the two large spirals of the Local Group. We discuss how galactic halos form within the dark matter filaments that define a super-galactic plane. Gravitational interaction along this structure leads to streaming flows toward the two dominant galaxies in the cluster. These simulations and observations also suggest that a significant fraction of the Galactic halo formed as at large distances and then arrived later along these streaming flows. We also consider the insight provided by observations and simulations of nucleosynthesis both within the galactic halo and dwarf galaxies in the Local Group.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2013

The NDL Equation of State for Supernova Simulations

We present an updated and improved equation of state (which we call the NDL EoS) for use in neutron-star structure and supernova simulations. This EoS is based upon a framework originally developed by Bowers & Wilson, but there are numerous changes. Among them are: (1) a reformulation in the context of density functional theory; (2) the possibility of the formation of material with a net proton excess (Ye > 0.5); (3) an improved treatment of the nuclear statistical equilibrium and the transition to heavy nuclei as the density approaches nuclear matter density; (4) an improved treatment of the effects of pions in the regime above nuclear matter density including the incorporation of all the known mesonic and baryonic states at high temperature; (5) the effects of 3-body nuclear forces at high densities; and (6) the possibility of a first-order or crossover transition to a QCD chiral symmetry restoration and deconfinement phase at densities above nuclear matter density. This paper details the physics of, and constraints on, this new EoS and describes its implementation in numerical simulations. We show comparisons of this EoS with other equations of state commonly used in supernova collapse simulations.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2008

Late Decaying Dark Matter, Bulk Viscosity and the Cosmic Acceleration

We discuss a cosmology in which cold dark matter begins to decay into relativistic particles at a recent epoch (z < 1). We show that the large entropy production and associated bulk viscosity from such decays leads to an accelerating cosmology as required by observations. We investigate the effects of decaying cold dark matter in a Lambda = 0, flat, initially matter dominated cosmology. We show that this model satisfies the cosmological constraint from the redshift-distance relation for type Ia supernovae. The age in such models is also consistent with the constraints from the oldest stars and globular clusters. Possible candidates for this late decaying dark matter are suggested along with additional observational tests of this cosmological paradigm.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

Candidates for dark matter in the ${SU}(3)_C {SU}(3)_L {U}(1)_N$ models

It has recently been pointed out that the 511 keV emission line detected by INTEGRAL/SPI from the bulge of our galaxy could be explained by annihilations of light dark matter particles into $e^+ e^-$. We present the possibility that dark matter could be made of scalar candidates, namely, of the Higgs bosons in the models based on ${SU}(3)_C\otimes {SU}(3)_L \otimes {U}(1)_N$ (3-3-1) gauge group. These particles are singlet of the ${SU}(2)_L \otimes {U}(1)_Y$ group, so they do not interact with the ordinary particles, exept the Higgs boson in the standard model. The Spergel-Steinhardt condition for self-interacting dark matter gives a bound on the mass of the candidates to be a few MeVs. Besides the scalar candidates, which exist in both non-SUSY and SUSY 3-3-1 models with right-handed neutrinos, the spin $\fr 1 2$ candidate exists in a variant 3-3-1 version with exotic neutral lepton. In contrast to the singlet models, where an extra symmetry must be imposed to account the stability of the dark matter, here the decay of the candidates is automatically forbidden in all orders of perturbative expansion. This is because of the following feature: these scalars are singlets, i.e., in bottom of the Higgs triplet. Therefore, the standard model fermions and the standard gauge bosons cannot couple with them.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2006

Analysis of White Dwarfs with Strange-Matter Cores

We summarize masses and radii for a number of white dwarfs as deduced from a combination of proper motion studies, Hipparcos parallax distances, effective temperatures, and binary or spectroscopic masses. A puzzling feature of these data is that some stars appear to have radii which are significantly smaller than that expected for a standard electron-degenerate white-dwarf equations of state. We construct a projection of white-dwarf radii for fixed effective mass and conclude that there is at least marginal evidence for bimodality in the radius distribution forwhite dwarfs. We argue that if such compact white dwarfs exist it is unlikely that they contain an iron core. We propose an alternative of strange-quark matter within the white-dwarf core. We also discuss the impact of the so-called color-flavor locked (CFL) state in strange-matter core associated with color superconductivity. We show that the data exhibit several features consistent with the expected mass-radius relation of strange dwarfs. We identify eight nearby white dwarfs which are possible candidates for strange matter cores and suggest observational tests of this hypothesis.

astro-ph↗